View what the AFL clubs have to say about the release of the 2010 AFL home and away fixture:

CARLTON:

Carlton will once again be involved in the season opener and Carlton CEO Greg Swann said the Club was looking forward to an exciting season with big home games against Collingwood, Essendon, Geelong and Hawthorn expected to draw bumper crowds.

"It is great for our supporters that 19 of our games will be shown on free-to-air television, ten of those being in prime time. This is a positive reflection by the broadcasters on the development of the club in recent years.

“The home game against Geelong at the MCG on the Anzac Day Monday holiday is a stand alone game and should be a great game with a huge crowd and big television audience.

“The five interstate matches are spread throughout the season and they are certainly balanced out with eight matches in a row in Melbourne during the middle of the season, seven of these being home games,”  Swann said.

RICHMOND:

Richmond CEO Brendon Gale today welcomed the 2010 fixture, saying that from a football perspective it was a fair draw.

“Although we would have preferred more home games at the MCG, we accept the 8 MCG/3 Etihad home game split, and acknowledge the AFL has a complex job in deciding the fixture and balancing the wishes of clubs, broadcasters and venues,” he said.

“From a commercial perspective the draw will be challenging, and now more than ever we will be calling on our loyal members and fans to continue to support the club in record numbers.”

“Once again we will be playing Carlton at home at the MCG, and we expect a large crowd to kick off the 2010 season on Thursday March 25.”

ESSENDON:

The Bombers will play at least seven Friday night games and seven Saturday night games (maybe more with the floating Round 22 fixture) in 2010 in what is a blockbuster draw for the club.

The AFL today released the official 2010 fixture and it reflects the excitement that the young, Essendon squad is generating with many huge clashes and prime-time TV appearances scheduled.

“This is a blockbuster draw for Essendon and is great for our fans – it shows that the AFL and broadcasters view us as a club that is on the rise and plays an attacking, courageous brand of football that should be showcased,” Essendon CEO Ian Robson said.

“It’s exciting that we will play up to 15 of our 22 games on a Friday or Saturday night as well as the ANZAC Day clash early-afternoon so the Bombers will really be in the national spotlight in 2010.”

Robson said the fact Essendon plays five of this year’s finals sides twice (Geelong, St Kilda, Western Bulldogs, Collingwood and Carlton) is challenging but welcomed and he expects the two Hawthorn clashes to be epic grudge matches.

“What excites me about Essendon is the young talent on our list and we want them to play the best and test themselves on the big stage in 2010,” he said.

“We will have the courage to stick with our plans for success and we welcome this challenge against other quality sides.

“There is plenty for Essendon fans to be excited about including our Round 2 home clash with Fremantle, which will also serve as a tribute to Matthew Lloyd, and the Round 6 re-match with Hawthorn which is the first of our four massive home games at the MCG and is sure to be an absolute beauty.

“Of the other matches, we are pleased that the Round 5 Essendon v Collingwood ANZAC Day clash will continue to be the feature national sporting event that day and the Round 9 Dreamtime at the ‘G encounter with Richmond remains a marquee event for the competition.”
The draw will see Essendon play 19 games in Melbourne and three times interstate (Perth, Sydney then Adelaide) which Robson says is disappointing for our Queensland based fans.

In other good news for members, for the first time Essendon has been able to negotiate ‘away’ seating for all away games at the MCG (Level 3 of the Olympic Stand). This means that people with a 17/18 game membership have the opportunity to add an away seat to their membership. With the 2010 Fixture, these members will now be able to access all 19 Melbourne games.

HAWTHORN:

The 2010 Toyota AFL Premiership Season fixture was released today, confirming Hawthorn will play seven home games at the MCG plus a further five away games.

Acting Chief Executive Terry Dillon said the strength of Hawthorn’s fixture reflected the growth in the Club’s membership and attendances, with three home games attracting a crowd of over 70,000 in 2009.

“We are thrilled to have secured these games at the MCG, giving our increasing member base the best chance to see the Hawks in action, he said.

“We have been able to work closely with the AFL to establish strong features in our draw, particularly increasing MCG based games against co-tenant clubs.”

In the Club’s request to the AFL prior to the fixture being drafted, Hawthorn asked for an increase in games at the MCG and a game in Tasmania on Anzac Day.

Both of these requests are reflected positively in next year’s draw, with 12 games at the MCG and four at Aurora Stadium, giving the Hawks 16 games at home venues in 2010.

Hawthorn’s season opener is against Melbourne on Saturday 27 March while the Club will play blockbuster matches against Geelong, Collingwood, Essendon and Richmond at the MCG.

Another positive of Hawthorn’s 2010 fixture is the team will only make three trips interstate, excluding travel to Launceston. 

