2013 is almost over and most, if not all, supporters were left disappointed by some of the systems in place by the AFL and the direction it’s heading in. Here are some of the things the AFL needs to get right for 2014:
The match review panel and tribunal
For many years now this system has been laughable to the point of nausea. It’s evident to all that the points system is not working, but the AFL is stubborn and won’t budge.
Another recent example is Corey Enright challenging his charge in order to receive a suspension and less carry-over points, because he’s out injured for this week’s game anyway.
Good on him, but it’s just ridiculous that the system allows him to have that option. In the future, will this be considered a form of tanking?
The fixtures
I’m not sure what’s happened in the last two seasons, but the draw has been reprehensible.
Of course I understand that it can’t be ‘fair’ for every team, but the AFL has clearly shown favouritism.
Adelaide in 2012 and Fremantle this year were pretty much guaranteed a top four spot because of it, whereas North Melbourne and Western Bulldogs were punished by the draw this year.
In the case of the latter, I’m totally mystified since they finished in the bottom four last season. Not to mention Port Adelaide’s super-easy start to 2013, which gave them the confidence to turn their fortunes around.
If the AFL wants to start managing games like this, then perhaps it’s time to split the competition into four divisions.
Following their lead, these would the ‘money-making’, ‘mud teams’, ‘good teams’ and ‘hated teams’ divisions.
I gibe, but this is where we’re heading.
Score reviews and interchange caps
The score review system has been nothing sort of ludicrous. It’s forced all umpires to doubt themselves and delay the game unnecessarily.
All this and they still get most of the decisions wrong when they use it.
Goal-line technology has been thrown up, but that will just create more chaos. If it still hasn’t been used in international soccer (when you would think is a no-brainer to use it), then doesn’t that tell you something?
Now next year we’ll have interchange caps. Oh joy. How does this improve the game or create an ‘even’ competition?
As if substitutes weren’t bad enough, now there’ll be last quarter mayhem when the cap for each team gets close or is exceeded.
What’ll be the penalty for that? Can you imagine a 50 metre penalty being given up in the closing stages of any game, let alone a final?
Umpiring
The standard can only be improved by the AFL with better education of the umpires and ceasing the constant tweaking and changing of the rules.
Hands in the back? Push in the side? They can’t even get holding the ball right.
And what ever happened to dropping the ball? I’d like to know when the last time was a free kick got paid for that!
State of Origin
The AFL surely can’t be serious about doing this pre-season. I’d like to know what the thought process was on this decision.
So in steaming hot late-February or early-March, we’ll get the ‘best of the best’ to play their hearts out for their state, just weeks before the season proper begins.
It sounds good on paper, but when said out loud, it’s complete bile.
Stadium merry-go-round
This is unavoidable during the home-and-away season, but I have to mention it because of the impact it could’ve had on the finals series.
The dreaded ‘Subiaco-rugby’ deal is preposterous and while it appears that the AFL have had their hands tied, I can’t see them not having some clout in stopping the potential clash.
While I also agree that Geelong had the right to play a final at Kardinia Park, the AFL can’t just decide this on a whim.
I’m sure every club received a memo at the start of the year and I’m equally sure that Geelong was not an option to host a finals game.
Once again, it’s the AFL flexing its muscles and making everybody cringe in disgust.
Round 23 (or 24) fixtures
Finally, I come to the last-round fixtures by the AFL. It’s actually a fantastic idea in concept, but they’ve failed again in its application.
Can someone please explain to me what’s the point in finalising the last-round schedule weeks before the actual round? Does that not defeat the purpose of having a floating fixture?
Some teams will always be disadvantaged going into a finals series, but the AFL assumes it knows who will be playing in those finals a month out!
There’s always a jockeying for positions that come down to the wire, so why not set the last-round fixture as late as practically possible?
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