RICHMOND 2018 FIXTURE ANALYSIS
SYNC 2018 FIXTURE WITH YOUR CALENDAR
PROS: The Tigers are back on the big stage after winning the flag, earning eight Thursday/Friday night games (up from two in 2017). They open the season with six of their first seven games at the MCG, and close with four of their last five on their home ground.
CONS: The only bottom six team Richmond plays twice is Collingwood, arguably the toughest of the group. Essendon and St Kilda are also tough double meetings from the middle six. Rounds 11-17 are difficult, with six straight games against 2017 finalists.
PLAY TWICE: Adelaide, Geelong, Collingwood, Essendon, St Kilda.
BYE: Round 14
FIRST FOUR WEEKS: Carlton (h), Adelaide (a), Hawthorn (h), Brisbane Lions (h).
LAST FOUR WEEKS: Geelong (h), Gold Coast (a), Essendon (h), Western Bulldogs (h).
SIX-DAY BREAKS: Eight
ANZAC EVE PENALTY: Included in the Tigers' eight six-day breaks is a five-day turnaround following their Anzac Eve clash against Melbourne. The Tuesday night match will be a historic first.
WE SAY: A premiership gets you back on the big stage, and the Tigers will be thrilled with that after being bumped off the Friday night stage altogether on 2017. They have maintained their marquee matches against Melbourne and Essendon and have a fixture that should result in big crowds again. They have fared reasonably will with the double match-ups from the top six, but less so with the middle and bottom brackets. Hosting Sydney at Etihad Stadium will probably frustrate the club, with their fans showing a reluctance to cross to the Docklands venue.
