MELBOURNE'S 2016 FIXTURE: GAME BY GAME
Round 1: GWS Giants
Saturday, March 26, MCG, Home, 1.40pm, Foxtel
Footy’s back! And we can’t wait! The second match of the premiership season – between the competition’s oldest football club and the newest at the ‘G – should be a beauty. Already it could be argued that GWS’ biggest rival in four seasons is Melbourne, given both sides have won four matches each from eight games. It will also be GWS’ only home and away match at the MCG next year. Tomas Bugg, who is set to make his Demon debut against his former side, could be one of three ex-Giants, including Dom Tyson and Sam Frost, up against one former Demon Tom Scully. And Jack Viney will notch up his half-century, when he plays his 50th AFL match. Bring it on!
Round 2: Essendon
Saturday, April 2, MCG, Away, 2.10pm Foxtel
This should be a fascinating early season encounter, considering Melbourne has won four of its past six matches against Essendon, yet fell nine points short in its only meeting against the Dons last year. It was one of Melbourne’s most frustrating losses, as the Demons had 25 scoring shots to 19. Premiership coaches Paul Roos and John Worsfold (Essendon’s new coach) will go head-to-head for the 17th time. Roos has the edge with nine wins to seven. Jack Grimes is set to play his 100th AFL match and Jake Melksham will play his first game against his former side.
Round 3: North Melbourne
Sunday, April 10, Blundstone Arena, Away, 1.10pm, Foxtel
Melbourne will play its first match for premiership points in Tasmania, when it heads to the venue best known as the Bellerive Oval – the home of Boony, Ponting and now North Melbourne’s home-away-from-home. It will be a great opportunity for Melbourne’s Tasmanian supporters to watch the red and blue – and for proud Tasmanian and Demon defender Colin Garland to play in front of his home crowd. The Dees will also be desperate to end a 14-game losing streak to North Melbourne, dating back to round 20, 2006.
Round 4: Collingwood
Sunday, April 17, MCG, Away, 3.20pm, Seven
In recent years, if Melbourne and Collingwood meet twice in a season, the first encounter is usually the Queen’s Birthday match. But in 2016 – and for the first time since round two, 2010 – the two sides will play each other before the QB clash. The Demons achieved a significant milestone in 2015, when it defeated the Magpies in round 18 – the first time it had defeated the black and white army since round 11, 2007. Ben Kennedy is set to play his first game against his former side, as Jeremy Howe also comes against his ex-teammates.
Round 5: Richmond
Sunday, April 24, MCG, Home, 7.10pm, Seven
One of Melbourne’s 2015 highlights was its round four win over eventual finallist Richmond. Not only was it an impressive victory, it was also on the big Friday night stage – and on Anzac Day eve. Although the two sides had previously met on Anzac Day eve in 1915 and 1937, this will be the second successive year Melbourne and Richmond meet on this occasion. It is now planned to be an annual event. It promises to be another moving occasion and another great match, with the Demons having the edge over the Tigers in the past two encounters.
Round 6: St Kilda
Saturday, April 30, Etihad Stadium, Home, 1.45pm, Seven
After two losses to St Kilda in 2015 – an agonising defeat in round 11 and a disappointing loss in round 17 – the Demons will be hellbent on attempting to end a considerable losing streak to the Saints, dating back to Melbourne’s most recent finals win: the 2006 second elimination final. If it’s anything like the clash at Etihad Stadium this year, it’ll be another arm-wrestle. Chris Dawes is on target to play his 50th match for the Demons this round.
Round 7: Gold Coast Suns
Saturday, May 7, Metricon Stadium, Away, 5.10pm, Foxtel
The Dees will play their first match in Queensland since round 20, 2013, when they venture north to take on the Suns. It will also be Melbourne’s most recent match against the Gold Coast since round one, 2015, when the Demons produced an impressive 26-point win at the MCG. Bernie Vince is set to play his 50th match for the club.
Round 8: Western Bulldogs
Sunday, May 15, MCG, Home, 3.20pm, Seven
In the corresponding match this year, the Demons overcame the Bulldogs – the much-improved and eventual finallist – by 39 points. It proved to be the red and blue’s greatest winning margin of the 2015 season. But Melbourne’s second outing against the Dogs at Etihad Stadium in round 20 this year was a day to forget. The Dees will be hoping for a much better outcome this time around. It will be the first time the Demons haven’t played the Bulldogs twice in a season since 2012. It will also be just one of two MCG games for the Dogs in 2016.
Round 9: Brisbane Lions
Sunday, May 22, MCG, Home, 1.10pm, Foxtel
Melbourne ended a five-game losing streak against the Brisbane Lions, when it produced a 24-point win in round 16 at the MCG this year. When the two sides meet in 2016, it will be the first time since 2011-12 that the Demons have played the Lions at the ‘G in consecutive years. It will also be the first of two MCG matches for the Lions next year.
Round 10: Port Adelaide
Saturday, May 28, TIO Traeger Park, Home, 1.40pm, Foxtel
For the third successive season, Melbourne and Port Adelaide will do battle at the picturesque TIO Traeger Park in Alice Springs, as the AFL celebrates the inaugural Sir Doug Nicholls Round. The Demons will be desperate to open their account in Central Australia after a highly-entertaining encounter in 2014 and a disappointing fade-out in 2015. It is a magical place to watch football and well worth a visit!
