By Ben Somerford
November 1st 2009 @ 12:35am
Related coverage
The winners and losers of the 2010 AFL fixtures
Patrick Dangerfield of the Crows tackled by Paul Hasleby of the Dockers during the AFL Round 15 match between the Adelaide Crows and the Fremantle Dockers at AAMI Stadium. The Slattery Media Group
The AFL released the fixtures for the 2010 season on Friday, but with chief operating officer Gillon McLachlan admitting blockbusters took preference to fairness in fixturing, its time to analyse who got a good deal and who got a raw deal.
Adelaide
Matches in Adelaide; 12 (all at AAMI)
Interstate Trips; 10 (Vic 6, WA 2, Qld 1, Tas 1)
Matches vs ’09 top 8 teams; 10 (play Brisbane, St Kilda, Bulldogs twice)
The Crows are one of the big winners with four very winnable games to start the season and they’ll be aiming to get out of the blocks quickly. They only face two 2009 top 8 clubs in the first eight rounds, but their run at the end of the season is much tougher.
Brisbane Lions
Matches in Brisbane; 11 (all at GABBA)
Interstate Trips; 11 (Vic 6, SA 2, WA 1, NSW 1, Tas 1)
Matches vs ’09 top 8 teams; 11 (play Carlton, Bulldogs, Geelong & Adelaide twice)
Michael Voss will love the fact five of Brisbane’s first 8 games are at the GABBA, including a huge Round 2 clash against Brendon Fevola’s former club Carlton which will do the Lions’ marketing department plenty of favours. Interestingly that game will be on Easter Thursday. Some bad news is there’s only 5 games in Melbourne for Brisbane’s Fitzroy followers.
Carlton
Matches in Melbourne; 17 (Etihad 9, MCG eight)
Interstate Trips; 5 (SA 2, WA 2, Qld 1)
Matches vs ’09 top 8 teams; 10 (play Brisbane, Essendon & Geelong twice)
The Blues have a tough draw with plenty of difficult games early in the season including a four-week run against Adelaide away, then Geelong, Collingwood and St Kilda in Melbourne. Carlton CEO Greg Swann, though, was happy with the commercial aspect of the draw saying, “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.”
Collingwood
Matches in Melbourne; 18 (MCG 14, Etihad 4)
Interstate Trips; 4 (SA 1, WA 1, NSW 1, Qld 1)
Matches vs ’09 top 8 teams; 12 (play Bulldogs, St Kilda, Essendon, Carlton & Geelong twice)
Eddie Maguire’s Pies will be happy to play 14 matches at the home of footy, with their final 7 fixtures incredibly all at the MCG. Collingwood won’t travel much either with their first interstate trip not until Round 8. Magpies CEO Gary Pert commented, “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.”
Essendon
Matches in Melbourne; 19 (Etihad 10, MCG 9)
Interstate Trips; 3 (SA 1, WA 1, NSW 1)
Matches vs ’09 top 8 teams; 12 (play Geelong, Carlton, Collingwood, St Kilda & Bulldogs twice)
The Bombers may only be set for three interstate journeys in 2010, but their fixture presents some real challenges with all four all last year’s top 4 to be played twice. The Bombers’ final 7 games of 2010 will be in Melbourne, although the last 5 will be against 2009 finalists. Another finals appearance won’t come easy.
Fremantle
Matches in Perth; 12 (all at Subiaco)
Interstate Trips; 10 (Vic 6, SA 1, NSW 1, Qld 1, Tas 1)
Matches vs ’09 top 8 teams; 11 (play Adelaide, Carlton & St Kilda twice)
Into the final year of his current contract, Freo coach Mark Harvey has been afforded no favours as the Dockers have a tough draw early in 2010 with four 2009 finalists in the first month. Freo are also disappointed they won’t play at the MCG in 2010, with CEO Steve Rosich saying, “It was part of our fixture submission to play 50 per cent of our Melbourne games at the MCG.”
Geelong
Matches in Victoria; 17 (Skilled 7, MCG 7, Etihad 3)
Interstate Trips; 5 (WA 2, SA 1, NSW 1, Qld 1)
Matches vs ’09 top 8 teams; 11 (play Essendon, Carlton, Brisbane & Collingwood twice)
There can’t be too many complaints from Skilled Stadium with the Cats given a decent draw for 2010. They’ll only face 2009 Grand Finalists St Kilda once, in Round 13, while premiership contenders the Western Bulldogs won’t meet Geelong until Round 20. Also they’ll unveil their premiership flag in their first game down at Geelong in Round 4 against Port.
