Round 5 was a beauty, perhaps the best AFL round produced for some years. It’ll be hard to topple. It had everything you could’ve asked for: sizzling on-field matchups, close final margins and heroic individual performances – none better than Dustin Martin’s effort against the Roos and Scott Pendlebury’s best-on-ground game against the Bombers.
Oh, and the Suns won their first ever AFL match, too, just quietly.
However, amongst all the hype, all the tension and all the magnificence, there was one tiny glitch; a silly and unnecessary problem that needs to be attended to before it happens again in future years.
Round 5 was too extensive, too widespread across an array of days. There was too much footy – who would’ve thought that phrase would ever be uttered?
The Brisbane Lions and St Kilda kicked off the round on Thursday night with an error-dominated, yet hard-fought contest at the Gabba. After a rest on Good Friday, two games were then played on Saturday, one on Sunday, two on ANZAC Day and one yesterday.
Whoa. Timeout please, ref.
Even though all games were played at a pulsating tempo, high intensity and first-class standard, the round dragged. Seven games across six days? That’s too widespread, even for the fanatical footy freak.
But wait, there’s more.
Just when you thought you had an opportunity to reflect on an enthralling round of action, along comes Round 6, almost unexpectedly – with West Coast and Melbourne to kick-off the round at Patersons Stadium tomorrow night.
Then another six games spread across Friday, Saturday and Sunday to complete the round.
It’s mentally draining.
Today is the only rest day for the AFL in nine days. By Sunday, at least one match would’ve been played in eight of the past nine days. Even for the stereotypical mad footy fan, that’s hard to comprehend.
Yes, the timing of all the holidays was far from ideal, with the Easter weekend, ANZAC Day and Melbourne school holidays all clashing.
Never again though. If it weren’t for such an enthralling group of matches, the ‘footy festival’ could’ve easily turned into a ‘footy mess-tival’.
Seven in six days? 14 in 11 days? Seemed the chef overcooked the meat a tad.
Some might disagree though. Some might’ve enjoyed their meat a little burnt. Some might’ve enjoyed each game having its own isolated timeslot. Some might’ve enjoyed each match receiving decent coverage in the press with thorough previews, reviews and accommodating stories.
But if fanatical AFL followers struggled to cope with the bombardment of Round 5, how would ‘normal’ or ‘less passionate’ footy fans have felt?
A line needs to be drawn somewhere.
New AFL supporters don’t fall in love with the game overnight. They don’t attend their first match and go home to watch the replay over and over again, or dissect and analyse the game through the papers. It takes time to win over new fans, so a match every day might’ve turned a few borderline fans off in Round 5.
Stick to the general structure of the modern-day AFL round. It’s perfect.
One match on Friday night, two on Saturday afternoon, two on Saturday night and three spread across Sunday. When Greater Western Sydney enters the competition next year, there will be nine matches a round and that extra game would slot straight into a Saturday twilight spot perfectly.
Round 5 was too full on and the structure should never be replicated.
Yes, the game is enthralling and beautiful to watch. How could you have not loved what happened over the past six days? It was brilliant stuff.
However, the AFL community needs a break.
If a tricky holiday situation like the one just gone arises again, let’s just get the round out of the way as quickly as possible.
Redb
Roar Guru
No I really dont worry too much about my DT. I'm in two comps this year and just worry about beating my mates.
The Cattery
Guest
Also, you got to keep an eye out for prices that are about to move up or down. Might be best to make a buy during the bye (so to speak). I bought Petrie for the last round, absolute bargain, delivering 50+ cents per $1k cost.
The Cattery
Guest
Yeh but you still want to get maximum points!
davelee
Guest
You dont play for overall ranking Redb? Thought a knowledgable footy fan like you would be all over that!?
Redb
Roar Guru
DT is a bye round anyway with 3 teams missing.
The Cattery
Guest
ONe thing about the next game coming so quickly is that you have to be switched on with DT/SC.
Guido
Guest
Got to say I loved it. Was able to watch more teams play for the round than usual, and did not have to record anything. I for one would like to have another try at Monday night AFL.
T
Guest
Too bad you've never won a premiership. Haha chardonnay sippers? Freo supporters drink goon and it shows
JamesP
Guest
Nice little propoganda peice but I like it :) Just reminding the other codes (and TV execs) who is the number 1 game in town...
The Cattery
Guest
The AFL were able to maintain the crowd averages of the last few years, even with the inclusion of the Suns, it would be an absolutely massive achievement.
TW
Guest
Just spotted this article about Round 5 -Says it all even if it is from the AFL. http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/default.aspx?newsid=112460
TW
Guest
The games in this round attracted over 323,000 fans giving an average of 46,000 per match. The AFL admitted it was also experimenting with several undisclosed features in this round. The game in Perth on Monday had "Monday Night Fppty" plastered on the screens during the game. Is this a glimpse into the future.
The Cattery
Guest
The round only had 7 games (next year the norm will be 9 games) - so I'm not sure how anyone could describe this round as representing too much football. What we can say is that it was one of those rare times when one could almost see every minute of footy for the round - and if you were lucky enough to manage it - it was well worthwhile!!
Alfred Chan
Expert
Gotta say it was a million times better than the split round. I think we need to see three or four rounds drawn out before we can make a conscious decision depending on whether shorter breaks affect the quality of football. I don't think it will. NFL (equally physically demanding) play Thursday -> Monday and no one ever complains about it being mentally draining. I think with soccer being non-contact there's much much less toll on the body than AFL/NFL so it's not exactly comparable.
Handles O'Love
Guest
Harden up ya softie! Too much? I found it much LESS stressful than usual. Those three game Saturdays really put some tension into the domestic arrangements! I think with all the byes now in the system, we should be able to structure a fixture that re-introduces Monday night footy. Permanent four day footy weeks. Now we are talking.
tlindsaybrown
Guest
I Beg to differ. I think this is hearsay and I agree with the other 90 percent of readers who like watching footy. I don't like to be rude but this is too much opinion to be on the main page.
AFL fan
Guest
I have to agree Damien a packed Subi full of Freo fans is fantastic. They certainly more passionate than the Chardonnay sippers up the road and for noise they would rival an EPL team. Like Collingwood, Richmond, Essendon footy is a part of there soul and the club represents the true heartland of Footy in WA, they are not just a franchise but they are so much to so many. If Freo had of been the first WA team in the AFL they would be the biggest team in the AFL now membership wise. There are still probably about 15,000 supposed Eagle fans who are Freo and will one day come to the promised land.
davelee
Guest
im the average afl fan and im not 'mentally drained' dont see a problem. cant agree with this article and dont really see the argument in it.
Rendle
Guest
I think the argument of not enough rest days for this break is for those with partners (or wives or mothers) that depend on this time to get a big job completed. With no effective break in the football it meant that those big jobs were NOT even contemplated. At worst the AFL can be bamed for the lack of progress on the large household improvements. To all the males who have to do such jobs - thank God for AFL, any for a ripper of a round - it kept the no-work excuse excusable.
rusty
Guest
what a crock!! Fantastic round of footy, bumper crowds great coverage.Even the State footy leagues got a chance to showcase some feature games. Ben Sounds like the sort of bloke that the $50 bucks he found in the street tripped him up and wasnt in change !! (or did your team not play?) People have a choice to tune or not Perhaps next year you can complain that 9 games a round is to many!!