24 rounds. Byes. An October grand final. There was plenty unusual about the 2011 AFL fixture released yesterday, although that’s not to say the usual criticisms haven’t since come out. On the whole, while there is plenty to complain about, there are a few things the AFL should be commended on. Like always, it’s a mixed bag.
Leaving aside the annual debate over the fairness or otherwise of Collingwood’s draw, let’s take a look at which aspects of the fixture the league have gotten right and which aspects they’ve gotten wrong.
Highlight: Last year’s top three all playing each other twice. After the ordinary turnout to the sole home and away season St Kilda-Geelong clash this year, the AFL have wisely opted to make proper use of the rivalries built up during the previous season. Next year we’re getting Collingwood-Geelong twice, St Kilda-Geelong twice and, of course, Collingwood-St Kilda twice.
Lowlight: Collingwood-St Kilda in Round 11. One of the main reasons behind the ordinary turnout mentioned above was the long wait until mid-season for the grand final re-match to be played. This year, too, it could’ve been earlier. So could, for that matter, Collingwood’s first MCG home game – and likely unfurling of their premiership flag – which will be in Round 3. Ugh.
Highlight: Gold Coast opening their new stadium against Geelong. AFL footy will arrive on the Coast with one of the season’s more anticipated match-ups – Gary Ablett coming up against his old side. It was the perfect choice, even if we do have to wait until Round 10.
Lowlight: Gold Coast hosting Brisbane in … Brisbane? It seems very odd that both Queensland derbies will be played on the Lions’ home turf. It’s hard to think why the first clash couldn’t be a Lions home game at the Gabba and the second a Suns home game at Carrara. Unless of course all future clashes are to be shifted to the Gabba, which seems equally hard to comprehend.
Highlight: 14 games across 11 days. Although the AFL labelling this a “Footy Fiesta” is a bit of a lowlight, with Easter weekend and Anzac Day clashing a monster two rounds have been created with just one day off separating them. Bring on rounds 5 and 6!
Lowlight: The bizarre gap between Carlton and North Melbourne. Only percentage separated Carlton and North Melbourne this year, and both clubs are capable of improvement. So, it’s odd that the Blues will feature on Friday nights at least six times – more than any other club bar St Kilda – as well as again opening the season against Richmond on a Thursday night, while the Roos make just one primetime appearance. The Blues have also again been given the Monday night football slot along with the Saints.
Highlight: Every club to play at least one game at the MCG. Having Fremantle play its first game at the ‘G for 2010 in a knockout final was hardly an ideal situation. Nice to see the league ensure that won’t happen again in 2011.
Lowlight: One Saturday arvo game at the ‘G in the first 13 rounds. It’s hard to fathom how the best time and place to watch a game of footy has been so ignored. The situation was bad enough in 2010, but it will be even worse next year.
Highlight: A home and away season match in Cairns. It’s great that Richmond and Gold Coast will be taking the game to north Queensland in Round 17. It will be the first ever regular season match in the region. That said, it is odd that a club the size of the Tigers will have two “home games” interstate (the other against Port Adelaide in Darwin).
Lowlight: Only seven games at Skilled Stadium. Geelong, who normally push for nine home games at Skilled, were told last year that being allocated seven games at the ground was merely a one-off, a quirk of the 2010 fixture not to be repeated. Fast forward 12 months, and it has been repeated. It’s an outrage, especially with all the effort (and money) the club have put into upgrading their stadium in recent years.
Kermit is a frog
Roar Pro
so Melbourne get to host all 7 interstate sides, only, one is up in Darwin vs Port. North only have to host 5 of the 7 interstaters - so, better than this year, expect avg crowds to be up by about 1000 at least (i.e. one less 15-18,000 match). Correct though - North have been shafted on the Friday night front - and, really, Carlton,.....who want's to watch them that many times on Friday nights? The sooner the AFL has a Friday night CHOICE, the better!! Still most interest is on how Supercoach and Dreamteam will function.
Black Diamonds
Guest
Another point I would raise is - the Geelong v St. Kilda game this year was crowd effected not by when it was played - the teams were at the top of the ladder at the time - but by the appaling weather that week leading into the game. If there had been no rain, there would easily have been 70,000, perhaps 75,000 there. As it was, an attendance of more than 58,000 was a pretty good effort considering walk-up starts on the day would have been minimal given the constant rain.
Black Diamonds
Guest
Dates and times are locked in for Round 22 - its Round 24 that's floating next year. Hopefully they stay at 24 Rounds in 2012.
Phil
Guest
As a Gold Coaster I can assure you it is going to be a tough gig for the Suns to gather support. Will Gold Coasters drive the Brisbane to support our team? Well if the Suns are winning I think so. This is really a Rugby League town with a passing interest shown in AFL mostly from ex mexicans. Let's hope the Suns explode out of the blocks in the first 9 rounds or risk playing Geelong in a half empty stadium -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Michael DiFabrizio
Expert
Cheers for the comment, mds1970, and for the clarification re: the derby at the Gabba (and ANZ!). I had suspected that the bigger capacity was a factor and that this may be a permanent thing. Still not sure if it's the best idea to have both games on the Lions' turf, however I'll admit I'm not familiar with the habits of people on the GC and whether they are happy to make the trip up to Brisbane (although Geelong fans are usually happy heading up to Melbourne for big games). I do know the Titans host the Broncos at Skilled Park, as opposed to Suncorp, but we'll see how the AFL approach works next year and have a clearer understanding then.
Whites
Guest
With regards to 7 on Friday night. They might be allowed to show games on 7mate or Seven2 next year. Anti-syphoning changes are announced in the next few weeks. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
mds1970
Roar Guru
The Suns' home game against Brisbane was always going to be at the Gabba. The Queensland derby is a certain sell-out, and the Gabba's capacity is more than Carrara. Similarly from 2012 onwards, the Swans' home game against GWS will be at ANZ. The wait till round 10 for the Suns' first game at Carrara is to ensure that, even if bad conditions delay the construction work, it will still be finished in time for the first game; so the AFL and the Suns won't suffer the embarrassment of having to move a game because the ground isn't ready. I found it interesting that, given that the Swans v Carlton final was only the third day game ever played at ANZ, that two of the three games next year will be on Sunday afternoons. Also that Essendon have been given one of the blockbuster games there, given that the Bombers have been struggling lately. The Friday night game in Sydney is interesting - the AFL have avoided that timeslot for Sydney. They must have thrown some sweetener at Channel 7 for that to happen, because the TV rights deal means they will have to show that game in prime time. The game will probably pull a respectable crowd at the SCG, but it'll get flogged by everything else in the TV ratings. But there's always a sense of excitement when the draw comes out. Dates are quarantined in our diaries, and interstate flights can be booked. With an exceptionally late Easter running into Anzac Day, the traditional Essendon v Collingwood game on Anzac Day/Easter Monday is more of a blockbuster than ever - I'll be making the trip down from Sydney for that one. And, with the exception of round 22, I like that all the dates and times are locked in. AFL fans can, with certainty, advise all our family and friends that if they are planning to have a wedding, party, function, conference, funeral, dirty week away or any other function where their presence is required; that they can not hold it on those dates. Which in turn, makes buying season ticket memberships a viable proposition.