Comments on: Common sense and fairness missing in AFL draw

By: Michael C

Michael C — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 12:24:04 +0000

Midfielder -

I took the liberty of reading the article too – - opposable thumbs…….hmm, what would the author make of our novel little game…..perhaps too many calories get burned??

By: Michael C

Michael C — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 12:17:55 +0000

Brian -

agreed. We used to at least be able to look forward to the most accurate reflection of standing for the year – after Rnd 15 – everyone had played everyone. No excuses (well, not that one any way!!).

Megatron -

The notion of what are the non-negotiables about the game needs to be fully debated. As, a shorter game has tremendous merit. (finishes earlier on Friday nights rather than 11pm!!).
Expanded squads, or, at least a mid season ‘top up’ draft to ensure that clubs can fill the gaps a bit better – - maybe a decent ‘adult rookie’ list by a different name that includes past AFL players ( a real chance for those who played their 2 games and had injuries and just got cut because they had to make room for the next batch).

By: megatron

megatron — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 10:52:50 +0000

Why not expand squads so teams can rotate players or cut quarters to say 20 minutes so a full home and away schedule can become a reality. Divisions could be interesting but I can’t see it working.

By: drewster

drewster — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 03:03:52 +0000

Brian your point is right on the button. every team should play each other once in rounds 1-15 as it used to be, But to play twice seems impractical, even if they were to get rid of the NAB cup and start then, especially with 2 new teams entering. The division system would seem to be a practical way to even the draw but how to divide the teams is the big question?

By: Redb

Redb — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 01:08:10 +0000

Midfielder,

Oh I don’t know I think it’s perfect for the Daily Telegraph. In Melbourne we actually attend both codes.

Redb

By: Brian

Brian — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 01:00:20 +0000

The AFL draw has always been imbalanced but until recently at least Rounds 1-15 were fair. Thereafter form and ladder position would usually take over and so although the fixture was unfair it was hardly felt. More recently the all teams play once in rounds 1-15 policy was abolished. The result is you can play Hawthorn or Geelong twice in the first 10 weeks and your season is almost over less than halfway in. For example Richmond will play the Bulldogs again in Round 11 this year, by which time their season could be on the verge of collapse. I think its one thing for the AFL not too be able to play 15 or 30 rounds but the old system of at least playing one fair round was definately better. With regards to scheduling 21,000 is not bad for PA against Melb they should be happy. Also to be fair they should schedule the blockbuster games more on previous season’s results (Geelong v Hawthorn) rather than big teams (Collingwood).

By: Midfielder

Midfielder — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 23:41:43 +0000

Redb

Sorry Adrian totally off topic …. Redb tho you may enjoy this and with a bit of cut and pace and change a couple of things send into the Herald Sun … it’s very tongue in check.. I am sure but I think you will enjoy… However the lecturer did make Time so can’t be all bad..

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123680101041299201.html

By: Redb

Redb — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 23:38:12 +0000

Dave,

Yeah a great win for the Bombers, really enjoyed the game and the result was fantastic – what blues supporters?, I’ve been on cloud nine completely oblivious to their whining. Just remind them Fevola 4.7 goals. That’s 4 straight wins – if we lose every game this season we still have this one.

Two divisions presents it’s own problems in terms of splitting heartland support unless you lump all the big Vic teams in the one division.

If you look at the past ten years with the ‘uneven’ draw, teams from Adelaide, Perth, Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Geelong have won. Every major city that has a team has won despite their being 9 teams from one city – it’s not that uneven if you consider the impact on the results.

Redb

By: Dave

Dave — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 23:19:02 +0000

Redb

4 points great win…if you remember l predicted a 5 point win! Well done Bombers. Has the whinging from Carlton supporters stopped yet?
re the fixture it is probably why a conference system will never happen because which Vic teams will miss out on playing the big 3?
Although l still think splitting the teams into 2 divisions has some merit. It comes down to economics vs fairness.

By: Redb

Redb — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 22:55:04 +0000

What a load of cobblers re Port Power, do you really think if they played another team over Easter it would have added more than 3-4,000 to that crowd number?

All crowds are affected over Easter it’s that simple – If you could view Melbourne from space on Thursday night you would have noticed 5-6 red dotted lines leaving the metropolitan area in all directions as people go on holidays in their droves, I’m certain Adelaide is the same.

21,000 is not bad considering all the factors.

As for the uneven draw well that’s just a consequence of expansion isn’t it. With 10 Vic teams out of 16 clubs it is a difficult balancing act, you would be crazy to jeopardise the Ess, Coll, Carl playing each other in front of 70,000 plus crowds – there are far more fans of those clubs individually than Port Adelaide – who do you please?

In 3 years, it will be 10 out of 18 clubs, in the future who knows.

Redb

By: Michael C

Michael C — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 13:04:03 +0000

Dave – agreed. (btw – only Richmond supporters would be disatisfied presently with the cyclical return to ‘power’ of the Victorian clubs. Main test, the next period of interstate dominance if spearheaded by Syd and Bris – - of GC17 & WS18 – - will the ‘balance’ of crowds still relatively even out?)

btw -

North Melbourne regularly have been scheduled for Mothers Day sunday arvo matches……….a fixturing dead end for a hosting club.

It happens.

So long as the distribution of ‘top up’ funds takes these sorts of things into account, then, fine.

Given the amount of ‘requests’ each club puts forward, and all the many stakeholders plus the required access to venues, plus the desire to avoid head to head with RU Super 14s etc etc……..it’s amazing a fixture can be put out at all.

Fairness………..we haven’t had that since a 22 round H&A for a 12 team comp.

By: Guy Smiley

Guy Smiley — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 10:12:04 +0000

Megatron no can do – too physically demanding, you would struggle to field a fit team by October. As for Collingwood, many clubs request to play them in Melbourne where they can maximise their revenue at the gate. Not really their fault.

By: megatron

megatron — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 06:03:38 +0000

It’s simple. Full home and away season. Until then it will never be fair and this way Collingwood and co won’t have the advantage. Get rid of the preseason comp, start end of feb and go into oct if needed.

By: Kurt

Kurt — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 05:21:19 +0000

Agree with most of what you say Adrian, but as always the question is what to do about it? I’d love to see a proper home and away season with all clubs playing each other twice, but that would involve a significant extension to the season and I’m not sure various stakeholders partic. the players would cop it. Alternately we could go with a conference type model as Dave says, where each team plays their own conference twice and the other conference once but how to divide the teams? That question alone would occupy the Melbourne sporting media for the best part of a year or so with no resolution. I don’t think designing the draw so as to maximise attendance and ratings is a bad thing per se’ but overall the current situation is definitely not ideal. And let’s not even start on the grossly unfair use of FTA broadcast exposure to reward certain teams…

By: Dave

Dave — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 22:09:17 +0000

The AFL fixture’s main purpose, it seems, is to maximise attendances (and TV viewership) particularly in Melbourne and if one of the smaller clubs (attendance wise) is sacrificed occassionally so be it. They do a pretty good job of maxing out attendances in Melb but already it seems attendances interstate this season are beginning to slip. Only when the AFL figure out a complete draw where each team plays each other team home and away will this be rectified (BTW that may mean splitting into conferences once the 2 new teams are in).