Football: Should be pleased, particularly with the opening half of the season where they have eight of 11 games at the MCG. Will only play two games at Etihad Stadium, where they've got a terrible record, but do cop another trip to Geelong, the scene of former coach Dean Bailey's undoing in 2011. Including their home game in Darwin, the Demons have six matches outside Victoria, two of those in Perth. Of the 2011 top eight they play only St Kilda twice. Other return clashes are against Greater Western Sydney, Richmond, Fremantle and the Brisbane Lions. Only five six-day breaks is another good result.

Business: Eight of 11 MCG games to start the year should delight fans, and the club's bottom line. They've also got eight family-friendly Saturday afternoon matches, and 11 games on free to air TV. They've retained their traditional Queen's Birthday home game against Collingwood, and have a Friday night at home against Hawthorn. That is the Demons' only match in that sought-after timeslot though. The home game against Fremantle at Etihad Stadium won't have the accountants celebrating, but it's offset by clashes against the Magpies and Hawks, plus a home game against Richmond and the profitable excursion to Darwin.

Big game: Both rebuilding from the bottom up and laden with talented youngsters, Melbourne and Richmond have used each other as somewhat of a yardstick in recent seasons. They'll have an early chance to do that again in 2012, with a round three MCG clash set to sort out which of the two is on the faster track to the top.

To download a pdf version of the 2012 fixture, click here.
RDDATEOPPONENTVENUEH/A LOCAL TIME
1Saturday, March 31 Brisbane LionsMCGHome1:40pm
2Saturday, April 7 West Coast EaglesPatersons StadiumAway2:40pm
3Saturday, April 14 RichmondMCGAway1:45pm
4Sunday, April 22 Western BulldogsMCGHome4:40pm
5Saturday, April 28 St. KildaMCGHome7:40pm
6Saturday, May 5 Geelong CatsSimonds StadiumAway1:45pm
7Friday, May 11 HawthornMCGHome7:50pm
8Saturday, May 19 Sydney SwansSCGAway4:40pm
9Sunday, May 27 CarltonMCGAway3:15pm
10Saturday, June 2 EssendonMCGAway7:40pm
11Monday, June 11 CollingwoodMCGHome3:15pm
12Bye    
13Sunday, June 24 GWS GIANTSMCGHome3:15pm
14Sunday, July 1 Brisbane LionsGabbaAway3:15pm
15Saturday, July 7 RichmondMCGHome2:10pm
16Saturday, July 14 FremantleEtihad StadiumHome1:45pm
17Saturday, July 21 Port AdelaideTIO StadiumHome7:10pm
18Saturday, July 28 North MelbourneEtihad StadiumAway2:10pm
19Sunday, August 5 Gold Coast SUNSMCGHome1:10pm
20Saturday, August 11 St. KildaMCGAway1:45pm
21Saturday, August 18 GWS GIANTSManuka OvalAway2:10pm
22Sunday, August 26 Adelaide CrowsMCGHome4:40pm
23TBCFremantlePatersons StadiumAwayTBC


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