2010 promises some entertaining games at Aurora Stadium, with Hawthorn hosting four home games in Tasmania - 2009 finalists Adelaide and Brisbane Lions will make the trip along with Fremantle - plus a pre-season game against Richmond.

Anzac Day footy will return to the Apple Isle, with the Hawks playing North Melbourne in a twilight match on Australia’s day of remembrance.

“We are pleased to be kicking off our Tasmanian campaign on Anzac Day and showcasing some great footy for our Tassie members and supporters.

“It will also be a blockbuster game in Round 16 when Franklin and Roughead go head-to-head with Brisbane’s Brown and Fevola,” Dillon said.

COLLINGWOOD:

The Collingwood Football Club is pleased to announce a 2010 AFL fixture that features 18 matches in Melbourne, 14 at the MCG including nine home matches and 19 games broadcast on free-to-air television.

Collingwood chief executive officer Gary Pert believes the 2010 AFL fixture will offer Magpie supporters extensive opportunity to support their club throughout the home-and-away season.

“The 2010 AFL fixture is a great result for the Collingwood members and supporters who will have the opportunity to watch Collingwood in many of the season’s absolute blockbuster games. 

“With 19 games televised on free-to-air and 18 games scheduled in Melbourne, supporters will find it easy to follow the Magpies’ games in 2010.

“Collingwood supporters will be delighted to know we have 14 games at the MCG with ANZAC Day included as one of the nine home matches. 

“2010 will be an exciting year with Collingwood hosting Victorian-based powerhouse clubs including Hawthorn, Essendon, Geelong, Western Bulldogs, St Kilda, Carlton, Richmond and Melbourne.  All of these games are expected to generate huge crowds.

“Off the back of last year’s record membership numbers, this fixture of blockbuster games against many of our longtime rivals will help rally the Magpie Army for 2010.”

WESTERN BULLDOGS:

The Western Bulldogs have welcomed today’s release of the 2010 fixture, which the Club sees as vindication of its progress both on and off the field.

“The AFL has done a good job in balancing the various demands of the competition and from our perspective it is a very good draw,” Chief Executive Campbell Rose said.

The Bulldogs will play 14 games at Etihad Stadium in 2010 and have secured another 5 Friday night games for the coming season. 

Also, the Western Bulldogs will again play home games in both Canberra (Round 8) and Darwin (Round 16) next season.

“We are constantly trying to build our brand across the country and these interstate fixtures allow us to bring our Club to the people of the ACT, Southern NSW and the Northern Territory.  In saying that we are also pleased to be travelling only once in the opening five rounds,” Rose said.

General Manager of Football James Fantasia today also expressed his satisfaction with the 2010 fixture.

“With 5 Friday night games, 2 of which are home matches, the Western Bulldogs brand is beginning to get the exposure it rightly deserves, particularly given the style and quality of football we are playing,” Fantasia said.

The Club are also thrilled to open their season with a blockbuster home game at Etihad Stadium against Collingwood, on what will be an unforgettable day for the Western Bulldogs. 

“Our season begins with a home fixture against Collingwood in Captain Brad Johnson’s 350th game and we see this as a fantastic opportunity for us to celebrate one of the greatest players to ever wear the Red, White and Blue,” Rose said.

In a further bonus for Western Bulldogs supporters at least 13 games will be televised on free to air television - an increase of two from last season - with round 22's coverage to be decided ahead of the final home-and-away round.

Key Points
-Round 1 home game against Collingwood (Brad Johnsons 350th AFL game)
-5 Friday night games: 2 HOME games (Adelaide and St Kilda), 3 AWAY
-Strong HOME games in opening 6 rounds against Collingwood, Hawthorn and St Kilda
-HOME games in Darwin and Canberra
-Only 1 interstate game in the first 7 rounds
-4 out of the first 6 games HOME matches
-Only 1 trip to Western Australia
-Round 22 match in Melbourne
-Minimum of 13 matches broadcast on free to air television

FREMANTLE:

A blockbuster Friday night game against Collingwood at Subiaco Oval along with home games to open and close the season, plus the scheduling of the annual Len Hall Game on Anzac Day are among the highlights of the 2010 Toyota AFL fixtures released today.

The AFL’s scheduling of the annual Len Hall Game on Anzac Day for the eighth time since its inception in 1996 allows Fremantle to build on the tradition that has developed around one of the club’s marquee Subiaco Oval games.

Fremantle kicks off its season at home against Adelaide at Subiaco Oval on Sunday 28 March in the annual Starlight Purple Haze Game.

In the first half of the season, in addition to the away Derby against West Coast (round 6), Fremantle plays home games at Subiaco Oval against Geelong (round 3); Richmond (round 5, Len Hall Game); Collingwood (round 8) and North Melbourne (round 10).

