2006 Official AFL Draw

[tajiritarantula]

Round 1 (Season Launch)

Thursday, 30th March venue EST LOC
West Coast vs. St. Kilda Subiaco (Night) 8:40pm 6:40pm
Friday, 31st March EST LOC
Western Bulldogs vs. Richmond Telstra Dome (Night) 7:40pm 7:40pm
Saturday, 1st April EST LOC
Geelong vs. Brisbane Lions Skilled Stadium 2:10pm 2:10pm
Essendon vs. Sydney Telstra Dome (Night) 7:10pm 7:10pm
Port Adelaide vs. Kangaroos AAMI Stadium (Night) 7:40pm 7:10pm
Sunday, 2nd April EST LOC
Hawthorn vs. Fremantle Aurora Stadium (Early Start) 1:10pm 1:10pm
Melbourne vs. Carlton Telstra Dome (Night) 5:10pm 5:10pm
Monday, 3rd April EST LOC
Collingwood vs. Adelaide Telstra Dome (Night) 7:10pm 7:10pm

Round 2

Friday, 7th April EST LOC
Richmond vs. St. Kilda Telstra Dome (Night) 7:40pm 7:40pm
Saturday, 8th April EST LOC
Geelong vs. Kangaroos Skilled Stadium 2:10pm 2:10pm
Western Bulldogs vs. Melbourne Telstra Dome 2:10pm 2:10pm
Brisbane Lions vs. Essendon Gabba (Night) 7:10pm 7:10pm
Fremantle vs. Carlton Subiaco (Night) 7:40pm 5:40pm
Sunday, 9th April EST LOC
Sydney vs. Port Adelaide S.C.G. (Early Start) 1:10pm 1:10pm
Hawthorn vs. Collingwood Telstra Dome 2:10pm 2:10pm
Adelaide vs. West Coast AAMI Stadium 3:10pm 2:40pm

Round 3 (Easter)
Thursday, 13th April EST LOC
St. Kilda vs. Brisbane Lions Telstra Dome (Night) 7:40pm 7:40pm
Saturday, 15th April EST LOC
Geelong vs. Hawthorn Skilled Stadium 2:10pm 2:10pm
Carlton vs. Sydney Telstra Dome (Night) 7:10pm 7:10pm
West Coast vs. Richmond Subiaco (Night) 7:40pm 5:40pm
Sunday, 16th April EST LOC
Melbourne vs. Adelaide Carrara (Early Start) 1:10pm 1:10pm
Essendon vs. Western Bulldogs Telstra Dome 2:10pm 2:10pm
Port Adelaide vs. Fremantle AAMI Stadium 4:40pm 4:10pm
Monday, 17th April EST LOC
Kangaroos vs. Collingwood Telstra Dome 2:10pm 2:10pm

Round 4 (Anzac Day)
Friday, 21st April EST LOC
Carlton vs. Hawthorn Telstra Dome (Night) 7:40pm 7:40pm
Saturday, 22nd April EST LOC
Western Bulldogs vs. Geelong Telstra Dome 2:10pm 2:10pm
Brisbane Lions vs. Richmond Gabba (Night) 7:10pm 7:10pm
Fremantle vs. Adelaide Subiaco (Night) 7:40pm 5:40pm
Sunday, 23rd April EST LOC
Kangaroos vs. West Coast Manuka Oval (Early Start) 1:10pm 1:10pm
Sydney vs. Melbourne S.C.G. (Early Start) 1:10pm 1:10pm
Monday, 24th April EST LOC
Port Adelaide vs. St. Kilda AAMI Stadium (Night) 7:40pm 7:10pm
Tuesday, 25th April EST LOC
Collingwood vs. Essendon M.C.G. 2:40pm 2:40pm

Round 5 (Return to MCG)
Friday, 28th April EST LOC
Richmond vs. Carlton M.C.G. (Night) 7:40pm 7:40pm
Saturday, 29th April EST LOC
Melbourne vs. Kangaroos M.C.G. 2:10pm 2:10pm
Adelaide vs. Western Bulldogs AAMI Stadium 3:10pm 2:40pm
Sydney vs. Geelong Telstra Stadium (Night) 7:10pm 7:10pm
West Coast vs. Brisbane Lions Subiaco (Night) 7:40pm 5:40pm
Sunday, 30th April EST LOC
St. Kilda vs. Fremantle Aurora Stadium (Early Start) 1:10pm 1:10pm
Collingwood vs. Port Adelaide Telstra Dome 2:10pm 2:10pm
Hawthorn vs. Essendon M.C.G. 2:10pm 2:10pm

