Why must we over complicate things when the simple solution is right in front of us?
It’s the age-old question and one that is constantly posed towards the AFL.
Recently it appears the AFL have been exploring options as to how they can increase the game’s entertainment value. The most recent proposition to increase the games appeal is the radical AFLX competition which is almost as cringeworthy as Vince McMahon’s XFL idea.
As footy fans, we don’t need much more than watching our team play every week to be entertained, but apparently to some, more is required to keep the average AFL enthralled.
If it’s genuine excitement the AFL want then they’ll be happy to know that there is a simple solution.
How about playing every match on the last round of the home-and-away season at the same time on the same day?
Instead of constantly looking towards the US, the AFL should steer their attention towards the Premier League and how the FA schedule the final round of the season.
Matchday 38 of the Premier League consists of every match being played simultaneously which creates significant anxiety, heartbreak and euphoria for everyone involved.
Let’s put away the talk of a wildcard finals spot or an AFLX competition and try something simple as having nine matches being played at once on the final round of the season in what would be a true Super Saturday round.
The follow up footy show review shows would be just as entertaining.
It would be a fitting end to this season in particularly, as it has been labelled the closest and tightest premiership race since 1928. Players would be giving it their all in tight contests completely unaware of their fate.
(Dave Howarth/PA via AP)
If convincing is all the AFL need then they would have to look no further than the final day of the 2011-12 Premier League season.
Sergio Aguero’s injury time goal sent the football world into meltdown, being the defining factor in winning the Premiership for Manchester City and leaving their crosstown rivals Manchester United completely heartbroken after they had thought they had pinched the title themselves with a 1-0 win over Sunderland.
In addition, this can amplify the significance of the AFL Minor Premiership which is largely discredited due to the finals series.
The millennials are always being reminded how great the good ol’ days were when all the games would play at the same time, so why not reinvigorate this concept for the final round of the season?
Furthermore, while the Premiers aren’t decided on the final round of the home-and-away season, the top eight certainly is.
For clubs that have been starved of success making the finals is quite a big deal. Hence this can be a marketing gold mine for the AFL who can build Round 23 as the ‘be all or end all’ for clubs that are playing for a chance to participate in the finals.
As the current ladder stands the only match in the final round which will most likely not feature teams vying for a finals position is Brisbane versus North Melbourne. The results in the other eight matches will have a distinct impact on how the first week of the finals shapes up.
(AAP Image/Julian Smith)
Furthermore, this can eradicate clubs fielding weaker teams due having already known where they will finish after Round 23.
Imagine the pandemonium if the Tigers were to finish their match against the Saints only to discover that the outcome in the corresponding fixtures resulted in them finishing ninth.
Or if the Giants were to think that top spot was theirs only for the Crows to deny them their first minor premiership based on percentage.
The fact that not every game will feature on TV can add as an incentive for fans to flock to the stadiums to watch the most important game of their team’s season live, increasing attendances.
This would nonetheless be something that will be spoken about for years to come.
The AFL does not need to implement rules or spin off competitions to create such excitement, they only need to lay the correct foundations and merely let it happen.
Unfortunately, with established TV programming contractual commitments this is unlikely happen any time soon.
Bob
Guest
Like the idea, but would need more grounds in Melbourne to work. Could always have a Friday night of an irrelevant game (like North v Brisbane this year) that won't impact finals.
Powerboy
Guest
Book flights???????? Good luck getting into the "boutique" at all, at any time. Opposition fans have no chance, despite what Geelong football club says.
Easytiger
Roar Rookie
Love the concept, it would certainly add a level of excitement and anticipation, however as pointed out difficult to execute. As Mark mentioned the classic 'around the grounds' would be alive and well as would Saturday nights Seven's Big League! followed up by the AFL announcing the first weeks of the finals schedule.
