The Western Bulldogs will play three of its first four games at its Etihad Stadium home to kick off the 2018 AFL home and away season.
In the 2018 fixture announced by the AFL on Tuesday, the Bulldogs have been scheduled to travel to Canberra to play Greater Western Sydney in Round 1 on Sunday, March 25, in one of five interstate games for the season.
The Sunday clash in the opening round means the Bulldogs will not play in the Good Friday game five days later, after being involved in the success of the inaugural match against the Kangaroos in 2017, which attracted more than 42,000 fans.
“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,” said Club President Peter Gordon.
“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.”
After its opening round clash with the Giants, the Bulldogs will play three straight home games at Etihad Stadium – against West Coast, Essendon and the Sydney Swans.
The Bulldogs play four games on Friday nights – home matches against Carlton (Round 6) and Geelong (Round 15), and away against Adelaide (Round 9) and Collingwood (Round 10).
Compared to last season, the Club will play four fewer Friday night games in season 2018, and four extra Sunday games.
The Bulldogs will host two home games at Mars Stadium in Ballarat, in Round 7 against the Gold Coast Suns and Round 17 against Port Adelaide.
The Club will be on free to air television on 11 occasions (10 games on Fox Footy), with the schedule for the final round yet to be released.
For all your interstate travel packages for our 5 interstate games in 2018, make sure you book through our membership partner Geelong Travel. Call Stuart & team on 5244 3666 now.