Round 6 (Rivalry Round)
Friday, 5th May EST LOC
Melbourne vs. Geelong M.C.G. (Night) 7:40pm 7:40pm
Saturday, 6th May EST LOC
St. Kilda vs. Western Bulldogs Telstra Dome 2:10pm 2:10pm
Fremantle vs. West Coast Subiaco 4:10pm 2:10pm
Essendon vs. Richmond M.C.G. (Night) 7:10pm 7:10pm
Adelaide vs. Port Adelaide AAMI Stadium (Night) 7:40pm 7:10pm
Sunday, 7th May EST LOC
Brisbane Lions vs. Sydney Gabba (Early Start) 1:10pm 1:10pm
Carlton vs. Collingwood M.C.G. 2:10pm 2:10pm
Kangaroos vs. Hawthorn Telstra Dome 2:10pm 2:10pm

Round 7 (Mothers' Day)
Friday, 12th May EST LOC
St. Kilda vs. Geelong Telstra Dome (Night) 7:40pm 7:40pm
Saturday, 13th May EST LOC
Melbourne vs. Fremantle M.C.G. 2:10pm 2:10pm
Richmond vs. Sydney Telstra Dome 2:10pm 2:10pm
Hawthorn vs. Brisbane Lions Carrara (Night) 7:10pm 7:10pm
West Coast vs. Collingwood Subiaco (Night) 7:40pm 5:40pm
Sunday, 14th May EST LOC
Port Adelaide vs. Western Bulldogs AAMI Stadium (Early Start) 1:10pm 12:40pm
Carlton vs. Essendon M.C.G. 2:10pm 2:10pm
Kangaroos vs. Adelaide Telstra Dome 3:10pm 3:10pm

Round 8
Friday, 19th May EST LOC
Hawthorn vs. Melbourne M.C.G. (Night) 7:40pm 7:40pm
Saturday, 20th May EST LOC
Richmond vs. Adelaide Telstra Dome 2:10pm 2:10pm
Fremantle vs. Kangaroos Subiaco 4:10pm 2:10pm
Collingwood vs. Geelong M.C.G. (Night) 7:10pm 7:10pm
Western Bulldogs vs. Sydney S.C.G. (Night) 7:10pm 7:10pm
Sunday, 21st May EST LOC
Port Adelaide vs. Brisbane Lions AAMI Stadium (Early Start) 1:10pm 12:40pm
Carlton vs. St. Kilda M.C.G. 2:10pm 2:10pm
Essendon vs. West Coast Telstra Dome 2:10pm 2:10pm

Round 9
Friday, 26th May EST LOC
Collingwood vs. Western Bulldogs M.C.G. (Night) 7:40pm 7:40pm
Saturday, 27th May EST LOC
Geelong vs. Richmond Skilled Stadium 2:10pm 2:10pm
Adelaide vs. Carlton AAMI Stadium 3:10pm 2:40pm
Essendon vs. Port Adelaide Telstra Dome (Night) 7:10pm 7:10pm
Hawthorn vs. Sydney M.C.G. (Night) 7:10pm 7:10pm
Sunday, 28th May EST LOC
Brisbane Lions vs. Fremantle Gabba (Early Start) 1:10pm 1:10pm
St. Kilda vs. Kangaroos Telstra Dome 2:10pm 2:10pm
West Coast vs. Melbourne Subiaco 4:40pm 2:40pm

Round 10
Friday, 2nd June EST LOC
Adelaide vs. Essendon AAMI Stadium (Night) 8:40pm 8:10pm
Saturday, 3rd June EST LOC
Geelong vs. West Coast Skilled Stadium 2:10pm 2:10pm
Western Bulldogs vs. Hawthorn Telstra Dome 2:10pm 2:10pm
Collingwood vs. Brisbane Lions M.C.G. (Night) 7:10pm 7:10pm
Fremantle vs. Richmond Subiaco (Night) 7:40pm 5:40pm
Sunday, 4th June EST LOC
Kangaroos vs. Sydney Manuka Oval (Early Start) 1:10pm 1:10pm
Carlton vs. Port Adelaide Telstra Dome 2:10pm 2:10pm
Melbourne vs. St. Kilda M.C.G. 2:10pm 2:10pm

