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YOU WOULDN'T begrudge some people at Melbourne scratching their heads after Tuesday's fixture announcement.
Despite being one of the competition's emerging and exciting young sides – and one widely tipped to finally make it back to the finals next year – the AFL has handed the Dees just one Friday night game for 2018.
Only the bottom four sides from this year – the Brisbane Lions, Fremantle, Gold Coast and North Melbourne – have fewer games in the prime-time slot, while Simon Goodwin's side has also not been awarded any Thursday night games.
They will play Richmond on Anzac Day eve (a Tuesday night), which is fast becoming a marquee game, but the reality is the Dees have been largely hidden from footy's most prominent fixture, with their only appearance an away game against Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval.
Carlton has five games across the Thursday and Friday night slots. The AFL is hopeful the Blues will be competitive but it is hard to be confident. They weren't must-watch in 2017; in fact, it's been a long time since they were.
Brendon Bolton's side didn't hit 100 points in a game last season, averaged just 11 goals an outing, and finished third last on the ladder.
With Bryce Gibbs now at Adelaide – one of 13 list changes for the club – the pain looks likely to extend into 2018 for an inexperienced outfit. It has sparked memories of Carlton's fateful stint of Thursday and Friday night games in 2015, when they had seven and finished last on the ladder.
Greater Western Sydney, despite finishing in the top four, also only has one appearance on a Thursday or Friday night. They clearly do not boast the same supporter base as the Demons, however.
The Blues' prime time presence is an anomaly in what is a largely well planned and executed fixture by the League, which has rewarded the premiers Richmond with eight Thursday/Friday night games and highlighted Essendon as a team to watch with five appearances across those two nights.
The Bombers earned that status in 2018 with a high-scoring style and being one of the League's highest-drawing teams for crowds. It is a vote of confidence in Essendon after just two Friday night games in 2017, coming off its wooden-spoon season the previous year.
Essendon lobbied for more action having felt it had made strong headway last season after four years of turmoil, and the club's recruiting spree also makes it an interesting watch as it aims to go better than its elimination final loss.
Geelong didn't get its wish to play a final at its home ground last season but has been granted nine games at GMHBA Stadium for next year and will not play a home clash at Etihad Stadium, which has become neutral territory for some match-ups.
There are difficulties in piecing together the fixture that the AFL has managed to navigate well. Gold Coast's inability to access Metricon Stadium until round 11 was a challenge, while the mid-week Anzac Day fixture had a flow-on impact on a couple of rounds.
But Melbourne's near Friday night invisibility – particularly compared to Carlton's improved status when most eyes are watching – remains a confusing element.
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