Mark Levy
Guest
I would love to see this especially for the fact that the radio broadcasts could have 'around-the-grounds' like back in the 80s when there were more than 2 games on concurrently. But alas in reality, there is no chance of this happening.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Ugh, Adelaide public transport is a nightmare at the best of times! Sometimes I can barely find a seat on the bus into uni... But Melbourne .... with what, 3 or 4 games on one day? That'll be chaos.
Hamish Hutton
Roar Rookie
The concept of this idea is so so good and in reality you would love to see it, but you have to agree with Cat it would be a nightmare especially in melbourne. Im in Adelaide and yes the Oval is brilliant but getting to the ground through Public Transport is heavily overcrowded id hate to think how Melbourne would cope.
Wayne
Roar Guru
So the broadcasters lose a Friday Night game, a Saturday Night game, a Sunday Afternoon game for what gain?
Paul D
Roar Guru
This article is a classic encapsulation of why architects and engineers can't stand each other. Attractive idea, but totally unworkable in reality. Great summation Cat
Cat
Roar Guru
I purposely left out all the alternate venues because no one is going to want that extra travel right before finals.
Cat
Roar Guru
Perhaps not as much but the bye seems to be a year to year proposition.
mds1970
Roar Guru
Would be a logistical nightmare. And as Cat mentioned, it would result in some teams always being at home in the last round; while others would virtually never be. You could potentially throw in a Hawthorn or North home game in Tassie or Melbourne in NT; but that would mean both teams travelling interstate for the last round. And that's not really desirable either. But the broadcasters wouldn't stand for it. Fox Footy with having to press the red button to watch half the games isn't ideal. In Sydney, 7Mate show every Giants and Swans game live. One of them wouldn't be shown if they were both on at the same time - and that's much-needed publicity that our game would miss out on.
mds1970
Roar Guru
That may have been the case previously. But with the week off between the last round and the finals, is that still an issue?
Cat
Roar Guru
There simply isn't enough grounds to play 9 games at once. 1. Domain Stadium - Eagles or Freo get a home game, the other on the road. Alternate each year 2. Adelaide Oval - Power or Crows at home, other on the road. Alternate each year 3. MCG - Could rotate any of the tenant teams 4. Etihad - Could rotate any of the tenant teams 5. SCG - Swans would get a home game in the final round every single year 6. Spotless - GWS would get a home game in the final round every single year 7. Metricon - GC would get a home game in the final round every single year 8. Gabba - Lions would get a home game in the final round every single year 9. Kardinia Park - Cats would get a home game in the final round every single year 1 & 2 are obviously fair and would work. 3 & 4 could be rotated tenant teams would only get to finish at home once every 4-5 years, not that fair. 5–9 not even close to fair for select teams to always finish at home You'd also need 9 sets of film and production crews. 9 sets of commentating teams. 9 different channels to broadcast the games on (okay that one is probably easily done on foxtel). 9 umpiring crews (currently the 3 person crews typically umpire two games a weekend each, or three games each when they went 4 person crews). Then there is the issue of getting to the games in Geelong/Melbourne when they are all at the same time. The roads and public transport are barely coping with one at a time now. It's just not doable (or desirable) on so many levels.
Cat
Roar Guru
I understand your difficulty in making travel arrangements; however, its a small tradeoff to try and balance the number off days a team gets heading into finals with their ladder position. Imagine if the fixture came out and the GWS vs Geelong game was fixtured for Sunday Arvo, the last game of the round and GWS finish as minor premiers and their opponent (4th) played the Friday night game. You really wanna play your first final with 2 days less rest than your lower finishing opponent? Yes, I know there are still imbalances, only so much can be done, but the extremes are avoided by having a floating schedule.
mds1970
Roar Guru
With multiple games played at the MCG & Etihad in every round, I can't see how that would be workable. And the broadcasters wouldn't stand for it. It may work in the EPL. But they have relegation and no finals; so the AFL is a different scenario. I don't see any need for it. I'd get rid of the "floating" draw & lock the dates in when the draw comes out. I'd love to go to Geelong to support the Giants there in the last round. But the AFL still haven't told us when that game is, so I can't book flights.