2014 practice match - Richmond vs Essendon - Mar 7 @ Punt Road

[one-eyed]

Richmond fans are likely to be very excited about the prospect of the Tigers taking on Essendon at the redeveloped Punt Road Oval, although the match might yet take place at Craigieburn in Melbourne's northern suburbs.

2014 PRACTICE MATCH FIXTURE
Sunday, March 2
Gold Coast v Collingwood at Metricon Stadium, time tbc

Thursday, March 6
West Coast v Fremantle at Patersons Stadium, time tbc

Friday, March 7
Geelong v North Melbourne at Simonds Stadium, time tbc
Greater Western Sydney v Adelaide at Blacktown, time tbc
Carlton v Western Bulldogs at Visy Park, time tbc
Richmond v Essendon at Punt Road Oval or Craigieburn, time tbc

Saturday, March 8
Port Adelaide v St Kilda at Alberton Oval, time tbc
Melbourne v Hawthorn at Casey Fields, time tbc
Brisbane Lions v Sydney Swans at Burpengary, time tbc

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-12-16/wa-preseason-feast

[Judge Roughneck]

they will not be able to field a team by mar 7 

no ideal pre-season preparation for the the season

almost like playing a drug induced banned side on the eve of finals for only time in history

[gerkin greg]

what r we playing these sillys for?

[one-eyed]

Not confirmed(?) but this is what the RFC has on the website.

Richmond vs Essendon
Location    ME Bank Centre, Punt Road Oval
Start    7 Mar 2014, Fri, 4:40 PM (EST)
End    7 Mar 2014, Fri, 7:10 PM (EST)

http://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/2013-12-17/tigers-host-bombers-in-preseason-practice-match

[WilliamPowell]

Not confirmed(?) but this is what the RFC has on the website.

Richmond vs Essendon
Location    ME Bank Centre, Punt Road Oval
Start    7 Mar 2014, Fri, 4:40 PM (EST)
End    7 Mar 2014, Fri, 7:10 PM (EST)

http://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/2013-12-17/tigers-host-bombers-in-preseason-practice-match

Correct RFC article said game is subject to the "interface being finished" and the AFL saying the ground is up to AFL standard

[one-eyed]

Punt Road ready to roar again
Peter Ryan 
afl.com.au
January 27, 2014 3:30 PM

PLAYING a practice match against arch rivals Essendon at Punt Road Oval will excite both Tiger fans and players, Richmond midfielder Daniel Jackson says. 

The match, to be played at 1pm on Friday March 7 at the Tigers' spiritual home, is sure to attract a big crowd of purists.

It comes just eight days before Richmond's season opener against Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium.

"Being able to play as a senior team out on Punt Road … against the Bombers of all things. That is a real old time image," Jackson told AFL.com.au.

"I think it is exciting for the club [and] it is great for footy in general."

The AFL confirmed on Thursday that the redeveloped Punt Road would be a practice match venue when clubs have their final hit-out against opposition clubs before the home and away season begins.

"Punt Road has the same dimensions as Etihad [Stadium] so it will be a nice little physical game leading into the season opener," Jackson said.

The clubs have attracted more than 80,000 to the MCG for each of the Dreamtime at the ’G games in the past three seasons.

They last met in a senior VFL game at Punt Road in round two, 1964.

Jackson said the revamped training surface at Punt Road was great, with the facilities at the ME Bank Centre first class.

He said the club was also excited at the prospect of having a stand-alone VFL team playing home games at Punt Road throughout 2014.

Seven of those games will be played as curtain raisers to the Richmond's MCG matches.

"It is going to be good for our young guys to play (in the VFL) at Punt Road on a ground they are familiar with and then come across and watch the seniors play afterwards (at the MCG)," Jackson said. "I think that is going to be a real unifying thing for our footy club."

The practice match at Punt Road will follow the NAB Challenge series where 18 games are being played throughout the country on 18 consecutive days.

Richmond plays Melbourne at Etihad Stadium on February 14 and Collingwood at Wangaratta on February 22 before playing the Bombers.

Jackson said playing a practice match at traditional grounds might be a nice annual quirk if it could be arranged: "I hope the other teams can do the same thing. It would be great to play at Windy Hill one day or get back to Vic Park … a bit of classic football."

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-01-27/punt-road-ready-to-roar

[Phil Mrakov]

I just don't see how it will be ready for March 7th, when they haven't done anything yet judging by the RFC videos

[(•))(©™]

What does ASADA have to say?
 stuff all?

[Phil Mrakov]

What does ASADA have to say?
 stuff all?

They have sent an email to Richmond that says there must be an injection room on site for the Essendon players.

[(•))(©™]

Off site, i would have thought

[Phil Mrakov]

Off site, i would have thought

Apparently off site doping is a major issue for them

[🏅Dooks]

1pm start hey?  So do we have to go elsewhere to lay a nice foundation? Will there be a bbq before the cans come out?

6 weeks out and no details ffs 

I dont like it and I have the right to say it 

[Phil Mrakov]

1pm start hey?  So do we have to go elsewhere to lay a nice foundation? Will there be a bbq before the cans come out?

6 weeks out and no details ffs

I dont like it and I have the right to say it 

Plus the site where the crowd is meant to go hasn't been given any attention since 1987 but somehow they'll magically be ready for a game that is now only a few weeks a way

[🏅Dooks]

1pm start hey?  So do we have to go elsewhere to lay a nice foundation? Will there be a bbq before the cans come out?

6 weeks out and no details ffs

I dont like it and I have the right to say it 

Plus the site where the crowd is meant to go hasn't been given any attention since 1987 but somehow they'll magically be ready for a game that is now only a few weeks a way

Has the magic wand been organised?

[yellowandback]

I think you 2 have your hand on the magic wang