November 10, 2007
GEELONG and Collingwood are hoping to bring some tradition back to the MCG next year, requesting a VFL curtain-raiser before their round nine AFL clash.
The two clubs have forwarded the idea to the VFL as part of their requests for the 2008 fixture.
The Pies will join Geelong in fielding a stand alone VFL team next season, after ending their alliance with affiliate Williamstown this year.
Collingwood approached the premiers about the idea of playing a curtain-raiser before the Friday night AFL game on May 23.
Although the Cats are supportive of the idea, the AFL is believed to have said the fixture would be unlikely because round nine is indigenous round and three AFL games are planned for the MCG that weekend.
Geelong and Coburg are also looking at playing a VFL match on the ground before the Cats-Richmond game in round eight.
That AFL game has been fixtured for a 2.10pm start at the MCG on Saturday, May 17.
Among Geelong's other VFL fixture requests are:
CURTAIN-raisers to be played before all AFL matches at Skilled Stadium that start at 2.10pm (five games in total);
SATURDAY VFL fixtures leading into Friday night AFL games to allow potential call-up players enough time to recover (five games in total);
GAMES during the two VFL split rounds to be be played on May 3 and July 19, to allow curtain-raisers to be played before AFL home games at Skilled Stadium;
NO VFL games to be played on the same day as AFL games to ease the load on club resources and to allow the AFL match committee to watch players in the VFL;
HOME games at Skilled Stadium on weekends the AFL team is playing interstate, to maximise home crowd attendances;
THE Cats are supportive of the Geelong Falcons playing curtain-raisers before stand-alone VFL games at Skilled Stadium;
NO VFL Reserves games be played at Skilled Stadium as curtain-raisers, to reduce damage to the ground; and
NO VFL game be scheduled for Skilled Stadium during the week of the under-18 national championships between July 20-28, to reduce damage to the ground.
Geelong is expected to play a grand final re-match against Coburg in round one, and will unfurl their premiership flag after a match against Werribee, along with the AFL flag, which will be unfurled prior to the round three game against Melbourne.
The VFL fixture is expected to be released in about a month.