Hawthorn
Matches in Melbourne; 15 (MCG 12, Etihad 3)
Interstate Trips; 7 (Tas 4, SA 1, WA 1, NSW 1)
Matches vs ’09 top 8 teams; 12 (play Geelong, Bulldogs, Collingwood & Essendon twice)
With Hawthorn’s commitment to Tasmania, securing 12 games at the MCG is a great result for the Hawks. But Hawthorn have a tough early run from Rounds 2-4 with three top 4 clubs likely to ensure the Hawks will have to work hard to get back to the top. Curiously, Hawthorn will face North Melbourne on Anzac Day (which falls on a Sunday in 2010) down in Launceston.
Melbourne
Matches in Victoria; 17 (14 MCG, 2 Etihad, 1 Skilled)
Interstate Trips; 5 (SA 2, WA 1, Qld 1, NT 1)
Matches vs ’09 top 8 teams; 11 (play Collingwood, Adelaide & Brisbane twice)
The Dees are excited by the prospect of playing 7 of their first 8 matches in 2010 at the MCG with chief executive Cameron Schwab saying, “We get 14 out of the 22 at the ‘G and the big run early gives us an opportunity of building momentum into our season.” But with a rejuvenated Hawthorn followed by Collingwood and Adelaide in the first 3 weeks, it won’t be easy.
North Melbourne
Matches in Victoria; 17 (13 MCG, 3 Etihad, 1 Skilled)
Interstate Trips; 5 (WA 2, SA 1, NSW 1, Tas 1)
Matches vs ’09 top 8 teams; 10 (play St Kilda & Bulldogs twice)
The big positive for the Kangaroos is that they will only play two 2009 finalists twice, which is the best deal for any club. Club chief executive Eugene Arocca added, “This is an excellent draw purely from a football perspective with a good spread of interstate matches and reasonable breaks between games.”
Port Adelaide
Matches in Adelaide; 12 (all at AAMI)
Interstate Trips; 10 (Vic 6, WA 2, NT 2)
Matches vs ’09 top 8 teams; 10 (play St Kilda & Adelaide twice)
Mark Williams will be under pressure this season but Port have an okay start to the 2010 campaign although tough fixtures from Rounds 4-8 against 2009 finalists could hurt them. They have avoided trips to Queensland and New South Wales. Commercially, the Power will welcome several big drawing Victorian teams whilst also getting two away games in the Northern Territory, which is what they wanted.
Richmond
Matches in Victoria; 17 (MCG 12, Etihad 4, Skilled 1)
Interstate Trips; 5 (SA 2, WA 1, NSW 1, Qld 1)
Matches vs ’09 top 8 teams; 11 (play Carlton, Adelaide & St Kilda twice)
Richmond CEO Brendon Gale will be satisfied with the Tigers receiving 8 ‘home’ games at the MCG after less was mooted. Strangely, they host St Kilda in Round 11 at the Saints’ home ground over at Docklands. The Round 1 season-opening home match against Carlton is a major plus for the Tigers although they’ll hope to perform better in the game than they did in 2009.
St Kilda
Matches in Melbourne; 16 (Etihad 14, MCG 2)
Interstate Trips; 6 (SA 2, WA 2, NSW 1, Qld 1)
Matches vs ’09 top 8 teams; 10 (play Collingwood, Essendon & Adelaide twice)
The Saints’ journey for redemption should start well with just one 2009 finalist in the first 5 weeks. St Kilda have a bit of travel to do, with 6 interstate games including a Round 22 away trip which won’t help on the eve of the finals (assuming they’re in the mix). They only face Geelong and the Dogs once, while they play on the MCG twice this year.
Sydney
Matches in Sydney; 11 (SCG 8, ANZ 3)
Interstate Trips; 11 (Vic 6, SA 2, WA 1, Qld 1, ACT 1)
Matches vs ’09 top 8 teams; 11 (play Brisbane, Geelong & Bulldogs twice)
The Swans will visit the most venues of all AFL clubs in 2010, with journeys to Canberra and Darwin included in a busy schedule. A pair of consecutive away matches (Round 7-8 & Round 16-17) won’t make life easy, while a difficult end to the season suggests the Swans haven’t got the best draw. Interestingly, Sydney has dropped one of its games at ANZ Stadium this season.