Round 11 (Queen's B'day)
Friday, 9th June EST LOC
Geelong vs. Essendon Telstra Dome (Night) 7:40pm 7:40pm
Saturday, 10th June EST LOC
Richmond vs. Kangaroos M.C.G. 2:10pm 2:10pm
Brisbane Lions vs. Adelaide Gabba (Night) 7:10pm 7:10pm
Sydney vs. St. Kilda S.C.G. (Night) 7:10pm 7:10pm
Sunday, 11th June EST LOC
Port Adelaide vs. Hawthorn AAMI Stadium (Early Start) 1:10pm 12:40pm
Western Bulldogs vs. Fremantle Telstra Dome 2:10pm 2:10pm
West Coast vs. Carlton Subiaco 4:40pm 2:40pm
Monday, 12th June EST LOC
Melbourne vs. Collingwood M.C.G. 2:10pm 2:10pm

Round 12 (Split Round)
Friday, 16th June EST LOC
St. Kilda vs. Adelaide Telstra Dome (Night) 7:40pm 7:40pm
Saturday, 17th June EST LOC
Fremantle vs. Geelong Subiaco 4:10pm 2:10pm
Brisbane Lions vs. Western Bulldogs Gabba (Night) 7:10pm 7:10pm
Port Adelaide vs. West Coast AAMI Stadium (Night) 7:40pm 7:10pm
Sunday, 18th June EST LOC
Hawthorn vs. Richmond Aurora Stadium (Early Start) 1:10pm 1:10pm
Essendon vs. Melbourne Telstra Dome 2:10pm 2:10pm
Friday, 23rd June EST LOC
Kangaroos vs. Carlton Telstra Dome (Night) 7:40pm 7:40pm
Saturday, 24th June EST LOC
Sydney vs. Collingwood Telstra Stadium (Night) 7:10pm 7:10pm

Round 13
Friday, 30th June EST LOC
Kangaroos vs. Essendon Telstra Dome (Night) 7:40pm 7:40pm
Saturday, 1st July EST LOC
Melbourne vs. Port Adelaide M.C.G. 2:10pm 2:10pm
St. Kilda vs. Hawthorn Telstra Dome 2:10pm 2:10pm
Brisbane Lions vs. Carlton Gabba (Night) 7:10pm 7:10pm
Sydney vs. Fremantle S.C.G. (Night) 7:10pm 7:10pm
Sunday, 2nd July EST LOC
Adelaide vs. Geelong AAMI Stadium (Early Start) 1:10pm 12:40pm
Richmond vs. Collingwood M.C.G. 2:10pm 2:10pm
West Coast vs. Western Bulldogs Subiaco 4:40pm 2:40pm

Round 14
Friday, 7th July EST LOC
Fremantle vs. Essendon Subiaco (Night) 8:40pm 6:40pm
Saturday, 8th July EST LOC
Carlton vs. Geelong Telstra Dome 2:10pm 2:10pm
Hawthorn vs. West Coast M.C.G. 2:10pm 2:10pm
Melbourne vs. Brisbane Lions Gabba (Night) 7:10pm 7:10pm
Port Adelaide vs. Richmond AAMI Stadium (Night) 7:40pm 7:10pm
Sunday, 9th July EST LOC
Sydney vs. Adelaide S.C.G. (Early Start) 1:10pm 1:10pm
St. Kilda vs. Collingwood Telstra Dome 2:10pm 2:10pm
Western Bulldogs vs. Kangaroos M.C.G. 2:10pm 2:10pm

