OFFICIAL - North v Sturt Friday Night, Others Saturday After

[PhilH]

MEDIA RELEASE
SANFL ROUND 23
MATCH FIXTURE CHANGES

The SANFL match program is formulated on the principle that home Clubs have the ability to
request when they wish to play over a weekend. Therefore, the Round 23 match program
has been determined on home Club requests for what they believe to be best for their
playing group and for their individual Club.

The four Clubs playing in the Finals Series have requested to play their matches at the
earliest possible time over Round 23, to allow their players to have the longest possible
break and recovery time before heading into what will be a challenging Finals Series.

With the final five teams locked in for the 2007 Finals Series, this weekend’s matches will determine the
Finals draw for next weekend. Top spot on the ladder is now locked away with Central District taking
out the Minor Premiership for season 2007. The positioning for the Eagles, North Adelaide, Sturt and
Glenelg will depend upon results in their respective matches this weekend.

SANFL Round 23 matches are as follows -

Friday 7th September –
Match Sturt v North Adelaide
Venue Adelaide Oval
Reserves Commencing 4.55pm
League Commencing 7.40pm


Saturday 8th September –

Match Eagles v Glenelg
Venue Woodville Oval
Reserves Commencing 11.30am
League Commencing 2.15pm

Match West Adelaide v Port Adelaide
Venue Broadspectrum Oval
Reserves Commencing 11.15am
League Commencing 2.00pm

Match South Adelaide v Norwood
Venue Hickinbotham Oval
Reserves Commencing 11.15am
League Commencing 2.00pm

[LPH]

How STUPID is that ???

Had to be played ON SUNDAY to maximise attendance !!!

Not only are Port & West Coast on BUT Adelaide United as well !!!

The SANFL have NO IDEA !!!

[zipzap]

Bugger, it's what I feared. Sturt are screwed unless any or all of Feast, Nels, Gummy and Thommo can recover in such a space of time. Sunday would have been much preferred...

[Hondo]

LEH it sounds like a request from the clubs rather than an SANFL directive

[Rushby Hinds]

LEH, did you even read the explanation?

[LPH]

LEH it sounds like a request from the clubs rather than an SANFL directive

Clubs... Shrubs #####

Next week is SUNDAY ANYWAY... would've been better on Saturday than Friday night !!
At least that would mean the Cows on TV istead of both.

Unbelievable!!!

[zipzap]

LEH, did you even read the explanation?

With that in mind, I am very surprised by Sturt's decision. Unless of course Feast and Nelson are being kept in cotton wool for the finals which could very well be the case...

[Wedgie]

I can understand having a Friday night game and the Bays v Eagles being on Saturday but WTF are the other 4 clubs thinking. Unless I go to Melbourne I'm stoked as I can go to North v Sturt and Bays v Eagles.

[Rucciangelo]

Zippy, Thommo wouldn't play this weekend anyhow. Couldn't possibly be allowed to play by the Powder!
Sunday would be better obviously to not clash with the AWFL, but hey let's not sook, just get out there and kick some butt!
What a great season of SANFL...if you don't follow West, South, Norwood or Port!

[LPH]

LEH, did you even read the explanation?

It's SUPPOSED to be a BUSINESS.

The SANFL run the business.

7 days is AMPLE time to recover for a final.

Business success is ALL ABOUT MARKETTING the product & SELLING the product.
Sunday would have been PERFECT... TV audience & LIVE audience.
Saturday Night would have been BEST for LIVE audience after Cows match.

Discisions MUST be made BY the SANFL in the BEST INTERESTS of the SANFL, not individual clubs.

How else can the competition COMPETE for the MARKETTING & SALES dollar ???

Pathetic decision

[heater31]

It's SUPPOSED to be a BUSINESS.

The SANFL run the business.

7 days is AMPLE time to recover for a final.

I don't think that the SANFL lodges tax returns on behalf of the 9 clubs so its not their business. the league only has to take into account the clubs needs. Each club has the capacity to decide when it can play their home games.

Anyway when I reported on the state of the Sturt/North game saturday evening I got the impression from a Sturt Official late in the last qtr that north had agreed to this time at least 2 weeks in advance regardless of the AFL fixtures.

[Wedgie]

Blaming the SANFL for giving the choice to the clubs is absurd, blaming the clubs in the finals for wanting the best preperation for their teams finals hopes is absurd too. However, blaming the 4 clubs not involved in the finals for playing on Saturday is fair enough as that's a crazy move.

[r&w4eva]

to make things wore the Adelaide united game is V melb... so that will take a few fans away from both games and visa versa..
it does make it a tough decision for friday night now doesnt it....

[LPH]

So what you are saying is...

If this match was between Sturt or North v Port Magpies, they wouldn't have moved it ???

Get real... they would have moved it TO MAXIMISE ATTENDANCE...

Your defence of the SANFL is almost as pathetic as the actual decision.

Shame on the SANFL for NOT having the foresight & 'smarts' to stipulate WHEN the game should be played & why.

[Aerie]

The fixturing of this weekend is the worst possible result as far as trying to get people through the gates is concerned. Expect all time low crowds on the Saturday afternoon. Especially considering all those games are likely to be meaningless with regards to the ladder. Disappointing considering the SANFL specifically give themselves the flexibility to do what they like for the fixtures in round 23.

[lesthemechanic]

Just ******* great. Was hoping for Sat. arvo or sat night. I'm busy Fri night & Sunday. First game I'll miss this season, just great. So much for NAFC's website saying Sat arvo.

[Punk Rooster]

LEH, did you even read the explanation?

Have you lost your mind?

[smac]

So what you are saying is...

If this match was between Sturt or North v Port Magpies, they wouldn't have moved it ???

Get real... they would have moved it TO MAXIMISE ATTENDANCE...

Your defence of the SANFL is almost as pathetic as the actual decision.

Shame on the SANFL for NOT having the foresight & 'smarts' to stipulate WHEN the game should be played & why.

To start with, the game wasn't moved as it had never previously been scheduled.

Secondly, the clubs requested the times provided.

Thirdly, (see previous responses) clubs have a right to prepare for finals by playing as early in the weekend as possible - have a crack at the 4 non-finals playing clubs for their scheduling by all means.

Lastly, I found a picture of you.

[Wedgie]

North v Port was moved last year for exactly the same reasons as this year.

[JK]

Norwood and South Adelaide Football Club's are extremely disappointed with this outlandish draw and the fact that each of their clubs are unable to play on Friday night so as to ensure the maximum possible recovery time between the match and Mad Monday!