West Coast
Matches in Perth; 12 (all at Subiaco)
Interstate Trips; 10 (Vic 7, SA 1, NSW 1, Qld 1)
Matches vs ’09 top 8 teams; 11 (play Brisbane, Essendon & Carlton twice)
The Eagles copped 8 six-day breaks in 2009 and 2010 sees that number halved which will please them. And the early rounds of the draw aren’t too bad on the Eagles who could get off to a flyer. Footy operations general manager Neale Daniher, though, did admit he wasn’t totally happy saying, “It is disappointing, however, to travel for the first and last games, particularly with regards to round 22 (in Geelong) as we hope we’ll be fighting for a position in the top eight.”
Western Bulldogs
Matches in Melbourne; 16 (Etihad 13, MCG 3)
Interstate Trips; 6 (SA 1, WA 1, NSW 1, Qld 1, ACT 1, NT 1)
Matches vs ’09 top 8 teams; 11 (play Collingwood, Brisbane, Adelaide & Essendon twice)
The Bulldogs, with their premiership window still open, are delighted to have secured 13 games at Etihad. And commercially five Friday night games will please them too, although there’s a few frequent flyer points to be accrued, with chief executive Campbell Rose saying, “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.”
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(45)
megatron said | November 1st 2009 @ 8:26am | Report comment
Terrible inaccuracies and fairness in the draw. Not for Collingwood though *rolls eyes*
Michael C said | November 1st 2009 @ 7:42pm | Report comment
alas, if every Melb based team requests a home game against Collingwood…..is the AFL to listen to their requests or not???
and so, they make the finals, their fans confuse their side with a good team and they get ‘let down’ in September,…..and the world keeps on spinning and everything seems fine.
I can handle it!!
ren said | November 1st 2009 @ 11:12am | Report comment
really annoyed about the fixtures, but not surprised. why do tassie games have to involve WA clubs. we already travel further than anyone else. no mcg games for freo- joke, essendon only travelling three times is also a load of crap – really unhappy as a freo fan.
tho we do ourselves no favours by having such a poor season, still a rip though
Timmuh said | November 1st 2009 @ 12:39pm | Report comment
Ren, the Tassie thing isn’t a big issue any more for WA clubs.After the 8 hour fiasco a few years back, the AFL charter direct Perth-Launceston flights (or said they would, I presume that still happens). The extra flying time is probably no more than 10 minutes each way, easily made up for by the lack of traffic in Launceston. Its certainly a pain for any WA based fans that want to go the game, but these days not so much for the players.
ren said | November 1st 2009 @ 1:10pm | Report comment
fair enough, i vaguely remember something about this, but obviously not well.
Firestarter Bob said | November 1st 2009 @ 12:28pm | Report comment
This is why AFL won’t get widespread acceptance north of the Rod Baysarri line. The clubs and fans all meekly accept the AFL contriving the draw of the sport into a circus to artificially build media interest. It’s all aimed at making money and nothing to do with equity and fair competition.
Using the disgraced Fevolva as a reason to give schedule preference to Brisbane v Carlton is just shameful.
On one hand the AFL says it is against poor off field behaviour and in deeply in favour of respect for women, and then goes about rigging the draw to turn Fevolva into a crowd puller & tv ratings.
Just shameful. Imagine if the NRL or ARU did that!
Pippinu said | November 1st 2009 @ 1:15pm | Report comment
Bob
your concern is duly noted.
Firestarter Bob said | November 1st 2009 @ 3:24pm | Report comment
No longer the indigenous code. AFL is the duplicitous code.
Pippinu said | November 1st 2009 @ 5:30pm | Report comment
Bob
as long as we continue to get 7 million plus through the gates each season, we’ll be ok – don’t worry too much about the great Australian game.
Firestarter Bob said | November 1st 2009 @ 6:14pm | Report comment
That’s point Poppinu! AFL gets 7 million fans and yet still resorts to low class acts such as rigging the season schedule to celebrate Fevolva & Hall etc. If the code had any class it wouldn’t do it.
Michael C said | November 1st 2009 @ 7:47pm | Report comment
FstBob.
Of course it’s a money making exercise.
The other codes are no different other than the means available -
why else is the NRL season a floating fixture – - because they put more importance on people infront of a tele than attending games – - and it’s down to keep their broadcaster happy.
the ARU and SANZAR in general are going the 3 conference path so the fans can get their ‘rigged’ localised fixture and give’em what they want…….ah….dispicable notion,
and then there’s the HAL and their first 4 seasons of ‘imbalanced balance’……and now a 6 from 10 finals…..
