John Longmire would be smiling after the release of the draw. Source: Getty Images
JON Ralph analyses the AFL's winners and losers from the 2014 draw.
WINNERS:
SYDNEY
How good will this mob be next year with the draw from heaven plus the AFL's biggest drawcard in Lance Franklin?
Not only do they get dual encounters against AFL easybeats Greater Western Sydney - rubbing their noses in the Franklin acquisition - they have middling double-up opponents.
They play Hawthorn twice as expected, but the only other top-six opponent they play twice is Port Adelaide.
The Power are no guarantee to make the finals next year given the crowd of clubs likely to push into the eight.
So Sydney are winners all around, especially with early clashes against GWS and Melbourne.
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WESTERN BULLDOGS
Of course they were always going to complain about this draw from a commercial point of view given its financial challenges.
But any side which does not play any of 2013's top six sides twice has to have a miracle draw.
That means the Dogs at least have the chance to leap up the ladder with this draw and Stewart Crameri, even if no one expects a finals berth in 2014.
They do sell a home game to Cairns to play the Gold Coast - everyone knows how tough that contest is - which means they travel seven times.
But given 14 Etihad Stadium games and a glut of early home games, they at least have the chance to get off to a fast start.
They don't play a Grand Finalist until Round 11, and have early winnable games against Greater Western Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.
MELBOURNE
Paul Roos missed out on the priority pick, but he got a charmed draw.
That was always likely given their bottom-six finish, but if the Demons can win some "home games" in the Northern Territory, they can at least push up the ladder this year.
The double-up games are against the Western Bulldogs, GWS, Port Adelaide, North Melbourne and West Coast.
It's not cushy, but only Port Adelaide of those five made finals.
They play eight of ten matches at the MCG from Round 4 on, play their first three matches against bottom-ten teams, and have a winnable game against St Kilda in Round 1.
LOSERS:
HAWTHORN
As the reigning premiers they were always going to cop a tough draw given the new equalisation formula.
But the club that will start LWB (Life Without Buddy) from Round 1 again has a stinky draw.
They played all of the other 2012 finalists in their first seven games this year, and the double-up encounters for 2014 are again really tough.
They take on Fremantle (of course given the GF result), Geelong, Collingwood, Sydney and the Gold Coast twice next year.
And the Gold Coast is set to come with a rush in its fourth season, and will make Metricon Stadium an intimidating venue.
Still, Hawthorn took last year's draw in its stride, so will hope for another powerhouse home-and-away season.
ESSENDON
Not the draw that many suspected they would receive, given the clear issues they have with AFL House and vice versa.
Yet the first month is bloody tough before the draw unfolds.
They take on North Melbourne, Hawthorn, Carlton and Fremantle, with both Collingwood, Sydney and Richmond in the five weeks after that.
So they face seven out of nine really challenging encounters to start the year at a time when you assume there will be at least some teething problems with the new coach.
Mark Thompson says he wants to play the way James Hird did, but even then you assume Essendon will be something of a work in progress given only two NAB Cup warm-up games.
They will need to work on a new forward line give and perhaps some new tactics.
If they survive that run - and dual encounters against Collingwood, Carlton and Richmond - they will be well placed to challenge for the premiership Mark Thompson says is achievable.
GEELONG
Geelong's double-up encounters are as tough as any side bar Hawthorn.
They take on both the Grand Finalists twice - Hawthorn and Fremantle - plus Carlton, 2013's unluckiest side North Melbourne, as well as Brisbane.
On the flip side seven encounters are at Simonds Stadium.
But a side that is going to have to adjust to life without Paul Chapman, Joel Corey, James Podsiadly and to a lesser extent Josh Hunt has some real challenges ahead.
They travel five times and take on Adelaide in Round 1 at Simonds Stadium in one of the many Thursday night clashes.
As always the Cats have a huge advantage with their Simonds Stadium home base.
But this is a tough fixture for a club that is taking half a step backwards to again be a premiership force in coming seasons.
31 Oct, 2013
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Source: http://www.news.com.au/national/jon-ralph-takes-a-look-at-who-were-the-winners-and-losers-from-the-2014-afl-fixture/story-e6frfkp9-1226750348222?from=public_rss
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