Round 15
Friday, 14th July EST LOC
Richmond vs. Melbourne M.C.G. (Night) 7:40pm 7:40pm
Saturday, 15th July EST LOC
Essendon vs. St. Kilda M.C.G. 2:10pm 2:10pm
Adelaide vs. Hawthorn AAMI Stadium 3:10pm 2:40pm
Kangaroos vs. Brisbane Lions Telstra Dome (Night) 7:10pm 7:10pm
West Coast vs. Sydney Subiaco (Night) 7:40pm 5:40pm
Sunday, 16th July EST LOC
Geelong vs. Port Adelaide Skilled Stadium (Early Start) 1:10pm 1:10pm
Carlton vs. Western Bulldogs Telstra Dome 2:10pm 2:10pm
Collingwood vs. Fremantle M.C.G. 2:10pm 2:10pm

Round 16
Friday, 21st July EST LOC
Adelaide vs. Kangaroos AAMI Stadium (Night) 8:40pm 8:10pm
Saturday, 22nd July EST LOC
Collingwood vs. West Coast Telstra Dome 2:10pm 2:10pm
Essendon vs. Carlton M.C.G. 2:10pm 2:10pm
Brisbane Lions vs. Hawthorn Gabba (Night) 7:10pm 7:10pm
Sydney vs. Richmond S.C.G. (Night) 7:10pm 7:10pm
Sunday, 23rd July EST LOC
St. Kilda vs. Port Adelaide Aurora Stadium (Early Start) 1:10pm 1:10pm
Geelong vs. Western Bulldogs Telstra Dome 2:10pm 2:10pm
Fremantle vs. Melbourne Subiaco 4:40pm 2:40pm

Round 17
Friday, 28th July EST LOC
Collingwood vs. Hawthorn M.C.G. (Night) 7:40pm 7:40pm
Saturday, 29th July EST LOC
St. Kilda vs. Richmond M.C.G. 2:10pm 2:10pm
West Coast vs. Adelaide Subiaco 4:10pm 2:10pm
Essendon vs. Brisbane Lions Telstra Dome (Night) 7:10pm 7:10pm
Port Adelaide vs. Sydney AAMI Stadium (Night) 7:40pm 7:10pm
Sunday, 30th July EST LOC
Kangaroos vs. Geelong Manuka Oval (Early Start) 1:10pm 1:10pm
Carlton vs. Fremantle Telstra Dome 2:10pm 2:10pm
Melbourne vs. Western Bulldogs M.C.G. 2:10pm 2:10pm

Round 18
Friday, 4th August EST LOC
St. Kilda vs. West Coast Telstra Dome (Night) 7:40pm 7:40pm
Saturday, 5th August EST LOC
Carlton vs. Melbourne Telstra Dome 2:10pm 2:10pm
Richmond vs. Western Bulldogs M.C.G. 2:10pm 2:10pm
Sydney vs. Essendon S.C.G. (Night) 7:10pm 7:10pm
Adelaide vs. Collingwood AAMI Stadium (Night) 7:40pm 7:10pm
Sunday, 6th August EST LOC
Brisbane Lions vs. Geelong Gabba (Early Start) 1:10pm 1:10pm
Kangaroos vs. Port Adelaide Telstra Dome 2:10pm 2:10pm
Fremantle vs. Hawthorn Subiaco 4:40pm 2:40pm

Round 19
Friday, 11th August EST LOC
Essendon vs. Collingwood M.C.G. (Night) 7:40pm 7:40pm
Saturday, 12th August EST LOC
Melbourne vs. Sydney M.C.G. 2:10pm 2:10pm
West Coast vs. Kangaroos Subiaco 4:10pm 2:10pm
Richmond vs. Brisbane Lions Telstra Dome (Night) 7:10pm 7:10pm
Western Bulldogs vs. Port Adelaide Marrara Oval (Night) 7:40pm 7:10pm
Sunday, 13th August EST LOC
Adelaide vs. Fremantle AAMI Stadium (Early Start) 1:10pm 12:40pm
Geelong vs. St. Kilda Telstra Dome 2:10pm 2:10pm
Hawthorn vs. Carlton M.C.G. 2:10pm 2:10pm

Round 20
Friday, 18th August EST LOC
Port Adelaide vs. Collingwood AAMI Stadium (Night) 8:40pm 8:10pm
Saturday, 19th August EST LOC
Geelong vs. Sydney Skilled Stadium 2:10pm 2:10pm
Western Bulldogs vs. Adelaide M.C.G. 2:10pm 2:10pm
Essendon vs. Hawthorn Telstra Dome (Night) 7:10pm 7:10pm
Fremantle vs. St. Kilda Subiaco (Night) 7:40pm 5:40pm
Sunday, 20th August EST LOC
Brisbane Lions vs. West Coast Gabba (Early Start) 1:10pm 1:10pm
Carlton vs. Richmond Telstra Dome 2:10pm 2:10pm
Kangaroos vs. Melbourne M.C.G. 2:10pm 2:10pm

Round 21
Friday, 25th August EST LOC
Western Bulldogs vs. St. Kilda Telstra Dome (Night) 7:40pm 7:40pm
Saturday, 26th August EST LOC
Geelong vs. Melbourne Skilled Stadium 2:10pm 2:10pm
Hawthorn vs. Kangaroos Aurora Stadium 2:10pm 2:10pm
Richmond vs. Essendon M.C.G. (Night) 7:10pm 7:10pm
Sydney vs. Brisbane Lions Telstra Stadium (Night) 7:10pm 7:10pm
Sunday, 27th August EST LOC
Port Adelaide vs. Adelaide AAMI Stadium (Early Start) 1:10pm 12:40pm
Collingwood vs. Carlton M.C.G. 2:10pm 2:10pm
West Coast vs. Fremantle Subiaco 4:40pm 2:40pm

Round 22
Friday, 1st September EST LOC
Western Bulldogs vs. Essendon Telstra Dome (Night) 7:40pm 7:40pm
Saturday, 2nd September EST LOC
Richmond vs. West Coast M.C.G. 2:10pm 2:10pm
Adelaide vs. Melbourne AAMI Stadium 3:10pm 2:40pm
Brisbane Lions vs. St. Kilda Gabba (Night) 7:10pm 7:10pm
Fremantle vs. Port Adelaide Subiaco (Night) 7:40pm 5:40pm
Sunday, 3rd September EST LOC
Sydney vs. Carlton S.C.G. (Early Start) 1:10pm 1:10pm
Collingwood vs. Kangaroos M.C.G. 2:10pm 2:10pm
Hawthorn vs. Geelong Telstra Dome 2:10pm 2:10pm

[tajiritarantula]

There is nothing more certain to cause arguments in pubs and offices across Australia than debating the fairness of the AFL draw as fans of some clubs will inevitably complain their team has a tougher fixture than some of their rivals.

With 16 teams and just 22 rounds, inequities will always arise from a draw in which each team meets just seven of its 15 rivals twice a year.

But in these days of football being such a big business, with clubs having multi-million dollar turnovers, the financial aspect of the draw is almost as important as the football aspect.

This is summed up by the fact that one of the most common fixture requests the AFL receives each year from clubs is for a home game against Collingwood, the league's biggest drawing club, in these days of the home teams keeping all the gate receipts.



Here is how each team fared in the 2006 draw both from a football and a commercial aspect.

ADELAIDE:
Football: A nightmare start to the season but after the first month, the Crows' draw is reasonable. A Monday night away game against Collingwood in round one is daunting enough, but that is followed by a home game against 2005 runners-up West Coast followed by successive away trips to opposite sides of the country, firstly to the Gold Coast - to face Melbourne - before backing up to face Fremantle in Perth. The Crows only play St Kilda and Sydney once but face return meetings against four of last year's finalists as well as likely improvers the Western Bulldogs, while two trips to Perth is also a negative. However the Crows have avoided trips to Geelong, Canberra and Launceston.
Commercial: The Crows are arguably the AFL's richest club and with their huge membership are guaranteed virtual sell-outs for home matches, regardless of their opponents. But the Crows won't be happy with four home games on a Saturday afternoon - the least preferred timeslot for South Australian footy fans - while Port has no home games at that time.

BRISBANE LIONS:
Football: Has 13 games in Queensland which is a major advantage but fared almost the worst of any team when it comes to return matches. After missing the finals in 2005 for the first time in seven years, the Lions' chances of regaining their place in the eight won't be helped by return games against three of last year's preliminary finalists - Sydney, West Coast and St Kilda - as well as Geelong. But that is off-set by no consecutive weeks of travel for the first time in the club's history while the Lions only make one trip to Adelaide and Perth. And with Melbourne (Gabba) and Hawthorn (Carrara) agreeing to play home games in Queensland against the Lions, it also effectively means Brisbane has two more "home" games than the rest of the competition.
Commercial: The Lions have suffered two major blows losing their season opening blockbuster against St Kilda from last year - which in 2006 will be played in round three and this time in Melbourne. And Brisbane won't have a huge drawing home game against Collingwood in 2006.