…..and it’s all the same story – the product is an entertainment business at the elite level. Otherwise, it might be no better than most the Olympic sports (for the purists only).
Pippinu said | November 1st 2009 @ 8:14pm | Report comment
Are the two rugbies still engaged in a class struggle?
Firestarter Bob said | November 1st 2009 @ 8:25pm | Report comment
Does Australia still have a blue collar working class? That should answer your question.
Redb said | November 2nd 2009 @ 5:51am | Report comment
Based on your history of anti AFL posts I’d say there is nothing the AFL could do to please you. Hardly a barometer for AFL support.
The fact is there has always been hype about the games involving big name players playing against their old club.
Whilst 16 teams exist in a 22 week season there will always be opportunities once all teams have played each once to maximise the interest for fans.
That is why Essendon always plays Carlton and Collingwood twice – its what the fans want!
Over the course of the season it balances out remarkably and with a 8 teams finals series the wheat is quickly sorted from the chaff.
AFL fans that whinge about the fixture always say Collingwood gets a favourable draw, Mick Matlhouse Collingwood’s coach says its too tough.
Anyone get the impression the AFL cant win no mattter what they do. That is why its futile to worry about these things.
Just look forward to next season – we have the current Premiers Geelong in the very first game, they have been belting us for 2-3 years – time for the Bombers to stand up.
Redb
Redb said | November 1st 2009 @ 4:43pm | Report comment
Shameful? Like letting Greg Inglis play for Australia whilst police charges are pending. The NRL/ARL admin is a joke and a disgrace to this country.
Dogs Of War said | November 1st 2009 @ 5:15pm | Report comment
What? He got stood down, while charges where being applied and faced court. He is claiming he acted in the interests of looking after his girl, and she is still with him. Doesn’t suggest what you are suggesting.
Seems you just want to put the boot in, but when it comes to AFL figures live Fevola, you remain silent, no different to how the whole AFL admin acts. Hopefully it will all be swept under the carpet and that’s something we should all be proud of apparently because it’s the so called “Indigenous Game!”
Redb said | November 1st 2009 @ 5:30pm | Report comment
The Inglis charges were maintained by the Police despite the claims of ‘looking after the interests of the girl’. So regardless the NRL/ARL thinks it is above the law now. Fevola hasnt even been charged.
If you want to throw stones make sure you house is in order coz they’ll come back quickfire and most of your windows lie in pieces already.
Dogs Of War said | November 1st 2009 @ 5:40pm | Report comment
What, the journalist is too scared to press charges because of what could happen to her career. Not to mention the bringing the game into disrepute with what Fevola got up to that night. Charges or no charges it would have been a suspension in the NRL.
Shame AFL shame.
Redb said | November 1st 2009 @ 5:42pm | Report comment
yeah right.
There is a difference at law between a citizen being charged and not charged. You do know the difference right?
Dogs Of War said | November 1st 2009 @ 5:58pm | Report comment
So explain how long Inglis has to be stood down oh wise one.
2 weeks is not enough? More than Fevola got.
How about other NRL guys who have been stood down for drinking yet didn’t break the law like the halfback from Cronulla?
Pressuring a poor little journalist to NOT press charges, bit like Jane of Adelaide Parklands. How much was she paid to keep quiet. Then they celebrate what a fabulous career one of the particular members of that incident had this year, though that incident was never brought up when they were replaying his career? Wonder why?
Redb said | November 1st 2009 @ 6:02pm | Report comment
The only reason Inglis was stood down at all was Melb Storm’s sponsors sphincters contracted faster than a black hole. Waldron took the sponsor’s pulse once it appeared OK and he played.
But despite the charges being challenged and the presentation of new evidence, police charges remain and a court hearing date set.
Dont even pretend the NRL acts with a superior social conscious here. He is a big name player and that is why he is still playing.
Redb
Dogs Of War said | November 1st 2009 @ 6:06pm | Report comment
I am not saying that. Your the one suggesting that AFL’s is much better by your intial comment on why Inglis is playing for Australia. When you have players who have done much worse that the AFL has turned a blind eye to.
Redb said | November 1st 2009 @ 6:11pm | Report comment
well it was Firestarter Bob who even brought Fevola into the thread – nothing to do with the article.
Dogs Of War said | November 1st 2009 @ 6:37pm | Report comment
But it was YOU calling the NRL admin a joke for how they have handled off field issues this season. I just brought up how wonderfully kind the AFL have been with it’s off field antics.
