Football: Nice start to the season with thanks to the AFL with reigning premiers Geelong set to travel to Patersons Stadium. The good news thereafter is that Freo doesn't see the Cats again and of the 2011 finalists, the only team Fremantle will face twice is Carlton outside of regular Derby rivals West Coast. Freo plays five games in Victoria - two at the MCG and three at Etihad Stadium and returns to Aurora Stadium for the first time since former coach Mark Harvey sent a second-string team there in 2010 and lost by 116 points to Hawthorn. It is also Freo's turn to finish the home and away season at home, so the round 23 match will be against Melbourne at Patersons Stadium.

Business: Two Friday night games for Freo with the home game against Carlton in round 5 the traditional Len Hall Anzac Day commemoration. Geelong, Carlton and Essendon are three Victorian clubs with strong followings in Perth and who each are drawn to play Freo at Patersons Stadium. As per a request from the club, Freo will host the second Western derby for the year against West Coast.

Big game: Clearly, it will be the round 4 Friday night game at Etihad Stadium that will pit Fremantle coach Ross Lyon against his former club St Kilda for the first time.

To download a pdf version of the 2012 fixture, click here.
RDDATEOPPONENTVENUEH/A LOCAL TIME
1Saturday, March 31 Geelong CatsPatersons StadiumHome4:40pm
2Saturday, April 7 Sydney SwansSCGAway2:10pm
3Saturday, April 14 Brisbane LionsPatersons StadiumHome2:40pm
4Friday, April 20 St. KildaEtihad StadiumAway7:50pm
5Friday, April 27 CarltonPatersons StadiumHome6:40pm
6Saturday, May 5 Gold Coast SUNSMetricon StadiumAway4:40pm
7Sunday, May 13 Port AdelaidePatersons StadiumHome2:40pm
8Saturday, May 19 HawthornAurora StadiumAway2:10pm
9Sunday, May 27 West Coast EaglesPatersons StadiumAway2:40pm
10Saturday, June 2 Adelaide CrowsPatersons StadiumHome2:40pm
11Saturday, June 9 RichmondMCGAway2:10pm
12Bye    
13Saturday, June 23 EssendonPatersons StadiumHome5:40pm
14Saturday, June 30 CollingwoodMCGAway1:45pm
15Sunday, July 8 Western BulldogsPatersons StadiumHome2:40pm
16Saturday, July 14 MelbourneEtihad StadiumAway1:45pm
17Sunday, July 22 GWS GIANTSPatersons StadiumHome2:40pm
18Sunday, July 29 Port AdelaideAAMI StadiumAway12:40pm
19Saturday, August 4 West Coast EaglesPatersons StadiumHome2:40pm
20Saturday, August 11 Adelaide CrowsAAMI StadiumAway1:40pm
21Saturday, August 18 RichmondPatersons StadiumHome2:40pm
22Sunday, August 26 North MelbourneEtihad StadiumAway3:15pm
23TBCMelbournePatersons StadiumHomeTBC


The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs