AFL Fixture 2008 (see page 2 for full fixture)

[barks4eva]

It actually looks like Carlton have pulled the best draw. 18 Match in Melbourne, including 9 at the MCG.... I thought their home ground was TD and first 6 in Melbourne too

Mike Fitzpatrick has been working overtime

FAIR DINKUM, carlton will get the best of everything from now on, while their inside man is an AFL commissioner and do not expect anything more than a slap on the wrist with a wet lettuce for Pratt who will remain carlton president

[super dooper]

It actually looks like Carlton have pulled the best draw. 18 Match in Melbourne, including 9 at the MCG.... I thought their home ground was TD and first 6 in Melbourne too

Mike Fitzpatrick has been working overtime

FAIR DINKUM, carlton will get the best of everything from now on, while their inside man is an AFL commissioner and do not expect anything more than a slap on the wrist with a wet lettuce for Pratt who will remain carlton president

dont worry they will still be bottom 4, judd has OP!!! no CHF (They got rid of 2), Ackland in the ruck (need i say anymore), no backline (conceded most points in comp and dont trade for backmen), a bunch of kids who dont know how to win yet.
No draw will save them
at least we get them twice - 8 pts

[Ghost Like]

Is that 30 rounds since we last played Melbourne? That would have to be some kind of record for a re-match.

Pretty happy with draw, could only have been better if our President's surname was Pratt or McGuire.

How the boys perform will determine if it's a really good draw.

[Oh When the Saints]

Analysis

As others have said, it is imperative that we get off to a good start. Streak-like, in fact. Our run home is far more difficult than it was in 2007.

Rounds 1-11

In this first half of the draw, we have a very favourable run, with 9 of the first 11 at Telstra Dome. This means we must be well ahead of the ledger at the halfway mark.

Our only two interstate trips are AAMI and the Gabba, neither of which are beyond us winning - they are against Port and Brisbane respectively.

Looking at the first 11 rounds, we play 8 matches against teams who finished 9th-16th in 2007.

That's eight matches against the worst teams from '07, which provides another terrific opportunity for us to start the year well.

The only concern with so many matches at the Dome is the level of injuries/fatigue that may result. Players claim that the surface is hard, and with five matches in a row there to start the year, we will certainly see whether or not we can back up our performances.

We only have 2 of our 5 six-day breaks in the first half of the year, which is again a big positive for the club.


Verdict: All indicators point to a dream run in the first half of the year, and to play finals, the Saints must be at least 7-4 after eleven rounds. To lose any more games than this and waste what is a terrific opportunity would be tragic, and would see us struggle to make the final eight.


Rounds 12-22

In the second half of the draw, we only have five matches at Telstra Dome, and seven in Melbourne.

Our interstate trips are to the SCG, Gold Coast and Subiaco (twice). Apart from the WA trips (unless we have a milestone game!), the other two interstate games are very winnable ones.

Looking at the last 11 rounds, we play 4 matches against teams who finished 9th-16th in 2007.

That's only four games against the bottom teams from this year, which highlights the more difficult task we have in the second half of the year.

We have 3 of our 5 six-day breaks in the second half of the year, including a crazy patch of three matches in twelve days from Rounds 11-13, with a trip to the SCG included. On the flipside, 4 of our last 5 matches are in Melbourne.

Verdict: We have a much tougher run in the second half of the year, and if we can win 6 games out of the last 11, we would be winning the expected matches. To win any more than this would be a huge bonus, and would propel us in to the top four.

[Enrico_Misso]

Some high level points ....

