How every club reacted to the 2018 fixture

Adelaide CEO Andrew Fagan

“The League has again rewarded clubs which play attacking and entertaining football and have large passionate supporter bases both at the ground and tuning in to watch via the various broadcast platforms," Fagan said.

“Our fans always turn out in big numbers to games across the country and should take great pride in seeing their team on show on the national stage in premium time-slots.

“From a football perspective, we also get two games at the MCG including the likelihood of a blockbuster crowd when we confront the Tigers in Round 16 which is fantastic.”

Brisbane CEO Greg Swann

"It's good that we've got some good Melbourne clubs coming to the Gabba," he said.

"We've got Hawthorn, Essendon, Carlton and Collingwood coming [to the Gabba], so that's going to be good for us."

"We've got games we'd like to think we can be competitive in."

Carlton President Mark LoGiudice

“Overall, we are pleased with the 2018 fixture and believe our supporters will be very satisfied with it too," LoGiudice said.

“We are excited to be facing two traditional rivals in both Richmond and Collingwood within the first three rounds of the season on a Thursday and Friday night respectively, in blockbuster time slots. 

“Pleasingly, we have drawn strong home games at the MCG with match-ups against Essendon and Melbourne which will no doubt attract large crowd numbers. Our supporters will welcome the news that we will again host Collingwood in a home game at the MCG, which was a glaring omission from our 2017 fixture.

“This fixture also returns Carlton to prime-time, free-to-air coverage on a number of occasions during the year.

“Importantly the fixture provides our families and young supporters, family-friendly games across a Saturday and Sunday afternoon time slot. We will celebrate the 50th anniversary of our 1968 premiership team against arch-rival Essendon at the MCG on Saturday 12 May at 2:10pm.” 

Collingwood interim CEO Peter Murphy

As a total package it is a favourable draw: on-field, broadcast and most importantly for our fans,” Murphy said.

“The fixture presents great opportunities from a team performance perspective. We think the balance is right, we play ten of our first 12 games in Melbourne and our travel is well spaced across the year.”

“It’s a draw that delivers plenty of marquee games for our supporters in timeslots that will enable them to enjoy the footy with family and friends.”

“You can’t understate the magic of a Collingwood-Carlton or a Collingwood-Essendon clash at the heartland of footy, the MCG. In 2018 there will be a number of these big footy occasions that the club will share with the Collingwood Army.”

“We are pleased to play in all five of the main football states, enabling our interstate fans to connect with the club and players.”

“With the fixtures for all three of our elite teams now released we have well and truly turned our focus to 2018 and can’t wait to get back out on the field and court in front of the Collingwood Army.”

Essendon CEO Xavier Campbell

“It’s pretty exciting. I think the AFL has certainly rewarded us for our exciting brand of football and on-field performance,” Campbell said.

“That is something that we’d hope would come, once we started playing attractive football and the fans really start to come out and see it, for us that’s really exciting.

“It’s great to be back on prime-time football, in particular on Friday nights.

“I think commercially it’s great to be back in the prime-time, when it comes to generating eyeballs, really strong attendance, prime time football, Friday night football in particular is a platform we want to be playing on and that is something we have made known publicly on many occasions.

“For our commercial team, they will be pretty excited about that, in front of the fans, particularly those in Melbourne that will be able to come to Friday night games at Etihad.”

Fremantle CEO Steve Rosich 

"The positives far outweigh the negatives," he said.

"The first positive is we're playing at Perth Stadium, so the first year at the new stadium, fixtured in, locked in and we're all looking forward to that."

"We play four of the first six at home, and that's largely due to this monumental event of the first time ever playing an away game at home against Gold Coast in Round 3."

"We play six of the top eight from last year in the first nine [rounds], so it will be a challenging start and a good opportunity for our coaches led by Ross to ensure the team's fit and available and on the same page for Round 1."

"The focus now is just to get the team together."

Geelong CEO Brian Cook

“The AFL always has a difficult task in balancing the many requests from clubs. We are thrilled that the AFL has recognised the fact our club, our members, supporters and the local community deserve more home games at GMHBA Stadium,” Cook said.

“Playing nine games at our home ground for the first time in many years will have a huge benefit to all stakeholders, and we think this also makes the fixture fairer from an integrity point of view.

“Our supporters constantly give us feedback of the importance of playing more games here. That the AFL has been able to work through this is a credit to their willingness to engage and listen to the people that support the club and the game so well. 

