Fixing the fixture quite a conundrum

You can’t please everyone, no matter how hard you try – AFL fixturing and broadcasting manager Simon Lethlean would be the first bloke to acknowledge this.

This man has an unbelievable task each year, one that throws up over 250,000 possibilities.

With the modern-day game built around TV rights and money, it isn’t about fairness anymore, instead we are left with a fixture that is confusing and unfair, because the AFL wants to raise revenue.

What the hell is twilight anyway?

Let’s not kid ourselves though, it is a tough and tight schedule to organise, and no matter what, there are going to be winners and losers at the end of it.

What needs to be eliminated is the winning to the extent of the Adelaide Crows in 2012.

‘Gifted’ second-place in 2012 due to an abundance of easy games, ones that seemingly no-one else received, in the end, they finished third!

Now don’t proceed to tell me Adelaide were the third best side in 2012. You would be the subject of laughter.

So while the mathematical dilemma that is the AFL fixture cannot ever be entirely fair, there are some points the AFL could take into greater account when scheduling.

(Even if it means a few less dollars in Andrew’s pocket…)

Firstly, start by not gifting the reigning premiers the joy of GWS followed by Gold Coast in the first two rounds of the season.

I understand that in the end, everyone gets their chance at the toddlers, but don’t give the reigning champs a cruising fortnight to begin a brand new season.

Secondly, minimise the number of times teams play Gold Coast and GWS in consecutive weeks.

How many times has this happened in 2013? I’ll tell you, four.

Sydney, Collingwood, Geelong and Hawthorn all had the privilege of squaring up against the AFL’s children in consecutive weeks.

Funnily enough, all are finalists from 2012. Logic out of 10?

Finally, Friday night footy needs to be shared.

Yes it is prime-time, and yes it boosts the TV ratings to have a cracking game on the main stage, but how does the AFL expect to boost following and lift the name of weaker clubs?

Surely that came up in the recent Equalisation Summit (gee I’d love to know what went on there)?

Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, Melbourne and Port Adelaide (and of course the franchise clubs) 2013 boasts zero Friday Night action.

Yes, that’s two Victorian clubs and a 2013 finalist side we’re talking about here…

Possibly the only good out of the 2013 fixture is that Collingwood have to travel more than twice, and don’t have 20 out of 22 games on free-to-air.

I suppose you’ve got to take the good with the bad.

If only we could put less focus on the TV and broadcasting, and do what is fair for all clubs and the good of the game and its supporters.

What it does tell us though, is that creating a suitable fixture for all is one mighty challenge that takes time.

It really is a mathematical equation like no other.