Day/Night - one less night game 15 down to 14
But 10 Night games at Docklands is a record - beats old record of 9

Venue
15 games at Docklands is a record for us - prev high was 13 in 2006 and 2002
Only 1 game at the MCG (4,4 and 5 over the last 3 years)
Subiaco double header YET AGAIN 5 times in the last 6 years

6 day breaks
Only 5, compared to 7, 11 and 8 in the three prev years

Days
Shift back to Sundays 7 in 2008 compared to only 3 in 2007 - back to the norm
Lost 3 Thur/Fri high exposure night games

Clubs
Freo - Have played them 13 times out of a possible 14 in the last 7 seasons !!!!!!
Brisbane - 11 away games out of last 12 seasons
Carlton - 12 home games out of last 14 seasons
Freo - 13 AWAY GAMES IN LAST 13 SEASONS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Geel - spared an away game again after prev run of 13 consecutive years
Hawth - 13 home games in last 15 seasons
Melb - run of 11 away games in 12 years broken
North - run of 13 home games in 14 years broken
Port - 11 home games in last 12 years
Rich - run of 11 home games in 11 years broken
Bulldogs - 10 away games in last 10 years

[saintsRrising]

Analysis

The only concern with so many matches at the Dome is the level of injuries/fatigue that may result. Players claim that the surface is hard, and with five matches in a row there to start the year, we will certainly see whether or not we can back up our performances.

.

Except that this year the new "grass-growing" lights should be in place to have a healthy and hence springy and hence soft surface for the players.


The surface is currently often hard as the grass thatch is thin as it tends to start dying off as soon asa new square is laid.....and so players stops contact the soil rather than just parting thick grass.

[cwrcyn]

Five of our six interstate games are telecast on FOX TV. Too bad for people who don't have it!

[saintspremiers]

It actually looks like Carlton have pulled the best draw. 18 Match in Melbourne, including 9 at the MCG.... I thought their home ground was TD and first 6 in Melbourne too

Mike Fitzpatrick has been working overtime

FAIR DINKUM, carlton will get the best of everything from now on, while their inside man is an AFL commissioner and do not expect anything more than a slap on the wrist with a wet lettuce for Pratt who will remain carlton president

EXACTLY!

How can a team that finishes bottom 4 in 2007 get gifted only 4 interstate games in 2008?

Simon Gorr is a hard core Carlton fan as well as Fitzpatrick/FitzCarlton!

I bet there excuse is the Judd factor....can see it from a mile away.

Also, poor old Essenscum is back to the usual 4 interstate games in 2008, down on a shocking 5 games in 2007.

[Enrico_Misso]

I'm confused

The round 15 Carlton game is shown at at Docklands in the Excel draw.

But others seem to be claiming it as at the G

[ausfatcat]

5 interstate trips ad a trip to Carrara, that's not too bad, at least we play both PA and the Dockers here.

That's 6 interstate trips - Carrara IS an interstate trip!

I would've prefered 5 interstate trips, but given we finised 9th this year, I'm not surprised.....6 is a boderline fair call IMO....

WTF 6 is borderline YOOU CAN ONLY TRAVEL INTERSTATE 7 TIMES MAX.

[i_luv_nick_riewoldt]

round 1- v Syd
is going to be a cracker- if we include schneider or dempster in our final 22 imagine what will be in store!! Lyon v Roos i cant wait to see it!!

[vacuous space]

Except that this year the new "grass-growing" lights should be in place to have a healthy and hence springy and hence soft surface for the players.

Except it won't work, and the surface will still suck. Knowing the history of the Telstra Dome, the lamps will dry out the surface making it even worse. Our players will all demand trades to save their knees.

[Animal Enclosure]

West Coast vs. St. Kilda Subiaco (FOX) 2:10 pm
St. Kilda vs. Port Adelaide Telstra Dome (SEVEN) 2:10 pm
Collingwood vs. St. Kilda MCG (TEN) 7:10 pm
Fremantle vs. St. Kilda Subiaco (FOX) 2:40 pm
St. Kilda vs. Adelaide Telstra Dome (SEVEN) 2:10 pm
Essendon vs. St. Kilda Telstra Dome (FOX) 4:40 pm

Not a bad run home, especially nice to be in Melbourne for the last two weeks & a blockbuster at the G against the Filth. With Rnd 22 being a twilight game we can bank on a Sunday 1st final too!

[Saints Premiers 2008]

I'm confused

The round 15 Carlton game is shown at at Docklands in the Excel draw.

