The St Kilda Football Club has welcomed the release of the 2012 Toyota AFL Premiership Season Fixture saying there are loads of positives in it for the Club and its Members.

The Saints will play nine home games at Etihad Stadium and two at the Melbourne Cricket Ground during the 2012 Toyota AFL Premiership Season.

A highlight for St Kilda is the retention of the Monday night seventh round clash against Carlton at Etihad Stadium following Mothers’ Day on May 14.

Under the direction of new senior coach Scott Watters, the Saints will start their 2012 campaign away to Port Adelaide in a twilight game on Sunday April 1.

In addition, Saints’ fans will no doubt look forward to watching their team play home games at Etihad Stadium against Richmond, North Melbourne, Essendon and the Western Bulldogs.

The Saints have received a travel-friendly final quarter of the season with the Club’s final six games being played in Melbourne, which includes match-ups against 2011 Grand Finalists’ Geelong and Collingwood.

Saints’ Chief Executive Michael Nettlefold said the Clubs’ constructive approach to discussions with the AFL had delivered good outcomes in terms of the draw and equalisation funding.

The Saints have retained two high-profile games at the ‘G in season 2012, the first against Hawthorn in Round 6 and the Melbourne Football Club in Round 20.

“This is an excellent draw for the Saints particularly with six of our first seven matches in Melbourne and big games at the MCG.”

“We acknowledge that the AFL has an extremely tough job to do in preparing such a complex game schedule and we see lots of positives in this draw for our supporters and for the team.”

“We love playing at Etihad Stadium but from a financial point of view it was in our interest to push for more home matches at the MCG.”

“Through this draw and equalisation funding, the AFL have acknowledged our concerns and gone some way to meet our appeal for a fair deal.”

St Kilda Football Club 2012 Memberships will go on sale during November.