So Collingwood is the Phar Lap of the AFL next year. Now that they’ve created a yawning gap between the top and bottom clubs, the AFL (Animal Farm League?) has deemed some clubs are more equal than others in a bid to mitigate the number of public floggings suffered by the stragglers and the newbies.
Problem is, at the business end, Collingwood plays all the top five clubs twice (and another finalist) while Carlton, and to a lesser degree Geelong, have nowhere near as tough assignment.
When a game or percentage can determine vital 2-3 (home fnal) or 4-5 (double chance) placings, this is reprehensibly wrong. The AFL ceases to be a competition.
The ‘draw’ is barely even a fixture, it’s become an ‘arrangement’.
The Blues appear to be the next AFL-approved premier. Not only have they been gifted a top four spot, they’ve also been sent a blank cheque with so many marquee money-spinner games.
And what’s with Adelaide’s cushy schedule?
If the AFL are so concerned about integrity, then the new fixtures’ policy just opens the door to speculation of backroom deals. Anywhere else in the world, the clubs and the supporters would not stand for it.
It’s accepted that either 17 or 34 rounds is too short or too long a season. But surely, if the AFL is to bother with a draft and salary cap to create a level playing field, then a 22-game fixture should provide all clubs with a similar number of ‘easy’, ’50/50′ and ‘tough’ games.
Forget the commercial arrangements. Forget pulling strings to contrive an outcome. Time to get serious.
There’s too much money, too much blood, sweat and tears involved.
Elvis
Guest
Fitzroy
Paul
Guest
Hello, Cattery, time to wake up, grow up and face reality. Big time sport is ALL about money. Of course, the league will always look for "big ticket" match ups. They need to bring in money to prop up sides like the Kangaroos, who don't make enough money to pay the bills. That's reality.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Paul But even in that scenario, the temptation will be there to keep the top drawing clubs together so they can play each other twice per season, which brings you back to primary and secondary conferences.
Paul
Guest
You could split it up somewhat evenly. One conference with 4 Melbourne teams and 5 interstate teams, the other conference with 5 Melbourne teams and 4 interstate teams. Of course, the perfect answer would be to have two 10 team conferences. The other two teams could be from one of the following areas: Tasmania, Central NSW or Canberra. Though, in my opinion, sooner or later, at least one Melbourne team will be forced to move due to finances.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Very difficult to see how two conferences of nine could work. You'd basically end up with 9 Melbourne teams in one conference, and the rest in the other, which would lead automatically to a primary conference and the other one literally being the rest. The Melbourne conference would have double the attendance, double the ratings and double the sponsorship.
Paul
Guest
Well, I know that, being a Yank, I don't see things the way you Aussies do, because of our cultural differences. Still, I think the only way to resolve the fixture issue is to go to divisions or conferences. With an 18th team coming into the league in 2012, the league could be divided into two 9-team divisions. Then, the fixture becomes easy. Every team plays every other team in it's division twice, home and away, plus six games against teams in the other division for a 22 game season. The games against teams in the other division so that, over the course of three years, each team plays non-divisional teams twice, home and away. While some may consider this radical, I remember how American baseball fans reacted in 1968, when MLB announced that divisional play would start in 1969, due to expansion. There was disbelief, anger and some fans actually quite following the game. Yet, after a couple of years, fans adapted and began enjoying the expanded possibilities divisional play provided. I would think footy fans would react in the same manner. However, I will also say this. Footy fans are discovering what American sport fans learned a few decades ago. Once any sport becomes televised regularly, money and the needs of networks drive the sport more than the product on the field.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
There is some truth to the observation that the AFL has turned the 2012 fixture into a bit of a handicap event, where the current day stragglers get two shots at the two new kids on the block, and most of the top 8 teams only get one shot at them both. From one perspective, it makes absolutely perfect sense, and I doubt it's going to make one jot of difference as to who wins the premiership. I mean this year, a few stragglers ended up having two cracks at the Suns, and they still finished bottom 8 while both grand finalists had one crack at them. Get over it and stop whinging - as they say in the classics - if you're good enough you'll win.