Redb said | November 1st 2009 @ 6:42pm | Report comment
The NRL/ARL admin are a joke. If they properly managed the game every second person would not be calling their replacement with an independent commission!!
Dogs Of War said | November 1st 2009 @ 6:47pm | Report comment
What are they supposed to do? Send minders out with everybody? It’s not like the NRL doesn’t do it’s bit. For example the NRL served water at the Dally M’s to the players. AFL served free alcohol to the players at the Brownlows, no matter intoxicated they looked.
You think the guys who play AFL are any different to the NRL guys? You have got to be kidding.
Firestarter Bob said | November 1st 2009 @ 6:15pm | Report comment
How does that excuse the AFL’s actions?
Redb said | November 1st 2009 @ 6:48pm | Report comment
What actions are those?
Offering assistance to the female journalist concerned including counselling, encouraging her to take the matter further with the AFL’s endorsement?
those actions?
Why is greg inglis even in england?, why is he representing our country? when he currently under investigation for criminal assault against his girlfriend. yet another NRl player charged with assaulting his GF or wife.
you really dont want to play this game becuase the NRL’s record is far from clean. Not only has the NRL been under self acknowledged sponsor pressure it has even considered the extreme measure of docking premiership points for off field behavior.
Explain that and how do you excuse the NRL/ARL’s actions with Greg Inglis?
Dogs Of War said | November 1st 2009 @ 6:54pm | Report comment
No, you explain why he should be found GUILTY before he has had his day in court.
Oh that’s right, your one of those guys that in the old days used to lynch them up in front of the farmhouse. How dare they get a fair trial!
Redb said | November 1st 2009 @ 6:57pm | Report comment
So having police charges sustained is not cause for suspension until the matter is settled in court?
Why was he stood down at all then? Explain that will you?
What materially has changed in his status with the police?
Dogs Of War said | November 1st 2009 @ 7:38pm | Report comment
As I said, how long should be stood down for? Your the one saying the NRL hasn’t gone far enough with this matter. So man up and tell us how you feel it should be dealt with.
Michael C said | November 1st 2009 @ 7:49pm | Report comment
Gotta think we’ve gone off topic a tad here guys.
how about save it for another day. It is actually a topic that deserves a full thread looking at the rights and responsibilities of players/administrators/clubs/leagues etc in the face of civil or criminal court proceedings.
Anyone care to scribe???
Redb said | November 1st 2009 @ 8:01pm | Report comment
you still havent answered the question as to why he was stood down at all?
Dogs Of War said | November 1st 2009 @ 8:29pm | Report comment
Bringing the game into disrepute. Your turn.
Chris said | November 1st 2009 @ 3:14pm | Report comment
Once again the Magpies get the best fixtures. and once again they will choke
Redb said | November 1st 2009 @ 4:46pm | Report comment
Heres the drum. Each team can only play each other once due to 16 teams, it doesnt fit into a 22 week season. There will always be perceived inequities by some. For the rest of the games may as well please the clubs and in turn the fans.
I barrack for Essendon and whilst we dont travel that much we play all of last years top four finalists twice – hardly easy.
A good team can beat anyone anywhere anytime.
Redb
davelee said | November 1st 2009 @ 5:10pm | Report comment
thats it Redb,
a good team can beat anyone anywhere anytime.
in saying that, I wonder if the AFL could simply rotate it around whereby you play 7 clubs twice in one season and then the next season another different 7 clubs and so on? does seem fair in some ways, but the derbies and blockbusters (ess v coll, coll v carl) may not like it.
Pippinu said | November 1st 2009 @ 5:32pm | Report comment
It can be mistake to judge the strength of who you are playing by checking last year’s position.
Having said that, Essendon’s draw is a doozy!!
But to quote Leigh Matthews: he used to look at who they were playing in the first round, and take it from there – he was never too fussed about the rest of the draw.
westy said | November 1st 2009 @ 8:39pm | Report comment
Redb I am guilty just as you in being one eyed. however the female herald Sun journalist is in an a very uneviable position..it is her livlihood and future that is imperilled as well as his. He can count himself very lucky. He does have a record of misbehaviour and some boorish behaviour. fevola is not an evil man . i hope he gets his life in order especially for his long suffering wife’s sake. however the only victim is the journalist.
Inglis is a very quiet private individual and I think he to deserves less haste in judgement. i think Fevola is a bit of a boorish baboon. I do not think he realises or sadly has the maturity to appreciate the consequences of his behaviour. Just a problem with the jungle juice that he has not had the maturity to acknowlege. He was very lucky in the person he allegedly molested.