But others seem to be claiming it as at the G

who cares???

we are still going to kick their pathetic little asses

[saintsRrising]

Except that this year the new "grass-growing" lights should be in place to have a healthy and hence springy and hence soft surface for the players.

Except it won't work, and the surface will still suck. Knowing the history of the Telstra Dome, the lamps will dry out the surface making it even worse. Our players will all demand trades to save their knees.

They seem to work ok at other indoor stadiums........


........so we can only hope it works

[riccardo]

Looks like The Filth scoop the cream--again!

YEP but at least they travel in the last round

Hope it hurts them come the first week of finals if they make it after yet another arm chair ride

It actually looks like Carlton have pulled the best draw. 18 Match in Melbourne, including 9 at the MCG.... I thought their home ground was TD and first 6 in Melbourne too

Carlton have some sort of bizzare dual home ground deal with the MCG and the Dome.

[Life Long Saint]

No surprises that we are the Melbourne based club with the most interstate away games.

We have 6!

Geelong, Melbourne, Richmond and the Bulldogs all have 5. Melbourne and the Bulldogs also play home games interstate (but that is their problem).

All other teams have four interstate away trips.

Every Melbourne based team except Carlton plays Fremantle in Perth.
Every Melbourne based team except St Kilda and Collingwood play Adelaide at AAMI.

[vacuous space]

They seem to work ok at other indoor stadiums........

I'll have to take your word for it. I've never seen a game of anything played on a decent indoor grass surface. And where the TD surface is concerned, I'm an eternal pessimist.

[saintsrus]

5 interstate trips ad a trip to Carrara, that's not too bad, at least we play both PA and the Dockers here.

That's 6 interstate trips - Carrara IS an interstate trip!

I would've prefered 5 interstate trips, but given we finised 9th this year, I'm not surprised.....6 is a boderline fair call IMO....

WTF 6 is borderline YOOU CAN ONLY TRAVEL INTERSTATE 7 TIMES MAX.

MAke that 8 add Tassy!

[markinUSA]

My thoughts on the Dome surface are the same as others have said - it's too hard. Hope that the draw doesn't create more problems in that area - fingers crossed!

[wolfpup]

have i read the draw correct:

14 games at the dome
2 at MCG

Looks like a pretty good draw to me, no excuses in not making the finals.

[pits]

Collingwood has a tough end... but only travel 4 times

[fonz_#15]

we have a dream start to the year..

if we find ourselves 4-8 again, we will finish 14th

[Oh When the Saints]

Agree fonz.

At the absolute worst, IMO we need to go 7-4 in the first half of the year.


That means 6-5 in the back straight to comfortably play finals ...



With a fully fit 22, and pretty much based on '07 form, I can see us winning 15 games if we get some form going.

But the first half of the year is crucial. If we are any worse off than 7-4, IMO we won't play finals.

[fonz_#15]

Agree fonz.

At the absolute worst, IMO we need to go 7-4 in the first half of the year.


That means 6-5 in the back straight to comfortably play finals ...



With a fully fit 22, and pretty much based on '07 form, I can see us winning 15 games if we get some form going.

But the first half of the year is crucial. If we are any worse off than 7-4, IMO we won't play finals.

correct you are owts.

i think we need to win 9 of the first 13 to be a chance of top 4.

if we can do that, we should have the confidence to win 5-6 of the last 8.

it all depends which st.kilda shows up this year. if we have the complacent, injury prone st.kilda, harvs may as well kiss his dreams goodbye. BUT if we have a committed, focussed side, we will make a huge impact this year.

our pre-season needs to be huge!! if i recall correctly, there was maybe only 1 or 2 games this year that we weren't a chance to win at 3 quater time (port adelaide) so we must improve our fitness base dramatically and run games out better.

RL has had time to settle in and introduce his ideas as coach. I expect a lot of improvement with another pre-season with the players response to Lyon's ideas.

The drw to me seems fair, and we must capatalise with a huge start to 08!!