NMFC.com.au breaks down how the 2015 fixture compares to 2014.
Six-day breaks
2014: 8
2015: 7
With three fewer Friday night games in 2015, less six day breaks were to be expected.
Etihad/MCG split
2014: 11 games at Etihad, 2 at MCG
2015: 11 games at Etihad, 2 at MCG
Interstate trips (excluding Hobart)
2014: 6
2015: 5
Even with an extra game in Hobart for 2015, Victorian fans still see the same total of games as 2014, with one less interstate trip on the agenda.
Promisingly, all five of the interstate trips have a substantial break around them:
- Round 1 at Adelaide Oval is the season opener
- Round 8 at Patersons Stadium is after an eight day break, with another eight day break before Round 9
- Round 12 at Spotless Stadium is after a seven day break, heading into the bye
- Round 14 at Metricon Stadium is after the bye, with a seven day break before Round 15
- Round 17 at the Gabba is after an eight day break, with a seven day break before Round 18
Games against top eight sides from previous year
2014: 9
2015: 11
In Round 3, North will start a six-game stretch where it plays every single 2014 finalist except for Sydney. However with only one of those games an away interstate encounter (Round 8, Fremantle), it’s a big chance to set up the season.
Free-to-air games
2014: 10 (one TBD)
2015: 12 (one TBD)
View North's full fixture | View 2015 AFL fixture
Timeslots
Friday nights
2014: 5
2015: 2
Saturday afternoon/twilight
2014: 5
2015: 5
Saturday night
2014: 3
2015: 7
Sunday early/afternoon
2014: 3
2015: 6
Sunday twilight/night
2014: 5
2015: 1
The changes in North’s fixture from a timeslot perspective are clear when looking at the above breakdown. The loss of Friday games has seen a heavy increase in Saturday nights, whether home or away.
With only one Sunday twilight game in 2015 and six games either in the early or middle slot, it is a more family friendly day for families making the trip.
Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Home/Away | EST |
1 | Sunday April 5 | Adelaide | Adelaide Oval | Away | 3:20pm |
2 | Sunday April 12 | Brisbane | Etihad Stadium | Home | 4:40pm |
3 | Saturday April 18 | Port Adelaide | Etihad Stadium | Home | 7:20pm |
4 | Sunday April 26 | Geelong | Simonds Stadium | Away | 3:20pm |
5 | Saturday May 2 | Hawthorn | Etihad Stadium | Home | 7:20pm |
6 | Saturday May 9 | Richmond | Blundstone Arena | Home | 1:45pm |
7 | Friday May 15 | Essendon | Etihad Stadium | Away | 7:50pm |
8 | Saturday May 23 | Fremantle | Patersons Stadium | Away | 7:40pm |
9 | Sunday May 31 | Collingwood | MCG | Away | 3:20pm |
10 | Sunday June 7 | West Coast | Blundstone Arena | Home | 3:20pm |
11 | Saturday June 13 | Sydney | Etihad Stadium | Home | 7:20pm |
12 | Saturday June 20 | GWS Giants | Spotless Stadium | Away | 4:35pm |
13 | BYE | ||||
14 | Saturday July 4 | Gold Coast | Metricon Stadium | Away | 4:35pm |
15 | Saturday July 11 | Geelong | Etihad Stadium | Home | 7:20pm |
16 | Friday July 17 | Essendon | Etihad Stadium | Home | 7:50pm |
17 | Saturday July 25 | Brisbane | The Gabba | Away | 7:20pm |
18 | Saturday August 1 | Carlton | Etihad Stadium | Away | 7:20pm |
19 | Sunday August 9 | Melbourne | MCG | Away | 1:10pm |
20 | Saturday August 15 | St Kilda | Blundstone Arena | Home | 2:10pm |
21 | Sunday August 23 | Fremantle | Etihad Stadium | Home | 1:10pm |
22 | Saturday August 29 | Western Bulldogs | Etihad Stadium | Home | 4:35pm |
23 | TBC | Richmond | Etihad Stadium | Away | TBC |
