2019 fixture: What they said
After the hotly-anticipated release of the 2019 fixture, westernbulldogs.com.au has scoured the major media outlets to get their reaction to the Club’s schedule. See what they had to say below:
VIEW THE FULL 2019 WESTERN BULLDOGS FIXTURE
AFL MEDIA (Ryan Davidson)
While the club is happy with five straight games in Melbourne to start the season, better scheduling of its Mars Stadium matches and just five interstate trips, the negatives appear to outweigh the positives. More Sunday games (up from seven to 10) aren't ideal for families wanting to attend matches, while the AFL has punished the Dogs for their poor 2018 campaign by stripping them of three Friday night clashes. Despite lobbying hard to return to Good Friday, the League once again snubbed them. And for a side that finished 13th, the Dogs only get to play bottom-four sides six times while fixtured to face top-four outfits five times.
HERALD SUN
The big win: Just one interstate trip in the opening 10 rounds, coming against Fremantle at Perth Stadium in Round 6.
The major concern: One of the unlucky eight teams to receive a five-day break, playing Collingwood on Friday night in Round 4 after facing Gold Coast the previous Sunday.
Prime time factor: Punted from the spotlight after a poor 2018, receiving just one Friday night game against Collingwood in Round 4.
Get your tickets: If you’re willing to brave the likely winter chill, hit the road to Ballarat for the Round 8 clash with Brisbane, one of two games the Dogs will play at Eureka Stadium again this year.
FIXTURE BREAKDOWN: WE ANALYSE THE 2019 FIXTURE
THE AGE (Peter Ryan)
A sell-out is expected next season when the Bombers play North Melbourne in round five and the AFL is keen to eventually lock in the fixture so the same opponents play each other on Good Friday for three to five years.
Head of AFL Fixturing Travis Auld said the Western Bulldogs remained a chance to play on that day again.
"We haven't locked in the opponents. North have had the [Good Friday] game for three years and they have been pushing for that opportunity for a long time," Auld said.
"The Bulldogs were the opponent in year one and did a really, really good job. I know they are interested in it [and we're] happy to have a conversation about the role they might play going forward.
"We need to make a decision about whether at some stage we lock in the two teams for a period of time ... that is a conversation we will have after this has all settled down."
FOX SPORTS
Pencil in your calendar: The Bulldogs are heading down the highway to Ballarat on two occasions in 2019. The 2016 premiers face Brisbane in Round 9 at Mars Stadium and Adelaide in Round 23 at the same venue.
Prime time: Clear your calendars, Bulldogs fans. You have one prime time game and one only. Luke Beveridge’s charges will face Collingwood at the MCG on a Friday night in Round 4.
Interstate trips: A massive plus to the Bulldogs’ 2019 fixture is that they’ll only travel interstate twice in the opening half of the season — albeit two trips to Perth. But after the bye things remain rather sweet, with only three interstate trips to Adelaide Oval, the Gabba and Sydney Showground Stadium.
Short breaks: The Bulldogs will be up against it when they face the Magpies in Round 4, coming off their only five-day break of the season. The club also has three six-day breaks.
Champion Data draw difficulty (14th hardest): If you inverse what Champion are saying, the Bulldogs have the fifth-easiest draw, with only St Kilda, Adelaide, Brisbane and Gold Coast faring better. While it’s near impossible to predict how the season will pan out, minimal travel and a plethora of games at Marvel Stadium will have the Bulldogs feeling content.
