The Brisbane Lions will play two fewer games in Melbourne next year. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun
THE Brisbane Lions' hopes of growing their southern supporter base suffered a setback yesterday with the AFL cutting by two the number of games they will play in Melbourne next year.
Lions chief executive Malcolm Holmes asked for six Melbourne games but the side will play only four there, with a fifth Victorian game to be played in Geelong.
Holmes said the commercial deals of the Demons and Hawthorn to stage interstate home games in Darwin and Launceston made it difficult to accommodate six Lions games in Melbourne.
"We're obviously disappointed with this outcome, but understand the changing landscape the AFL now operates under,'' he said.
The Lion's Roar, a supporters group from Melbourne, claimed the AFL had ignored the Lions' status as a two-town club.
Fourth-generation Lions supporter Joel Thompson said the draw would put at risk the club's Fitzroy heritage.
"Ensuring the Lions' heritage continues in Melbourne means everything to me," he said.
"We don't get to see our team play (live) too often.
"We rely on the AFL doing the right thing by us, especially when it was such a key part of the merger. Sadly though, they don't seem to care about those of us in Melbourne who love the Lions."
Both Queensland clubs were granted most of their wishes for next season's draw.
Gold Coast are delighted all their home games were locked into Saturday timeslots and they have been favoured by 14 appointments against 2012's bottom-eight clubs.
Brisbane are already rubbing their hands in anticipation of consecutive Gabba feature games against Carlton (May 25) and Collingwood (May 31).
Statistically on 2012 results provided by the AFL, Brisbane and Melbourne have the easiest lists of opponents of all clubs. Their opponents for 2013 won 47.2 per cent of matches played this year.
The hardest fixture lists in that regard have been handed to Hawthorn and North Melbourne (both 53 per cent).
Of last year's eight finals teams, Brisbane play only two of those sides twice Geelong and North Melbourne.
But the Lions face four top-eight opponents in their first eight rounds.
The Suns have an opportunity to hit the ground running. The only top-eight sides they meet in the first eight rounds are Fremantle and premiers Sydney.
"The draw presents the club with a great opportunity to capitalise on the momentum we gained during the back end of 2012," Gold Coast chief executive Travis Auld said.
Other fixture highlights for the Queensland clubs include:
* Thirteen Suns games in Queensland, with 11 at Metricon Stadium, one at the Gabba and one in Cairns.
* QClash battles at the Gold Coast (April 13) and in Brisbane (July 6).
* Big-ticket clashes at the Gabba featuring Carlton, Collingwood, Geelong and St Kilda.
* Brisbane's eight matches against bottom five opponents.
* Gold Coast's two meetings with Greater Western Sydney.
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