The AFL announces its fixture list for the 2013 premiership season.
Swans stars Adams Goodes and and Norm Smith medallist Ryan O'Keefe hold up the grand final trophy to the crowd. Picture: David Caird. Source: News Limited
THE Sydney Swans' reward for winning the premiership is a brutal draw that includes 10 blockbusters against top eight sides from last season.
Swans boss Andrew Ireland conceded yesterday the AFL's new schedule presents a "challenge in a football sense" for their club, however, the draw also allows Sydney to cash in on their success.
Sydney will host two genuine blockbusters at ANZ Stadium against Collingwood and their grand final opponent Hawthorn.
The matches have the potential to generate millions of dollars for the club.
However, the Swans have been handed the easiest of starts against the GWS Giants at ANZ Stadium and the Gold Coast Suns at the SCG in the first two rounds.
And a second match against the Giants at the SCG in round 16 is a real bonus for the Swans.
The 2013 draw also gives GWS a strong chance of improving on their two wins from their debut season.
Not only will there be much less travel in the early part of the year, the Giants play the two teams they defeated - the Suns and Power - twice.
The other key features to the Swans 2013 draw are:
- Three Friday night games against Geelong (Rd 4, SCG), Collingwood (Rd 9, MCG) and Carlton (Rd 14, SCG)
- Nine home at the SCG and two at ANZ Stadium
- Five games in Victoria instead of six, however, they'll play three at the MCG in 2013.
- Swans play St Kilda on Anzac Day in Wellington - the first match for premiership points outside Australia.
"Ten matches against top eight teams from 2012 will certainly be a challenge in a football sense, but it is a great opportunity for our fans to see us taking on the best teams in big games," Ireland said. "The only disappointment coming with just four games in Melbourne and one in Geelong for the strong Swans supporter base in Victoria."
The biggest challenge for both Swans and the AFL in 2013 will be increasing their TV presence in Sydney and three Friday night matches going up against the NRL will present a real for their brand.
Their only Friday night match last season against Geelong in round 13 at the SCG averaged just 58,000 free-to-air viewers in Sydney on 7Mate compared to the 367,000 viewers who tuned into Nine's coverage of the Broncos and Rabbitohs.
AFL chief operating officer Gillon McLachlan has faith in the Swans' national appeal which saw the 2012 grand final average 5 million viewers.
"It's a maturity about the Swans brand which has been coming for a few years," McLachlan said.
"They are not a regarded as a Saturday or Sunday team they can play in any slot.
"It's also a flexibility in the broadcast deal which allows the games to be shown live on Seven on Friday night."
After sending the Giants on the road for seven of their first 10 games the AFL scheduling has been much kinder for 2013 with six home games in the opening 12 rounds.
"We have been able to schedule matches at Skoda Stadium earlier next year, with seven big games including Geelong, Essendon and Richmond, and it's a great opportunity for our supporters,"Giants boss David Matthews said.
The other highlights of the Giants 2013 draw are:
- Seven home matches at Skoda Stadium, including games against Essendon, Geelong, Richmond, West Coast and Adelaide.
- The Giants will play each of last year's finalists only once, with the exception of the Swans
- The Giants will play Collingwood under lights at the MCG for the first time on July 27 in a Saturday twilight match.
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