“In 2017 we saw first-hand the great atmosphere our stadium can create and we are confident that we will see that repeated nine times in 2018.

“To have Carlton playing here for the first time since 1997 will be a huge day for supporters of both clubs. We are also excited by the on-going Powercor Country Festival match up with Essendon at the MCG in round 9.

“While in an ideal world we would have 11 games at GMHBA Stadium, we understand and respect the AFL’s position and thank them for scheduling the MCG games against Hawthorn and Richmond.  The Easter Monday game is now one of the season highlights and we are looking forward to again facing the Hawks on such a significant day on the AFL calendar.

“That we will have 16 of our 22 games at either GMHBA Stadium and the MCG is excellent news for our members and supporters in both the western region and the greater Melbourne metropolitan area.”

Gold Coast CEO Mark Evans

“We couldn’t be happier to see six big Victorian clubs come to Metricon Stadium in 2018,” Evans said.

“Despite an interrupted start to the season due to the Commonwealth Games, we are thrilled to be hosting the calibre of teams we are at Metricon Stadium in the second half of the season.

“Our first game back at Metricon Stadium in Round 11 against Geelong will be a huge welcome home party, and the fixture builds from there.

"We've worked incredibly hard with the AFL to deliver the mix of teams at Metricon Stadium and we thank the AFL for their assistance in scheduling these clubs in a year they understood was going to be challenging for our club and our members and fans on the Gold Coast."

Greater Western Sydney CEO David Matthews

“This is a fixture that will see the GIANTS continue to play in a number of high-profile games across the season,” Matthews said.

“Spotless Stadium has consistently been voted the number one ranked venue for fan experience in the country and we are pleased to be hosting big games against Richmond, Essendon and Hawthorn in front of a national audience on Channel 7.  

“Our Sydney-based members and fans enjoy the family friendly twilight slot and we are delighted to still play the majority of our Spotless Stadium games at 4.35pm on Saturdays against quality opposition such as the Swans, St Kilda, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

He added, “We are delighted to be able to bring the reigning Grand Finalists Adelaide to Canberra for the first time in what will no doubt be a marquee event under lights in round 21.

“Our TV ratings have grown significantly in the last two seasons as the club has reached back to back Preliminary Finals and the 2018 fixture sees us play five primetime games on free to air television next year.

“2017 has been a year of unprecedented growth for the GIANTS with membership surpassing 20,000 for the first time, sell-out crowds in Sydney and Canberra, record TV ratings and the introduction of an AFL Women’s side and GIANTS Netball. 

“As a club we are looking forward to facing a new set of challenges in 2018 and I have no doubt that the GIANTS will continue to break new ground both on and off the field in what promises to be an exciting year ahead.”

Hawthorn Chief Operating Officer Tim Silvers

“Overall the club is really pleased with the 2018 fixture and believe it is a strong draw for our members and fans,” Silvers said.

“We have drawn a number of blockbuster home games at the MCG and in particular big match-ups against Collingwood, Geelong, Essendon and Sydney.

“We are excited to kick off the season with a home game against Collingwood, in a blockbuster game on a Saturday night at the MCG.

“Our Round 21 fixture against Geelong is particularly exciting as it provides us with the opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the 2008 premiership.

“We are incredibly pleased that our annual beyondblue Cup clash against the Swans has once again drawn a prime timeslot, with a Round 8 Friday night fixture.

“The fixture is also a fantastic result for our Queensland fans, with a Hawthorn game fixtured at the Gabba for just the second time in the last decade."

Melbourne CEO Peter Jackson

Jackson said the 2018 fixture was “a good fixture from both a football and supporters’ perspective”.

“Opening the 2018 season, playing a home game against Geelong at the MCG, in what will be a blockbuster match, is not only exciting for the club, but also exciting for our supporters,” Jackson told melbournefc.com.au.

“We have no back-to-back six-day breaks and no back-to-back interstate travel, which is pleasing.

“Once again, continuing the tradition of the Anzac Eve match against the Tigers, next year on a Tuesday night, is a fantastic result for both teams. We look forward to, what is not only a chance to acknowledge the significance of the night and occasion, but also play in front of a huge crowd.

“Playing four away games in late April/May, sets a difficult challenge to incorporate the Breast Cancer Network Australia Pink Lady match, but we will do our best to find a resolution.”

North Melbourne CEO & Managing Director Carl Dilena

“Our members and supporters should be really excited with the fixture as it’s well balanced and gives them plenty of opportunities to see the team play,” Dilena said.

