After starting its 2013 AFL home and away season with a standalone home Carlton Mid Derby night-time clash against the Eagles on Saturday 23 March, Fremantle returns to Patersons Stadium in round three to take on Essendon in a prime time clash under lights on Friday 12 April in the Starlight Purple Haze Game.
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The 18th annual Len Hall Game will provide the setting for the club’s second prime time Friday night game of the season against Richmond at Patersons Stadium in round five on 26 April. It is the first time since 2010 that Freo has hosted two Friday night home qualifying games in a season and is reflective of the significant TV audiences the club attracted in season 2012.
The run of early season home blockbuster fixtures culminates in a round seven Saturday night clash against Collingwood on 4 May.
Following a round two away encounter at Etihad Stadium against the Western Bulldogs, the club embarks on consecutive long-haul away games against Hawthorn in Launceston (round four) and Gold Coast Suns on the Gold Coast (round six).
Fremantle is scheduled to play a total of 10 night games in 2013, including six at home at Patersons Stadium (two Friday, four Saturday) and four away, including Sydney (round 8, SCG), Geelong (round 14, Simonds Stadium) and Carlton (round 19, Etihad Stadium).
Of the top eight sides from 2012, Fremantle plays only two of these teams twice - Adelaide (rounds 10,18) and West Coast (rounds 1,16).
In the five week period after the club’s bye in round 11, Fremantle plays four games at Patersons Stadium including three home games (Brisbane, round 12; North Melbourne, round 13; St Kilda, 15) before an away Carlton Mid Derby against West Coast at the same venue in round 16.
The last four games of Fremantle’s home and away season include matches against Greater Western Sydney (Patersons Stadium), Melbourne (MCG), Port Adelaide (Patersons Stadium) and St Kilda (Etihad Stadium).
Fremantle CEO Steve Rosich said that given the demands of the competing clubs and the complexity of drawing up fixtures for an 18-team competition with 22 home and away games, the club was pleased with its schedule for 2013.
“Kicking off 2013 with a string of marquee home games at Patersons Stadium, including two Friday night games, will provide an exciting start to the season for our members and supporters,” Rosich said.
“The interest in our first four games will be significant. We are very pleased at the prospect of hosting a home derby followed by the Starlight Purple Haze Game against Essendon plus the Len Hall Game against Richmond, all capped off by a Saturday night clash under lights with Collingwood.
“We anticipate that our first four home games will be heavily patronised, with the potential for all four games to be sell-out fixtures.
“Every fixture presents it opportunities and challenges, so overall, and taking into account the challenges associated with such issues as six day breaks and our heavy travel schedule, we are satisfied with our spread of games across the home and away season.”
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