A string of blockbuster home games is also scheduled for the second half of the season, including St Kilda (round 12); West Coast (round 18, home Derby); Sydney (round 20) and Carlton (round 22).

“There are a range of issues that you examine each year when the fixtures are released  but our members and supporters can look forward to quality encounters at home against some of the AFL’s heavyweights in season 2010,” Fremantle chief executive officer Steve Rosich said today.

“A Friday night blockbuster against Collingwood will undoubtedly prove a great spectacle and provide tremendous opportunity to showcase our club.

“The scheduling of the Len Hall Game on Anzac Day under lights at Subiaco Oval is a great way to commemorate and recognise the Anzac spirit. It is now a marquee game for us and also allows the club to build on the tradition associated with what has become an annual highlight of our home fixtures.”

Although Fremantle does not have to travel to Skilled Stadium to play Geelong, as has been the case for the past three seasons, three of the club’s away games include Brisbane at the Gabba (round 7), Sydney at the SCG (round 9) and Hawthorn at Aurora Stadium, Tasmania (round 21).

In addition to the 12 games it plays at Subiaco Oval, Fremantle is also scheduled to play six matches at Etihad Stadium in 2010.

“The 2010 fixture does present some challenges to our coaching team and the playing group, most notably the scheduling of six games at Etihad Stadium,” Rosich said.

“But it also means that we can set ourselves for playing at the one venue in Melbourne in 2010 as opposed to a range of venues, including Skilled Stadium and the MCG.

“Having said that it is disappointing that we are not scheduled to play at the MCG in 2010 after twice playing there in 2009. It was part of our fixture submission to play 50 per cent of our Melbourne games at the MCG.

“We have advised the AFL of our disappointment and we understand that it is a result of not playing MCG tenants Collingwood and Melbourne in away games.”

Fremantle is scheduled to play its first 2010 NAB Cup game against Melbourne at Subiaco Oval on Sunday 21 February at 5.40pm.

The winner of that encounter will play the winner of the round 1 clash between Geelong and North Melbourne on Sunday 28 February at Etihad Stadium.

WEST COAST:

The West Coast Eagles is satisfied with the club’s fixture released earlier today.

General manager, football operations Neale Daniher said it was a reasonable draw.

“We had requested fewer night games and fewer six-day breaks, so we’re happy with the outcome in that respect,” Daniher said.

“It is disappointing, however, to travel for the first and last games, particularly with regards to round 22 as we hope we’ll be fighting for a position in the top eight.”

Round one will see West Coast travel to the Gabba to take on the Lions and the club’s home-and-away season will conclude with a trip to Geelong’s home ground.

SYDNEY SWANS:

Following the release of the 2010 AFL Home and Away fixture today, the Sydney Swans are pleased to be playing 11 home games in 2010 - eight games at the SCG and three games at ANZ Stadium, including a blockbuster season-opener against St Kilda.

This represents a change from the seven-four split of recent seasons, however the Club feels this change provides the right balance for the NSW market.

"We feel the 2010 fixture presents the right balance for Swans members as well as AFL fans in Sydney," Club Chief Executive Andrew Ireland said.

"The Club has played four games at ANZ Stadium in the last two years, however we felt that reducing this number to three would allow the right balance of games between the two stadia."

As a result of this change, the Swans have been able to fixture two additional Saturday afternoon games at the SCG, with a total of four matches scheduled for the 2.10pm timeslot - against Richmond, the West Coast Eagles, Fremantle and Hawthorn.

"We were eager to increase the number of Saturday afternoon matches scheduled in 2010, after experimenting with that timeslot in 2009 and receiving an extremely positive response," Ireland said.

"We were able to listen to feedback from our members and supporters and we really feel we've got the balance right." 

ANZ Stadium will host three blockbuster rounds, including the round one clash against St Kilda, and the traditional Collingwood derby in June.

The Swans will travel to Victoria six times in 2010, with three matches scheduled at the MCG, two at Etihad Stadium and one at Skilled Stadium.

The Club will play one match at Manuka Oval in 2010, down from two Canberra matches scheduled in previous seasons. The game, against the Western Bulldogs, is certain to provide a great spectacle for Canberra fans.

"We’re very happy to be playing the Western Bulldogs at Manuka Oval this year. It will no doubt be a fantastic game," Ireland said.

“We always look forward to playing in Canberra. Manuka Oval is a great, intimate venue and we’ve got a fantastic member and supporter base there. We hope they’ll be there again next year to cheer us on."

AFL Fixture 2010 - VIEW

The AFL home and away fixture released for 2010. View ABOVE.