Carlton chief Steven Trigg says the AFL’s 2015 fixture is a win of fans and families.
The AFL has scrapped the poorly attended Sunday and Monday night games, in favour of more traditional football timeslots. Carlton’s CEO says the Blues will reap the benefits.
“I think all Carlton people should be really pleased,” Trigg said on the Blues Newscast today.
“Since arrival here in mid August, there has been a lot of talk about how difficult the fixture was last year and how un-family and un-fan-friendly Carlton’s fixture was.
“This year, in 2015, I reckon with three Saturday afternoon games, a Saturday twilight, a middle of Sunday afternoon fixture times three, and throw in a couple of blockbuster Thursday/Friday nights, I reckon it’s a really terrific fixture for us to get fans back to the game and to excite.”
Carlton opens its campaign against Richmond at the MCG on Easter Thursday. The Blues will play five home games in the first seven rounds, including hosting Essendon and Collingwood at the MCG. The match against the Magpies will mark Mick Malthouse’s record breaking game for the most games as senior coach.
Round four of the season will see the Blues head to New Zealand to face the Saints on ANZAC Day. Trigg says as far as ‘away’ games go, it’s as good as it gets.
“It’s not often you get excited about an away fixture, but that one looms as being really special,” he said.
“A hundred years since landing at Gallipoli and all the celebration that goes on with that, and for us to be a part of that in New Zealand, I think is a very, very unique and special opportunity.
The Blues will head to Wellington, New Zealand, in Round 4, 2015, to face the Saints on ANZAC Day. (Photo: AFL Photos)
“We’ve already spoken to St Kilda about helping to promote that game, to construct something that’s a bit outside the box in terms of an offering for our potentially travelling supporters, and to do some things around the ANZAC Spirit that you can really only best do on the day.”
Meanwhile Carlton has been dealt at least one significant challenge, with the Blues to host Brisbane at Eithad Stadium on Mother’s Day. Attendances on that day have traditionally been poor, but Trigg says some creative thinking could address the issue.
“It is, in fixture terms, the graveyard slot,” Trigg said. “But at 3.20pm there is an opportunity and being the only game in Melbourne that day is an opportunity.
“I’ll say right now – we'd love to do something really special that day. I don’t quite know what it is .. we’ll set our team to work on what that might look like.”
