Football: As they did in 2011, Richmond again has a difficult start to the year, playing four of the 2011 top five in the opening five rounds. But at least the Tigers won't have to go far from home in that time. They only leave Victoria once in the first 11 rounds. Will face Port Adelaide twice, but not Gold Coast or Greater Western Sydney. On the flip side, the Tigers won't play any 2011 top four teams twice, although they will meet Carlton a second time. Have reduced their interstate home games from two to one, again jeopardising a near-certain four points by playing the Suns in Cairns. Should be comfortable with five six-day breaks, six interstate trips (including their Cairns home game) and no consecutive weeks of travel.

Business: Six home games against Victorian clubs, including Carlton, Melbourne, Hawthorn and Essendon, should be profitable, as of course will the Cairns home game against Gold Coast. Also pleasing for the bean counters will be avoiding certain low-drawing Melbourne match-ups with the Suns and Giants. Have only two Friday night matches, but four Saturday nights, six Saturday afternoons, and no Sunday twilights. Twelve games on free to air TV puts them on par with Hawthorn and St Kilda.

Big game: Preceded by games against Carlton and Collingwood and followed by clashes with Geelong and West Coast, the round three MCG meeting with Melbourne already looks like a must-win. Sure to see the Tiger faithful out in force and desperate to belt out the song.

To download a pdf version of the 2012 fixture, click here.
RDDATEOPPONENTVENUEH/A LOCAL TIME
1Thursday, March 29 CarltonMCGHome7:40pm
2Saturday, April 7 CollingwoodMCGAway7:40pm
3Saturday, April 14 MelbourneMCGHome1:45pm
4Sunday, April 22 Geelong CatsSimonds StadiumAway1:10pm
5Sunday, April 29 West Coast EaglesEtihad StadiumHome3:15pm
6Sunday, May 6 Port AdelaideAAMI StadiumAway2:45pm
7Saturday, May 12 Sydney SwansMCGHome4:40pm
8Saturday, May 19 EssendonMCGAway7:45pm
9Saturday, May 26 HawthornMCGHome1:45pm
10Friday, June 1 St. KildaEtihad StadiumAway7:50pm
11Saturday, June 9 FremantleMCGHome2:10pm
12Saturday, June 16 GWS GIANTSSkoda StadiumAway2:10pm
13Bye    
14Saturday, June 30 Adelaide CrowsAAMI StadiumAway1:40pm
15Saturday, July 7 MelbourneMCGAway2:10pm
16Saturday, July 14 Gold Coast SUNSCazaly's StadiumHome4:40pm
17Sunday, July 22 North MelbourneMCGHome3:15pm
18Saturday, July 28 CarltonMCGAway7:40pm
19Saturday, August 4 Brisbane LionsGabbaAway7:40pm
20Sunday, August 12 Western BulldogsMCGHome3:15pm
21Saturday, August 18 FremantlePatersons StadiumAway2:40pm
22Friday, August 24 EssendonMCGHome7:50pm
23TBCPort AdelaideMCGHomeTBC


The views in this article are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs