Much has been made about the bye in the AFL recently. Teams get the chance to have a breather, lose precious momentum, and Jimmy Bartel even found time to watch the NBA finals in America.
Having witnessed two big upsets last round with Brisbane and Port beating Geelong and Sydney, two of the potential flag-claimers, some could argue that the bye took momentum out of their season.
They were both flying high before the bye came for them in Round 12, and not disrespecting Port or Brisbane but it may have had a say in the team’s structure and hunger (Kurt Tippett aside)
Here is a simple fix to the problem: instead of spreading the bye over three weeks, why not have a full competition bye between rounds 11-12 and 18-19?
This will provide no excuses for having to build momentum back up again as it would give all players a break at the same time.
It will make it more even in terms of sides having an advantage of having a break later than their opponents.
Take the fact that Hawthorn and Fremantle had their bye in Round 11, while Sydney and Geelong had theirs in Round 12.
This means two of the four flag hopefuls have had one less weekend of consecutive games. Who knows what impact this will have if these sides will meet in the finals in September?
If Hawthorn lose in the first round of finals and have to play 15 weeks straight, while Geelong has played 14 with an extra week’s rest coming from the first week of finals, it would impact both side’s performance.
Some people may say why another full round competition bye between rounds 18-19 when there was one earlier in the season?
It would give teams an extra break, again some will use it well and some may go overseas to train like Dane Swan did in 2011.
I’m sure the people in AFL land wouldn’t like not having any football for two whole weeks but it means sides can freshen up and there may be better quality football.
Sides like GWS will be able to stay competitive.
Teams may also stop ‘resting’ a few players. I know it won’t stop them all but it may make the coaches want to keep their best side out after the second bye to regain ‘momentum’.
A break might not be a bad idea. I’m sure some fans will be happy to pursue other interests as well without having to worry about football on a cold weekend once in a while.
Some of the AFL games did not really have the chance to get hyped up because it did not feel like a real weekend of football.
Some people may blast AFL players because they get paid big money to do something they love but everyone does need a break every now and then.
John Hamilton
Roar Pro
I like the status quo but I do think that teams who have just come off a bye should play each other to make it fairer.
Brett
Roar Rookie
mds1970 The Melbourne Storm and Sydney Swans cannot make inroads in there respective towns despite being successful and the A league is not on when I suggested my byes so the AFL is not really giving the NRL any favours. Of course the AFL can not do anything about the FIFA world cup being held every four years though. Mastermind Players already do feel burnt out into the finals, we witnessed North Melbourne and Collingwood fade out last year in September due to fatigue, the break would make teams more fresh to last longer so overall general play will increase and I think the AFL would rather have as many close matches as possible without teams getting blown away due to fatigue.
Avatar
Roar Guru
Two byes must be introduced by the AFL, otherwise players will feel burnt out close to the finals. After all, some of the top teams (Hawthorn, Geelong and Sydney) want to be at their peak for the finals, and what I mean here is minimal injuries and their key players at full flight. That said, priority should be given to those three teams should a second bye block be introduced in Rounds 18-19. Alternatively, they could revisit the 2008 season, whereby there were two "bye" weekends - the annual split round, and the one-off All-Stars match which was held in the first bye week. The latter is a very good idea, in my opinion.
Timmuh
Roar Guru
The best suggestion I have seen, and it is not mine, is to have eight games a week for most of the year and nine for the remaning (I think it was) six. The first three and last three rounds have nine games. Teams who have the bye then play each other the following week. Everyone still has 22 games spread which would be over 24 rounds but there are eight games minimum a week.
mds1970
Roar Guru
An AFL-free weekend would be a massive free kick for rival codes. Will not happen.
Mark
Guest
Well the obvious reason the AFL don't mandate a full week off with no footy is for TV. Why miss the opportunity to have a high-rating Fri night game? Now if you were suggesting having split rounds then I agree.