Round 1 2015 Revealed

[Eastdog]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-10-2...-2015-revealed

PRIZED Brisbane Lions recruit Dayne Beams will enjoy an instant reunion with his former Collingwood teammates, with the Lions and the Magpies scheduled to meet at the Gabba in the opening round of next year.

The AFL has confirmed the opening round fixtures for 2015, with Carlton and Richmond once again kicking off the new season at the MCG on Easter Thursday, April 2.

This will give the MCG ground staff just four days to convert the ground back to its football alignment following the World Cup cricket final the previous Sunday.

With the AFL choosing not to stage a Good Friday game, it will be the match-up between Beams and the Magpies on the Saturday night at the Gabba that will attract plenty of interest, with the resurgent Lions granted their wish of an early home blockbuster against a big Victorian club.

Beams returned to his home state during last week's trade period after 118 games for the Magpies, including the 2010 premiership and the 2012 Copeland Trophy.

The marquee match of the round will be at Patersons Stadium on the opening Sunday with a replay of this year's first semi-final between Fremantle and Port Adelaide. The Power stormed home to knock the Dockers out of the finals by 22 points in a major upset.

2014 strugglers Melbourne and St Kilda will both open with winnable home games against Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney, respectively.

Adelaide, under new coach Phil Walsh, will kick-start the Adelaide Oval season on the Sunday afternoon against North Melbourne.

James Hird's first game back as coach of Essendon will be at the SCG on the opening Saturday afternoon against the Sydney Swans. It remains to be seen how strong a side the Bombers will be able to field, depending on the outcome of the ASADA saga.

The Western Bulldogs and West Coast will play Etihad Stadium's first game for the season on the Saturday night.

Hawthorn is likely to unfurl its 2014 premiership flag with the now traditional Easter Monday clash against Geelong at the MCG in what will be the last game of the round.

The AFL will unveil the complete fixture for 2015 on Thursday October 30.

Thursday
Carlton v Richmond

Saturday
Melbourne v Gold Coast
Sydney Swans v Essendon
Brisbane Lions v Collingwood
Western Bulldogs v West Coast

Sunday
St Kilda v Greater Western Sydney
Adelaide v North Melbourne
Fremantle v Port Adelaide

Monday
Hawthorn v Geelong

[boydogs]

We're a decent show at winning that, and good to start the year with a decent timeslot for people to get into it

[lemmon]

We're a decent show at winning that, and good to start the year with a decent timeslot for people to get into it

Agree, I think it's a good result for us. GWS would have been the preference but it's a nice opportunity for some exposure

[hujsh]

The AFL has confirmed the opening round fixtures for 2015, with Carlton and Richmond once again kicking off the new season at the MCG on Easter Thursday, April 2.

Oh joy

[Remi Moses]

Just great it's not a Sunday bloody game at 4.40

[Eastdog]

Just great it's not a Sunday bloody game at 4.40

Yep thank goodness it's not. That would of been a awful time to play out to open the season especially for a home game.

[jeemak]

Excellent round one result for us in terms of scheduling, and to be fair opponent.

No excuses for our supporters not to be very interested in showing up.

[ledge]

Aren't 4.40 Sunday games now gone ?

[chef]

Aren't 4.40 Sunday games now gone ?

NO. Sunday night games are, not the twilight ones.

[Go_Dogs]

WC always seem to start the season with a bang, so I'm saying not a guarantee but we're a good chance.

Great that it's a Saturday night game too.

[Eastdog]

Aren't 4.40 Sunday games now gone ?

Unfortunately Sunday twilight hasn't been scrapped.

[Hotdog60]

The perfect start to the season will be that Boyd does a Kennedy and boots 7 or 8 and we win. Then watch out for the media scribes.

[KT31]

Great to see we have a decent time slot and a quality opponent, now we just need to be competitive and have a decent crack and we should get a few members onboard.

[G-Mo77]

The perfect start to the season will be that Boyd does a Kennedy and boots 7 or 8 and we win. Then watch out for the media scribes.

I recall another one of our big signings kicking 7 in Round 1 against the Eagles. I hope he kicks 1 or 2.

F the media!

[Axe Man]

I agree that it's a good result. Home game, decent timeslot and a winnable match. Not sure why the AFL keep giving us round 1 games against West Coast though? This will be the third in four years. The bad news is we have never beaten West Coast in a round 1 match, including the infamous Jade Rawlings shootout of 2004.