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With the AFL preseason competition kicking off this week, no doubt there will be plenty of talk around the bars of the nation regarding how the fixture could be fairer for all clubs.
Until every team plays equally home and away, the fixture will never be fair. But we all know this can never happen. So what is the solution?
With media rights at an all-time peak, the AFL would never think of reducing the amount of rounds. A fair system with 18 teams means either 17 or 34 rounds, but these numbers simply don’t work for any parties involved.
Introducing a conference system into the AFL would solve some of the many problems associated with the yearly fixturing, and would give all clubs an idea of who they play every year.
There would be no complicated American conference tables or wildcard playoffs. The conference system is merely a fixturing tool to establish a consistent draw for all clubs.
The 18 clubs would be broken into three sections of six. They would play home and away matches against the clubs in their section, while playing every other club once. This would maintain a 22-match fixture.
Derbies, Showdowns, Q clashes and the traditional Victorian clashes can still happen twice a year using the conferences below.
Conference A would include Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, Fremantle, Richmond, and West Coast.
Conference B gets Brisbane, Gold Coast, Greater Western Sydney, North Melbourne, Sydney, Western Bulldogs.
And Conference C would have Adelaide, Geelong, Hawthorn, Melbourne, Port Adelaide, St Kilda.
Conference A is the AFL cash cow. It has matches with traditional Victorian rivals, mixed in with the Western Derby and the opportunity of the proposed Western Australia stadium to host sold-out crowds with the more popular Victorian clubs. The AFL would effectively use this conference to fund Conference B.
Conference B is the weakest among the supported groups, but this was the only way I could see two interstate rivalries happening. North Melbourne and Western Bulldog fans would be upset by their status, but this would help stabilise the future of both clubs.
The third conference has the teams that were left over, to be honest. But you would still have the traditional Showdown clash, the Waverley rivalry, and the two oldest clubs. Add the hottest rivalry of the last few years in Hawthorn and Geelong, and you have some great matches to look forward to twice a year.
Some may argue that it would give some sides an unfair advantage playing better clubs more often, but isn’t the distribution of advantage what the draft and salary cap are for? Some conferences would be stronger at times, but the finals system would not be affected by where sides finish in their conference.
The conference system is merely an idea to add to further intrigue to our great game. In no way do I want to see the game change dramatically as it has recently done with constant rule changes. This is just a fixturing tool to gain some consistency in years to come.
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