Brendan
Guest
A tough draw on top of the g/f defeat will fire Collingwood up.Except for the last month of the season the maggies were the dominant side for two years.If football is played above the shoulders as most people accept then like Geelong they will rebound no matter what.Last year Geelong had off-field distractions and infighting surrounding the coach this year it was Collingwoods turn and both sides didnt play up to there potential when it mattered.
Jeff Dowsing
Roar Pro
I think most CFC supporters would trade the FTA games and money spinning blockbusters for a draw that provides equality so far as who they play twice.
Jeff Dowsing
Roar Pro
I think the point is Paul that suddenly, without any consultation, the AFL have decided the H&A season is a handicapped event. For a so-called elite football competition to go down this path is unbelievable. Once again the AFL have taken a knee jerk reaction to a perceived problem, only to create others. One hopes that ultimately the best, most worthy winner prevails. But that is less likely now.
Jeff Dowsing
Roar Pro
And then played 4 away games in the second half of the year, during which time they had no bye... Early wins are handy but the run home is crucial. Nevermind the away games in any case, it's not as if it's an advantage to only have 4-5 a year when you usually win them all anyway.
Jeff Dowsing
Roar Pro
Shaw had his limitations stabpass - as did the celebrated Greg Williams for instance - but you don't play 313 games, win a Norm Smith or represent Victoria without having something special going for you. Christian was actually one of the best couple CHB's in the league between 1988-92. Gayfer too had limitations but was second to none as a tagger. Monkey actually became one of the better rucks of the 1990's. And Starce was also an underrated player imo, maybe that was a factor in the 1990 team's favour. Barwick too, one of the best kicks I've seen, explosive. Maybe there wasn't the acknowledged star factor of other sides, but there were no weak links, no Aaron Keatings or Trent Ormand Allens... Aspersions against that team are a bit like the myth around CFC's draw each year, repeated often enough they become an urban legend.
stabpass
Guest
Cheers, well Perth time is 11.45, and just off to some nice grass court tennis ....... good luck with the Pies.
Paul
Guest
Have to reply here, since the previous ran out. I don't believe in good or bad luck. You make your own luck. Anyway, It's after 11:30 p.m. here (Guess what! You're debating footy fixtures with a Yank!), so I'm off to bed.
Paul
Guest
Okay, time to make a clarification. I (emphasizing) NEVER said that Collingwood has ever had an easy draw. I would not say that, as it is demonstrable that they have. What I did say is that, if Collingwood wins the flag, next year, all the whingers, who repeatedly claim that the only reason Collingwood is repeatedly in the finals is because of their easy draws, would have to shut up. Now, all you Collingwod haters, try to distort what I've said, this time. (Note to Roar's editors: What about allowing us to employ italics or underlining to emphasize certain words or phrases?)
stabpass
Guest
I dont believe in devine intervention, but Collingwoods good luck came at the expense of a team that historically has probably the worse luck of any current AFL team. Go figure !!. Wonder how many more flags Collingwood would have won, from their 33 runners up if they were playing St kilda in those GF.
stabpass
Guest
I would disagree that big crowds are always an assett, double edged sword IMO, big pressure games every week can be very deflating and tiring, leading to burn out later in the season.
Paul
Guest
If one believes in divine intervention and such. I don't. "Bad luck" is just caving under the pressure and it can happen to anyone.
stabpass
Guest
@Paul, i have watched Collingwood for a long time, and can vaguely remember their team in 1970 ( as a young kid) and my impression of their current team, is that it is their best team since that time.
stabpass
Guest
OK, Brown, McGuane (when his groin wasn't jabbed up) and Wright, were good players, but IMO not top shelf. You are really stretching it with Monkey and Shaw, who couldn't kick over a jam tin, and Manson who could not kick at all, Kelly, Starcevich and Christian were nothing more than honest, the less said about Gayfer the better. I did think that Morwood was underated though The best in a really weak season was Collingwood in 1990, having said that though, they still had to win it.