Round 11: Hawthorn
Saturday, June 4, MCG, Away, 1.45pm, Seven
This will be the first of two encounters against the reigning back-to-back-to-back premiers. It will also be the first time the Demons have played Hawthorn twice in a season since 2011. The Hawks will also be the only top eight team from 2015 that the Dees play twice in 2016. It will be a great test for Melbourne, given it hasn’t defeated Hawthorn since round eight, 2006. Ruckman Max Gawn is due to play his 50th AFL match. Ex-Demon Jack Fitzpatrick could play his first match against his former club.
Round 12: Collingwood
Monday, June 13, MCG, Home, 3.20pm, Seven
The traditional Queen’s Birthday match on Monday will be Melbourne’s second clash against Collingwood in 2016. It will also be the first time the Dees play a side twice next year. Last year’s QB game drew a crowd of 66,120 people – the eighth best home and away attendance in 2015. And with an expected improvement from the Demons and Pies next year, this looms as a 70,000-plus crowd in 2016.
Round 13: Sydney Swans
Sunday, June 19, SCG, Away, 1.10pm, Foxtel
The Dees will play their first match at the SCG since round 20, 2013 when they take on the Swans. It will also be just the second time Melbourne has played against Sydney at the venue since 2007, with recent matches being played at the MCG or StarTrack Oval. Dom Tyson is in line to play his 50th match for Melbourne. This will be Melbourne’s last match before the bye.
Round 14: Bye
Round 15: Adelaide Crows
Sunday, July 3, MCG, Home, 3.20pm, Foxtel
Melbourne returns from its mid-season break to play the Crows for the first time since round three, 2015 – and at the MCG since round 22, 2012. After playing nine of their first 14 matches at the MCG, the Demons will play rounds 16 to 18 at TIO Stadium, Etihad Stadium and Domain Stadium respectively. And if they play every game up until this round, Cam Pedersen will notch up his half-century for Melbourne and Jake Spencer will also play his 50th AFL game.
Round 16: Fremantle
Saturday, July 9, TIO Stadium, Home, 7.10pm, Foxtel
Melbourne will play its seventh home and away match in Darwin – it has played a match every season at TIO Stadium since 2010 – when it hosts Fremantle. It will be the second time the Demons play in the Northern Territory in 2016. And it will be Fremantle’s third match for premiership points at TIO Stadium, and second against Melbourne. Colin Garland is on course to play his 150th AFL match.
Round 17: St Kilda
Sunday, July 17, Etihad Stadium, Away, 3.20pm, Seven
Interestingly, this will be Melbourne’s second encounter against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium next year. After playing a ‘home’ match in round six, this will be an away match against the Saints. Having finally ended a miserable 22-game losing streak at Docklands, the Demons will be determined to come away with a two-from-two record at Etihad Stadium in 2016. Again, it promises to be a fascinating encounter.
Round 18: West Coast Eagles
Saturday, July 23, Domain Stadium, Away, 2.35pm, Foxtel
This will be Melbourne’s second match on the road in three rounds – the Demons head to Darwin in round 16 and then to Perth for this match. It will be the red and blue’s only encounter at Domain Stadium next year. Melbourne will be aiming for its first win against West Coast since round 14, 2009 at the MCG – and its first win at Subiaco since round 11, 2004.
Round 19: Gold Coast Suns
Sunday, July 31, MCG, Home, 1.10pm, Foxtel
Melbourne’s second match against the Suns in 2016 will be at the MCG, where it started 2015 with a bang. After being away from the ‘G for almost a month, the Demons will play back-to-back games at the home of football in rounds 19-20. If all runs to plan, Tom McDonald will notch up his 100th match and Dean Kent will bring up his 50th game.
Round 20: Hawthorn
Saturday, August 6, MCG, Home, 2.10pm, Foxtel
After playing the Hawks in round 11, the Demons will again face them almost two months later. The period from rounds 11 to 20 is an interesting one for Melbourne, considering six of its nine matches are against 2015 finallists. It will be another important test in Melbourne’s 2016 journey, particularly in the backend of the season.
Round 21: Port Adelaide
Saturday, August 13, Adelaide Oval, Away, 7.10pm, Foxtel
Melbourne’s final home and away match outside of Victoria in 2016 is against the Power at the magnificent Adelaide Oval – a place the Demons have impressed in four matches. Although the Dees have only won once from four games – a memorable three-point win over Adelaide in round seven, 2014 – they have lost by just an average of just two goals. It will be the second time the Demons play the Power in 2016 – and the last time it meets a side twice next year.
Round 22: Carlton
Sunday, August 21, MCG, Away, 1.10pm, Foxtel
This will be Melbourne’s final home and away match of the season at the MCG and its first match against Carlton. Like 2015, the Demons don’t face the Blues for the first time until very late in the season. This year, the Dees played Carlton in round 21. Melbourne will be determined to bounce back from a very disappointing loss against Carlton in 2015, when it meets up again. If Jeff Garlett can play every match of the season until this stage, he will play his 150th AFL game against his former team.
Round 23: Geelong Cats
TBC, Simonds Stadium, Away, TBC, TBC
As has been the case in recent years, the final home and away round of the season will be a floating fixture, with the day, date, time and broadcast host to be decided closer to the round. What is known is that Melbourne will finish its home and away season at Simonds Stadium – the venue of its most impressive win in 2015. The Demons defeated the Cats by 24 points and in the process notched up their first win at the Cattery since round 20, 2005 and their first win over Geelong since round six, 2006. If Melbourne can reproduce a similar result – and end the home and away season on a high – it will be a big result. What will it mean for the Demons in 2016? Stay tuned. It should be a fascinating and exciting ride.