CARLTON:
Football: You would have hoped last year's wooden spooners would receive a good draw and Blues' fans can breathe a sigh of relief that this is the case. The Blues play just two of last year's finalists twice while they have avoided the maximum six interstate trips by only being allocated one trip to Adelaide. However the Blues again copped two trips to Perth and for the fourth straight season the Blues begin with an away game - against Melbourne at Telstra Dome.
Commercial: The cash-strapped Blues have fared well here also with home games against each of the club's three greatest rivals; Collingwood, Essendon and Richmond while they again have a Friday night home game against Hawthorn, a match which drew a huge crowd for the Blues in 2005.

COLLINGWOOD:
Football: The Magpies have fared well yet again with fewer interstate games than any other club apart from Essendon, with just four matches outside of Victoria. The Magpies don't have to go to Brisbane and only go to Perth once but face two trips to Adelaide. Also meets West Coast twice whilst its once-only clash against 2005 premiers Sydney is again at Telstra Stadium in the second half of the split round.
Commercial: The Magpies are the AFL's biggest drawcards and one of the reasons the club consistently travels less than any team is every cash-strapped Melbourne club is desperate to play a home game against them. But although the Magpies are still the only club to play on football's two biggest days on the home and away calendar - Anzac Day and Queen's Birthday - the Pies have paid a price for their recent poor form with their allocation of games in the prestigious Friday night slot slashed from nine in 2004 to six in 2005 and now just four in 2006.

ESSENDON:
Football: The Bombers are CLEARLY the big winners from the 2006 fixture and rival fans must be wondering whether the draw was compiled by Bombers' coach Kevin Sheedy. Incredibly the Bombers play just ONE of last year's finalists twice and have just four matches interstate - the equal least number of travelling matches along with Collingwood. 2005 premiers Sydney is the only finalist from last year Essendon plays twice while it avoids return trips to Adelaide and Perth. The only negative appears to be the fact the Bombers are drawn to play the league's likely big improvers in 2006 - the Bulldogs twice. Essendon has the perfect draw to enable it to make an immediate return to the finals after last year missing the September action for the first time since 1997.
Commercial: The Bombers have fared just as well here with home games against their three greatest rivals - Collingwood, Richmond and Carlton - although the Magpies have home rights for the traditional Anzac Day blockbuster this year. The Bombers also start the season with a huge home clash against 2005 premiers Sydney while they also have a home game in round nine - for Sheedy's 600th game as a coach - against Port Adelaide plus other potential blockbuster home games against St Kilda at the MCG and the Bulldogs at Telstra Dome.

FREMANTLE:
Football: The Dockers have one of the toughest draws of any team with return meetings against five of last year's finalists. Fremantle also goes to Adelaide twice and has two long trips to Launceston in the first five rounds, including against Hawthorn in round one. The Dockers only meet 2005 premiers Sydney once - in Sydney - but the positive is they don't have away games against Victoria's top two teams of the past two years in St Kilda and Geelong while they have return games against two of last year's bottom three teams in Hawthorn and Carlton.
Commercial: Fremantle has fared better here with several blockbuster home games, although they don't have a home game against the big-drawing Magpies. But Fremantle does have a rare Friday night home game, against Essendon in round 14 as well as home games against St Kilda and Port Adelaide in rounds 20 and 22, which shapes as a money-spinning end to the season provided the club is in finals contention.

GEELONG:
Football: The Cats' draw is the complete opposite of Adelaide's in that the Cats have a dream start to the season followed by a difficult draw which sees them play return matches against four of last year's finalists plus the improving Bulldogs. The Cats also face Sydney at the much larger Telstra Stadium for the first time, but have avoided two trips to Adelaide and Perth. But for all the negatives, most clubs would kill to play their first three matches on home soil which the Cats will do at Skilled Stadium in 2006.
Commercial: Playing the first three games at Geelong will ensure the cash register is ticking over nicely at Skilled Stadium early in the season and as well as that luxury the Cats have fared well by being given home games in Melbourne against big drawing pair Essendon and St Kilda. But the Cats have missed out on a home game against Collingwood.

