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Over the last few days it has been pointed out that the Eagles have had to play three games in three different states in 12 days.
For any team that would be a nightmare but for a team that is on the other side of the country, that is a nightmare in the style of Stephen King.
People continue to say that travel is not to blame for poor results – and that may well be true for teams that only have to travel once in a blue moon.
For example the Magpies since 2012, excluding finals series, have travelled five times a year outside of Victoria. The Eagles have travelled ten times a year outside of Western Australia over the same time period.
The other big difference is the games in a row at home. The Eagles only play two games in a row at Domain in Rounds 2-3 and then do not have back to back games there until Rounds 19-21. Ever other week the have home, away, home, away.
The Magpies play five games straight at the MCG. Yes they are not all home games, but they still have the advantage of not travelling more then 2138km plus every two weeks.
If a Victorian side had to travel anywhere near the same amount, what would people say?
What if we were to move the draw around so that the Magpies travelled a little more?
Round 1 Lions @ Gabba, Sat Night
Round 2 Saints @ Etihad Stadium, Sun
Round 3 Crows @ Adelaide Oval, Sat
Round 4 Bombers @ MCG Sat (or what ever day Anzac Day is on)
Round 5 Blues @ MCG Sat
Round 6 Suns @ Metricon Stadium, Sun twilight
Round 7 Tigers @ MCG, Fri Night
Round 8 Cats @ Simonds Stadium, Sat
Round 9 Kangaroos @ Blundstone Arena, Sun
Round 10 Demons @ MCG, Sun
Round 11 Hawks @ MCG, Fri Night
Round 12 Bye
Round 13 Dockers @ Domain Stadium, Sun Twilight
Round 14 Blues @ MCG, Sat
Round 15 Power @ Adelaide Oval, Thurs Night
Round 16 Tigers @ MCG, Fri Night
Round 17 Swans @ SCG, Sat Night
Round 18 Cats @ MCG, Sun
Round 19 Eagles @ Domain Stadium Fri Night
Round 20 Demons @ MCG, Sun
Round 21 Bulldogs @ MCG Fri Night
Round 22 Giants @ Spotless Stadium, Sun
Round 23 Crows @ MCG, Sat Night
In this draw, the Magpies would travel out of the state nine times and play three games in 12 days in three different states from Rounds 13 to 15.
If we were do to the same to the Eagles – evening it up so they travel much less – it would look like this.
Round 1 Bulldogs @ Etihad Stadium, Sat
Round 2 Blues @ Domain Stadium, Fri Night
Round 3 Dockers @ Domain Stadium, Sat Night
Round 4 Saints @ Domain Stadium, Sat
Round 5 Giants @ Domain Stadium, Sun
Round 6 Lions @ Gabba, Sat
Round 7 Cats @ Domain Stadium, Sat Night
Round 8 Kangaroos @ Domain Stadium, Sun
Round 9 Power @ Adelaide Oval, Sat
Round 10 Bombers @ Domain Stadium, Sun
Round 11 Demons @ Domain Stadium, Sat
Round 12 Tigers @ MCG, Fri Night
Round 13 Bye
Round 14 Swans @ Domain Stadium, Sun
Round 15 Suns @ Domain Stadium, Sat
Round 16 Crows @ Adelaide Oval, Sat
Round 17 Dockers @ Domain Stadium, Sun
Round 18 Bulldogs @ Domain Stadium, Sat
Round 19 Magpies @ Domain Stadium Fri Night
Round 20 Hawks @ MCG, Sat
Round 21 Power @ Domain Stadium, Sun
Round 22 Tigers @ Domain Stadium, Sat
Round 23 Bombers MCG, Sun
The Eagles travel seven times, but they have more of a break in between the trips. It was impossible to have them only to travel out of Western Australia five times.
While teams situated far from other teams will necessarily be at a disadvantage through having to travel more, the AFL need to do more to ensure that they are not just looking out for teams based in Victoria.
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