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Clubs respond to 2019 AFL fixture release
AFL clubs and commentators have hit out at the announcement of the 2019 season fixture, which features a first-ever dagger for the bottom four
news.com.auNovember 1, 20184:15pm
Carlton’s season-opening clash against Richmond on Thursday, March 21 is the only Thursday or Friday night match for the Blues or Saints.
The league has also taken the unprecedented step of potentially swapping two round-nine games, should Melbourne Victory host the A League grand final. There was widespread disapproval of the Blues having four Friday night games this season as well as the Richmond clash, while St Kilda also had three matches on Friday night.
Carlton took the wooden spoon this year and the Saints, after nearly making the finals last season, finished 16th.
Both struggling Queensland clubs Brisbane and Gold Coast also missed out on Friday night action — the first time in the competition’s history that the bottom four have missed out on playing any Friday night football since 1990.
The AFL has taken dramatic action to address its prime time ratings slump — with several out-of-favour clubs completely locked out of Thursday and Friday night timeslots. Fremantle (zero games on Thursday and Friday nights), Gold Coast (zero games), St Kilda (zero games), Brisbane (one Thursday night game), Carlton (one Thursday night game) and Western Bulldogs (one Friday night game) have all been overlooked for the lucrative prime time positions.
St Kilda chief executive Matt Finnis said he understands why some Saints fans would be disappointed.
“Whilst many of our fans will be disappointed the AFL has not scheduled the Saints on Friday nights in 2019, we take responsibility for our poor performance this year and the impact this has had on fixture slots,” he said.
“We have made a series of changes over the off-season and are determined to let our football do the talking in 2019, regardless of when and where we play.”
Other commentators were angered by the uneven nature of the draw and the advantages enjoyed by some Victorian clubs.
By contrast, Collingwood’s stunning resurgence this season has earned the Magpies seven Friday nights — two more than Hawthorn and Sydney — as well as two Thursday night fixtures.
Essendon, another Victorian club with a big supporter base, will have four Friday night games and two on Thursday night.
The Bombers dropped out of the top eight this season after a disastrous 2-6 start and their 14-year drought without a finals win is the longest in the AFL.
But they finished the season strongly and the recruiting of GWS star Dylan Shiel has further raised expectations that they will be next year’s bolter.
Essendon’s great hope.
Essendon’s great hope.Source:News Corp Australia
Despite their regular prime time appearances, Essendon chief executive Xavier Campbell took a stab at league officials for Essendon’s home games against fellow-Melbourne clubs who finished outside the top eight last season.
“At the biggest venue in Melbourne with a capacity of 100,000, we feel it may have been a missed opportunity to not showcase a traditional Victorian based rivalry in two of our four home games scheduled at the MCG,” Campbell said.
‘However, we do thank the league for their willingness to work with the Clubs to ensure a relatively balanced fixture.”
Hawthorn boss Justin Reeves also criticised his team’s draw, claiming his club didn’t receive any of its fixture requests.
“We understand the fixture process is a challenging one for the league, however it is disappointing we did not receive any of the priority fixture requests we submitted to the AFL and that we have again been fixtured a home game at Marvel Stadium,” Reeves said.
“On a positive note, we are pleased our members will be able to enjoy some terrific home games at the MCG, with big match-ups against the Cats on Easter Monday, Collingwood on a Friday night and reigning Premiers West Coast.”
— with AAP