CATS NOT HAPPY WITH 2008 AFL DRAW
Ben Jensen 27 October 2007

By Ben Jensen THE GEELONG FOOTBALL CLUB is disappointed following the release of the AFL draw for 2008. Cats CEO Brian Cook estimates the club may be up to half a million dollars worse off, following the AFL's decision to refuse the Cats home games at the MCG, instead scheduling Melbourne games at Telstra Dome. This is despite Geelong being the reigning Premier and last season's round 15 match against Collingwood at the MCG, a game that drew 85,497 despite a train driver strike.

Geelong's first match is a grand final replay with Port Adelaide on a Thursday night at AAMI Stadium, while in the NAB Cup the Cats open up with a match at Skilled Stadium against Melbourne. The Cats travel interstate five times, including two trips to each of Perth and Adelaide; the other game being at Sydney's Telstra Stadium. Geelong's eleven home games are split between Skilled Stadium (8 games) and Telstra Dome (3). The unfurling of the Premiership Flag is unlikely to occur until the second home game, but first at Geelong, against Melbourne in round three, however Brian Cook is considering recommending two unfurlings - one for the first 'home' game at Telstra Dome against the Bombers in round two.

2008 DRAW:

GEELONG DRAW ONLY [HTML]

GEELONG DRAW ONLY [PDF]

CLUB BY CLUB [PDF]

BY ROUND [PDF]

FORUM WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE DRAW? TELL US! http://www.thecattery.com.au/applications/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=34

MEDIA RELEASE FROM GEELONG FOOTBALL CLUB

From a football perspective we are mostly comfortable with the 2008 fixture. Our main issue is that both trips to Perth are played with only a six day turn around which is not ideal preparation.

From a commercial point of view the club has some concerns. As the premiership club we are disappointed that we do not have the opportunity to play a home game in front of a 50,000+ crowd. This is because all of our three home games in Melbourne are at Telstra Dome. Our two matches against Collingwood in 2007 were amongst the most exciting and best attended matches of the season. We are perplexed as to why we face Essendon and Collingwood only once in 2008.

With regards to other elements of the fixture we requested:

• Nine home games at Skilled Stadium and we received eight.
• Two home games at MCG against Collingwood and Essendon and we
  received none.
• No consecutive six day or less breaks between games and this was
  granted.
• No more than four interstate games and we received five (two in
  Perth, two in Adelaide and one in Sydney).
• Round 22 game to be played in Victoria and this was accepted.
• A NAB Cup game at Skilled Stadium and this was accepted.

A positive aspect of our draw is that it will attract up to 18 national free to air games which should mean around 15 million viewer throughout the home and away rounds.