Geelong and Collingwood have been denied a blockbuster VFL curtain raiser at the MCG, but the Cats will play a curtain raiser at the famous ground next season, according to the first draft of the VFL fixture released to clubs yesterday.
The Cats looks set to tackle Coburg before Geelong’s AFL clash with Richmond in round eight, a match that will rekindle the bygone tradition of reserves matches before AFL matches at the MCG.
In what is potentially an indication of AFL Victoria’s intentions of staging next year’s VFL grand final at the Telstra Dome, eight curtain raisers have been scheduled across three venues.
The MCG is set to stage two VFL curtain raisers next season, the first time the ground has been used for VFL football since the competition’s remodeling in 2000.
Geelong and Collingwood’s request for an MCG VFL curtain raiser was denied due to the number of matches fixtured for the ground that weekend with curtain raisers scheduled as part of indigenous round.
But the two AFL stand-alone entities will still play each other twice next season – once at MC Labour Park in round five and once at Skilled Stadium in round 16. This match is certain to draw a huge crowd as it is the first time a Geelong Vs Collingwood will be played at Skilled Stadium for many years.
In other interesting revelations from the first draft of next season’s fixture, Geelong will play North Ballarat in Stawell in round eight.
The Cats’ request for curtain raisers to be played before all AFL matches at Skilled Stadium that start at 2.10pm was granted (a total of five).
The reigning premiers are penciled in to play Werribee (round two), Williamstown (round four), Box Hill (round 14), North Ballarat (round 15) and Frankston (round 20).
To maximise home attendances, the Cats requested home matches at Skilled Stadium on weekends when the AFL side was playing interstate.
Of Geelong’s five AFL interstate trips, the Cats VFL side will play at Skilled Stadium only twice – round 11 against Northern Bullants and round 18 against Port Melbourne.
In a bid to ensure all players have equal recovery time, the Cats requested a minimum six-day break leading into AFL fixtures the following week to allow potential call-up players enough recovery time. In order for this to occur a number of AFL / VFL clashes will occur.
In round 3 the Geelong Vs Tasmania VFL match at Bellerive Oval will clash with the Geelong Vs St Kilda AFL Round 4 match at Telstra Dome.
In round 10 the Geelong Vs Bendigo Bombers match at QEO will clash with the AFL Round 12 match against Port Adelaide.
The Geelong Falcons will play a curtain raiser match against the Oakleigh Chargers on Saturday the 28th of June before the Geelong Vs Tasmania VFL Round 12 match. This TAC/VFL double header is certain to draw a huge crowd with the Geelong AFL side not playing that weekend.
A grand final rematch between Coburg and Geelong has been penciled in for round one at ABD Group Stadium on a Saturday afternoon, with the match to be telecast live on ABC TV.
This will be the Cats’ first match at Coburg since 2003.
Geelong’s VFL premiership flag will be unfurled in round two (VFL rivalry round) against Werribee at Skilled Stadium, as part of the club’s premiership celebration day, where the AFL flag will also be unfurled.
The Cats will travel to Tasmania in round three.
The state representative match between SANFL and VFL will be played on Saturday May 31 at Norwood Oval in South Australia.
The Geelong VFL side will play 5 practice matches in 2008. They are as follows:
Saturday 16th February – Vs Sandringham @ Skilled Stadium 1.00pm (NAB Cup C/R)
Saturday 23rd February – Vs Collingwood @ Skilled Stadium 1.00pm
Saturday 1st March – Vs Werribee @ Skilled Stadium 1.00pm
Saturday 8th March – Vs North Ballarat @ Ballarat 1.00pm
Saturday 22nd March – Vs Collingwood @ MC Labour Park 1.00pm