“We play at our home ground, Etihad Stadium, eleven times across the season and in all, it’s a very family friendly schedule with several Sunday games where kids enter free.”

“Finishing 15^th last year was disappointing but this fixture allows our young playing group a chance to really step up.

“We showed last season that when we have our best 22 available, we can compete with and beat any side in the competition.”

Port Adelaide CEO Keith Thomas

“Port Adelaide has so much to look forward to in 2018, highlighted again by our follow-up game in Shanghai,” Thomas said.

“As we said at last week’s announcement our Shanghai game in May next year will continue to be a game changer for Port Adelaide and the AFL and to have the opportunity to underpin our China engagement strategy with a second game in China is a big win for our club.

“From a home game perspective there are many standouts within our fixture including hosting Geelong on the Saturday night of Anzac Round.

“This is the 15^th consecutive time Port Adelaide has hosted an Anzac Round game in Adelaide and we continue to enjoy a great partnership with the RSL and defencecommunity.

“For us to again be given the opportunity to host this game in Adelaide is an enormous privilege and one that we will never take for granted. In honour of the occasion the Peter Badcoe VC Medal will again be presented to the player that best exemplifies the Anzac spirit.

“And of course, we are also very much looking forward to June when Adelaide Oval will come alive as it hosts three consecutive Port Adelaide home games against reigning premiers Richmond, the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne.”

Richmond 

TBC

St Kilda CEO Matt Finnis

“To be part of Good Friday is a great result for St Kilda fans and we look forward to partnering the Kangaroos to support the Good Friday Appeal and make it one of the showcase games on the football calendar," Finnis said.

“Our supporters will also welcome the opportunity to watch live from the stands or their loungerooms with so many games on either Friday or Saturday night.”

“We look forward to again celebrating pride and reaffirming our commitment to promoting inclusion against the Sydney Swans in Round 12.

“Maddie’s Match and the 20^th anniversary Blue Ribbon Cup will be other memorable nights in a season littered with highlights.”

“The break-down of our interstate games gives St Kilda fans across the country an opportunity to watch the team play live.

“Overall we believe we have a strong fixture that caters for ours fans and a platform to push towards a return to finals football.”

Sydney CEO & Managing Director Andrew Ireland

“It was fantastic to see record crowds flock to the SCG last season and we’re hopeful season 2018 will see even more fans turn out to experience our games live,” Ireland said.

“We look forward to welcoming Port Adelaide to the SCG on Easter Sunday for our first home game of the season, while the annual Marn Grook at the SCG clash will no doubt be another memorable night in Sydney.

“To have another eight games in Victoria is a huge win for our supporters and we know we’ll be able to count on them to turn out in full force when we’re on the road.”

West Coast CEO Trevor Nisbett

“We were really excited when the AFL announced last week that we would open the season at our new home,” Nisbett said.

“And to play seven of our first 11 matches at arguably the best stadium in the southern hemisphere will help us create a unique environment and a true sense of it being home.

“Gaining a sense of familiarity – for both our players and our fans – will be important and that is a great way for us to start.

“Unfortunately, it is never all good news and we’re disappointed that we have only four games in Melbourne which is not an ideal outcome for our growing band of Victorian members and fans. But the upside is that two of those games are at the MCG.

“However our Sydney and Adelaide fans will get the chance to see two matches.”

Western Bulldogs President Peter Gordon

“The Western Bulldogs would like to congratulate North Melbourne Football Club and St Kilda Football Club on being awarded the Good Friday game for season 2018,” Gordon said.

“The 2017 game was acknowledged by all as a tremendous success and we hope the 2018 game inspires even more support for the Good Friday Appeal.

“The Club’s Board, and its entire staff who worked so hard on the 2017 game, were disappointed to learn that the Bulldogs would not be involved in the game next year.

“The Board will seek a meeting with AFL Commissioners to understand whether there was any shortcoming in the Bulldogs’ 2017 support for or participation in the game, or any principle of competitive balance or fixturing, which provides an explanation for the AFL’s decision.

“The Club is otherwise satisfied with the Bulldogs’ draw for season 2018 and looking forward to the season.

“We are excited to be strengthening our commitment to Ballarat by being scheduled to play two home games at Mars Stadium, after the success of the inaugural game last season.

“The fixture is positive from a football perspective, giving us the opportunity to play 17 games in Victoria, including 13 games at Etihad Stadium and six home games against Victorian based clubs.”