St Kilda Senior Coach Alan Richardson was pleased with the fixture from a football perspective.
“From a footy sense, this is a good fixture for the Saints,” Richardson said.
“We have four, six-day breaks between games during the season which is a fair result and we also have a decent balance of interstate games. Importantly, we don’t have any consecutive interstate games.”
“It’s terrific to be coaching against Mick Malthouse on Anzac Day for our Centenary home game against Carlton in Wellington.
"It will be a very special and historic occasion commemorating the 100th anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli and the players are looking forward to playing on this significant day.”
St Kilda CEO Matt Finnis said on balance the club was content with the fixture and hoped supporters will get behind the team at every opportunity.
“We believe this is a solid draw for the club given the competing demands the AFL has had to factor in,” Finnis said.
“The important message for our fans is that our young team is intent on developing a brand of highly competitive footy and we hope you will get behind them wherever, whenever we are scheduled to play.”
The number of home games scheduled against Victorian clubs is second only to Collingwood while St Kilda’s Anzac Day clash against Carlton in round four is a highlight of the fixture.
For the second year in a row, St Kilda’s Tasmanian fans will get an opportunity to watch their team live, with the Saints due to take on North Melbourne in August at Blundstone Arena in round 20.
“The Saints have strong links to Tasmania with some of our greatest players born there including Ian Stewart, Darrel Baldock, Nick Riewoldt and Verdun Howell, as well as younger players Maverick Weller, Jimmy Webster and Eli Templeton,” Finnis said.
St Kilda will play eight Sunday games in 2015, and Finnis reaffirmed his desire to make these clashes attractive for St Kilda’s loyal fan base.
“We will place a strong focus on bringing to life the Sunday afternoon football experience at Etihad Stadium in 2015 and we look forward to a number of big clashes – including against long-term rivals Richmond and Hawthorn – which will be great games to attend,” he said.
1 Sunday, April 5 GWS GIANTS Etihad Stadium Home 1.10pm
2 Saturday, April 11 Gold Coast SUNS Metricon Stadium Away 7.20pm
3 Friday, April 17 Collingwood MCG Away 7.50pm
4 Saturday, April 25 Carlton Westpac Stadium Home 1.10pm
5 Sunday, May 3 Essendon Etihad Stadium Home 3.20pm
6 Saturday, May 9 Western Bulldogs Etihad Stadium Away 2.10pm
7 Saturday, May 16 Adelaide Crows Adelaide Oval Away 1.15pm
8 Saturday, May 23 West Coast Eagles Etihad Stadium Home 1.45pm
9 Sunday, May 31 Brisbane Lions The Gabba Away 1.10pm
10 Sunday, June 7 Hawthorn Etihad Stadium Home 4.40pm
11 Sunday, June 14 Melbourne Etihad Stadium Home 4.40pm
12 Bye
13 Saturday, June 27 Western Bulldogs Etihad Stadium Home 7.20pm
14 Sunday, July 5 Essendon Etihad Stadium Away 1.10pm
15 Sunday, July 12 GWS GIANTS Spotless Stadium Away 1.10pm
16 Sunday, July 19 Richmond Etihad Stadium Home 4.40pm
17 Sunday, July 26 Melbourne MCG Away 3.20pm
18 Sunday, August 2 Port Adelaide Adelaide Oval Away 12.40pm
19 Sunday, August 9 Fremantle Etihad Stadium Home 4.40pm
20 Saturday, August 15 North Melbourne Blundstone Arena Away 2.10pm
21 Saturday, August 22 Geelong Cats Etihad Stadium Home 7.20pm
22 Sunday, August 30 Sydney Swans Etihad Stadium Home 3.20pm
23 TBC West Coast Eagles Patersons Stadium Away TBC TBC