HAWTHORN:
Football: The Hawks have fared well in terms of their return games as they play just two of last year's finalists twice and they meet all of last year's preliminary finalists - Sydney, West Coast, Adelaide and St Kilda - just once with the clashes against Sydney and the Eagles both at the MCG. However this is off-set by the fact the Hawks play just 14 games in Victoria next season although of their eight travelling matches, four are "home" games at either Launceston's Aurora Stadium or at Carrara on the Gold Coast.
Commercial: It's hard to know what to make of the Hawks' unusual 2006 fixture, in which the club took advantage of the early season unavailability of the MCG to sell two more home games interstate, which will take their number of home games in Tasmania to three. The other will be against Brisbane at Carrara on the Gold Coast, which might be a nice earner for the club, but as a result they sacrificed home state advantage to the Lions. While the Hawks' four interstate home games in 2006 should earn them around the $1 million mark, the flip side is their loyal fans in Melbourne will now have just five home games at the club's traditional home at the MCG and it will be interesting to see whether the club's membership suffers as a result.

KANGAROOS:
Football: The Kangas might just have the toughest draw of all and it will take a supreme effort by Dean Laidley's team to make the finals again. Not only do they meet five of last year's finalists twice - Fremantle and the Bulldogs are the only other teams to suffer this fate - but they face a punishing travel schedule. The Roos, like Hawthorn, play just 14 games in Victoria but of their eight interstate games, three are home matches in Canberra. But the Roos face two interstate trips (one a home game in Canberra) plus a trip to Geelong in the first four rounds and then from rounds 16 to 19 they face another three interstate trips, including facing Adelaide at AAMI and West Coast at Subiaco.
Commercial: As badly as the Roos have fared from a football perspective, they have fared well from the financial side of things and the 2006 draw should be a huge boost to the coffers of the cash-strapped club. The Roos not only have a home game on Easter Monday against Collingwood at Telstra Dome, which is the only game that day, but have been given Friday night home games at the Dome later in the season against Carlton and Essendon with the Carlton clash being the only game in Melbourne during the second half of the split round. All three games would be expected to draw crowds in excess of 50,000 to Telstra Dome.

MELBOURNE:
Football: The Demons have a tough draw both in terms of their travel schedule and which teams they play twice. Not only do they face return meetings against four of last year's finalists in Sydney, Adelaide, the Kangaroos and Geelong but they also meet likely improvers the Bulldogs and Fremantle twice. The Demons also play six games interstate, although two of those are "home" games in Queensland including the round three clash against Adelaide at Carrara while the MCG is unavailable. Melbourne also goes to Geelong in the second last round and then for the second time in three years goes interstate in the final round, to face the Crows at AAMI Stadium. They also face back-to-back interstate games in rounds three and four.
Commercial: The Demons have retained home advantage on one of football's biggest days on Queen's Birthday against Collingwood, a luxury many other Victorian clubs would kill for and with the ground's renovations to be completed by then the Demons will rake even more dollars from that game with the MCG capable of hosting 100,000 by then. However they missed out on home games against Essendon and Richmond while their first round home match against Carlton is not only at Telstra Dome but starts at the unusual time of 5.10pm on a Sunday to avoid clashing with the Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, which may affect the attendance.

PORT ADELAIDE:
Football: A tough draw for Port with return meetings against four of last year's finalists including premiers Sydney as well as preliminary finalists St Kilda and West Coast plus likely improvers the Bulldogs and Fremantle. Port also has drawn the short straw and for the second time in three years again has to make the trip to Darwin to take on the Bulldogs in the fierce Top End heat. They also have to travel to Geelong, Launceston and the SCG although they have just one trip to Perth.
Commercial: Just like the Kangaroos, Port has fared badly from a football perspective but is set to make a killing from the 2006 fixture from a financial perspective. Three home games in the first four rounds is a plus while Port has been given a Monday night home blockbuster against St Kilda on Anzac Day eve as well as likely big-drawing home games against reigning premiers Sydney and arch-rivals Collingwood.

RICHMOND:
Football: The Tigers have a much tougher draw than in 2005, when they enjoyed the least amount of travel of any club in the competition. After making just three interstate trips in 2005, the Tigers have six next year - including two to Perth while they journey to Tasmania for the first time to play Hawthorn in Launceston in round 12. The Tigers play just three of last year's finalists twice but they are arguably the competition's three best teams in Sydney, West Coast and St Kilda while they also play likely big improvers the Bulldogs twice, including in the opening round. And they have a daunting road double to Perth to face West Coast and then to Brisbane in rounds three and four.
Commercial: Richmond has fared a lot better here with MCG home games against each of the club's three greatest rivals in Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon as well as a huge round two Friday night home clash against St Kilda at Telstra Dome. The Tigers will also be pleased with the huge reduction in the club's number of Sunday matches - down from 12 in 2005 to just three in 2006.

ST KILDA:
Football: The Saints have not fared too badly for a side that has reached the last two preliminary finals as they play just three of last year's finalists twice in West Coast, Port and Geelong meaning once-only fixtures against the two sides they played in this year's finals in Adelaide and Sydney. However their once only clash with the premiers is in Sydney while they also meet the improving Bulldogs twice. The Saints have seven interstate trips in total but two of these are "home" games in Tasmania, but they do go to Perth twice as well as the Gabba.
Commercial: The Saints' status as the biggest attraction in the competition at present has been confirmed in 2006 with the club receiving the most number of the prestigious Friday night games - a total of seven which includes two which will be played on a Thursday night ensuring maximum television exposure for the club. The Saints will play in some of the highest profile games of the season, including the season opener in Perth against the Eagles on a Thursday night, a Thursday night home clash against Brisbane to start the Easter Round, a Monday night clash against Port at AAMI on the eve of Anzac Day while it also has big home games against Geelong on a Friday night in round seven and against Collingwood in round 14.

SYDNEY:
Football: The Swans have received a fantastic draw for a team which won the premiership in 2005 with return meetings with just three of last year's finalists - Melbourne, Geelong and Port. The Swans meet their three biggest rivals from 2005 in West Coast, Adelaide and St Kilda just once and their once only meetings with St Kilda and Adelaide are both in Sydney. The Swans also get a return match against 2005 wooden spooners Carlton and only have to journey to Adelaide and Perth once each. In fact only Essendon has probably fared better, with the Swans' only major negative being a trip to Geelong in round 20.
Commercial: The Swans have been well-rewarded for their premiership success and will feature in several blockbuster home matches next season. As well as retaining the traditional mid-season home clash against Collingwood in the second half of the split round, the Swans will also meet Geelong at Telstra Stadium in a re-match of this year's memorable semi-final and will have big Saturday night SCG games against St Kilda and Essendon.

WEST COAST EAGLES:
Football: Just like the team that conquered them in the memorable 2005 grand final, Sydney, the Eagles have fared well in next year's draw for a team that reached the premiership decider. Return games against just three of last year's finalists is a huge bonus and their once-only clash against the Swans is in Perth in round 15. The only negatives are two trips to Adelaide plus trips to Geelong and Canberra although the Eagles have avoided their usual trip to Launceston in 2006.
Commercial: The Eagles, like Adelaide, don't have to worry about this aspect of the draw because they always sell-out their home games regardless of the opponent. But the Eagles will have several huge home games next year, starting with the season opener against St Kilda on a Thursday night as well as early season home games against Richmond and Collingwood while their round 15 home game against Sydney will be one of the most eagerly-awaited games of the season.

WESTERN BULLDOGS:
Football: The Bulldogs are tipped to be the big improvers in 2006 but they will need to be after being handed one of the toughest draws of any team. Along with the Kangaroos and Fremantle, the Dogs are the only team that has to play five of last year's finalists twice, including both South Australian teams plus St Kilda, Geelong and Melbourne. And while they play 2005 premiers Sydney just once, that match is in Sydney. The Dogs also travel six times although two of these are "home" games that the club has agreed to shift interstate, one against the Swans at the MCG and the other against Port in Darwin.
Commercial: The Doggies have been well-rewarded for their improvement in 2005 and for their expected further improvement in 2006 with a Friday night home match against Richmond to kick off their season while they finish with big home games at Telstra Dome against St Kilda and Essendon in the last two rounds. But they missed out on a home game against Collingwood.