The victim in the the alleged Inglis assault is not as clear cut. It may be that both are victims in this instance.i for one will wait until I cast judgement . the same for brendon in relation to the alleged assault but alas not for the boorish behaviour.
I personally think poor old Brendon was an accident waiting to happen often egged on by what he thought was funny or his perception of what others thought was funny.
I just think Inglis was a poor choice for your analogy.That is all., As you say there are other more clear cut transgressors in rugby league and I do not seek to hide these.
best to get back to the topic .
Redb said | November 2nd 2009 @ 6:02am | Report comment
Westy,
Reasonable assessment. I only raise the Greg Inglis scenario becuase it is fact that he is currently under police investigation with charges pending and still playing for Australia so if Firestarter Blob or whoever wants to gets all high and mighty about Fevola – who has not been charged and it is all speculation then they will get a debate.
I agree with your assessment of Fevola – not a smart cookie, bloody good footballer who can seriously play. When on fire the Lions fans are in for a treat. He has great hands and one of the best contested marks in the competition. I’ve witnessed him kicks goals from 55 metres starting from the boundary fence at the MCG – he did it twice in one game. Anyone who has been to the MCG would know that is a long way out and a tight angle, only a handful in the whole game could kick those goals.
But the drink and his mental acuity don’t mix.
Redb
Firestarter Bob said | November 2nd 2009 @ 11:02am | Report comment
People have misunderstood my point. I don’t disagree with anything the AFL has done, nor what Redb and Michael C have posted.
The issue is the AFL treating the Fevola trading as if it was no different to every other trade. Yet we all know his change of clubs was a punishment for his behaviour and not something that the AFL should make hay from.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/afl/three-anzac-games-likely/story-e6frexx0-1225788098889
“If trades are big enough that they create a need or interest for a certain match-up to occur, we certainly accommodate that after it’s happened,” Lethlean said. This year I think everyone will be looking to see when Fevola plays Carlton and likewise when Barry Hall plays Sydney. If you knew now where Luke Ball was going to be (next year), that might be taken into account too. We’ve got the ability to make changes as substantive as we need to, and we certainly did once guys like Brendan Fevola changed clubs.”
gazz said | November 2nd 2009 @ 6:30pm | Report comment
so what do you suggest firestarter bob? the afl not fixture carlton to play brisbane next season?
Firestarter Bob said | November 8th 2009 @ 10:55am | Report comment
Great to see an AFL journo finally make the point I made here!
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Fevola issue exposes AFL’s sheer hypocrisy
http://www.theage.com.au/news/rfnews/fevola-issue-exposes-afls-sheer-hypocrisy/2009/11/07/1257247793117.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1
For all of Demetriou’s and his commission’s distaste for Fevola’s behaviour, and for all the work they are putting in place to ensure it does not happen again, the bottom line is that Fevola is a crowd-pleaser and a promotional tool.
No sooner had the deal been completed between Brisbane and Carlton to make Fevola a Lion for a richly rewarding three-year term – with the Blues contributing a six-figure sum for at least each of the first two years of the deal – than the AFL hotline communicated the news to the man completing the 2010 fixture, Simon Lethlean.
And just like that, Fevola, so in disgrace just six weeks ago that he was deemed unwelcome at the AFL’s grand final parade and grand final day motorcade and still with the threat of sexual assault allegations hanging over him, becomes the star of the show.
The AFL admitted that once it knew Fevola was going to Brisbane, it scheduled two of next year’s biggest blockbusters between the player’s old and new teams. Brisbane plays Carlton on two of the season’s three Thursday night games in a bid to wring every last bit of drama out of the Fevola move.
Surely, given what took place at the Brownlow and the AFL’s subsequent anger, the fixturing situation suddenly makes all that disgust a trifle disingenuous.
Firestarter Bob said | November 16th 2009 @ 6:51pm | Report comment
Another speaks out in the Age against the Fevola “punishment” from the AFL.
Sports stars’ bad behaviour shouldn’t be rewarded
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/contributors/sports-stars-bad-behaviour-shouldnt-be-rewarded-20091116-igtm.html?autostart=1
bever fever said | November 16th 2009 @ 7:11pm | Report comment
Good marketing, i would think its the fans that want see Fevola V the Blues..
Dont know what your angle is, i do know that you follow the NRL and i would expect no different from them.