The AFL’s announcement of the 2015 fixture on Thursday features tough starts for a few finals contenders as well as a number of questionable scheduling choices for Melbourne based clubs.
Port Adelaide, one of next season’s top premiership candidates, has been handed a nightmare early season schedule and will be forced to endure a rough first month of the season.
The Power will open its year against Fremantle at Patersons Stadium on April 5 in a semi-final rematch for the first of four hitouts against 2014 top six sides, which also includes clashes with Sydney, North Melbourne and Hawthorn.
Ken Hinkley’s men will face Fremantle, Sydney and Hawthorn twice as well as a pair of derbies against crosstown rival Adelaide.
Unlike Port, the Dockers will meet last year’s grand finalists just once each in 2015, but also feature a tough first month with fixtures against Port and Sydney at home and an away trip to Simonds Stadium to face Geelong. There’s also a dreaded round 23 clash with the surging Port that could prove to be influential in the club’s ladder standing.
Richmond’s favourable draw is among the AFL’s top head-scratching decisions included in next year’s fixture.
Champion Data ranked Richmond’s 2014 run as the second easiest and the Tigers have come away smiling again with 14 games at the MCG and 16 in Victoria. While grand finalists Sydney will only feature three times in Friday night football, the always disappointing Tigers have nabbed seven Friday night showcases and do not come up against a 2014 finalist until round 5.
Essendon is at the other end of the spectrum- they face both grand finalists to kick off the season, will travel to Perth twice before round 11 with one of those coming as part of a consecutive six-day break. But the Dons’ grinding schedule isn’t all bad with a ridiculous 17 games in Melbourne.
A friendly home schedule to start the season won’t do much to balance out Geelong’s run. They face top eight sides Hawthorn, North and Sydney twice, plus double-ups against finals candidates Adelaide and Collingwood, and only meet last year’s bottom six once each.
Photo: Robert Prezioso/Getty Images
