Yes, I know, there has been lots of talk about how unfair the AFL fixtures are.
The fans of non-Victorian teams complain about the travel while the fans of Victorian teams claim they don’t have a genuine home-ground advantage when they play other Victorian teams at home.
Both are valid points and both are impractical, if not impossible, to fix.
However, there is a simple way to reduce the travel burden for non-Victorian teams. This could also be used by those teams based in Victoria when they need to play away games in other states.
The fixtures for 2020 are already set but the formula has been consistent for a few years now, with non-Victorian teams playing 12 games in their home state and ten games in other states. I’m not proposing a change to this.
The AFL could introduce the concept of road trips, allowing the travelling team to play two games in one location before returning home. This could be done once or twice a year by each non-Victorian club, thereby reducing their travel commitments by ten per cent or 20 per cent each season.
The road trip games could be scheduled to be four or five days apart. Given that some teams occasionally play with a six-day break including travel, this should not be a problem.
So, for example, Fremantle travel to Sydney, play GWS at Giants Stadium on a Sunday then the Swans at the SCG on a Thursday night. Later in the season they travel to Melbourne and play Geelong at GHMBA Stadium on a Thursday night then the Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on the following Monday.
(Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
There are many benefits of implementing this plan, including:
• Less wear and tear on players. Travelling definitely affects the longevity of players’ careers.
• Fans would be more likely to travel interstate for games. A seven-day break would give you time to watch your team play two games interstate and get back work refreshed, perhaps with a couple of games of golf and a little shopping as well.
• The above point will give the away team more fan representation at away games, creating a better atmosphere.
• The AFL could promote the games a little differently. For example, if Port Adelaide went to Brisbane to play the Suns and the Lions, the AFL could run a Port Adelaide-specific promotion in Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
• In between the games, clubs would have time to provide players to promote the club to their local fans in the city they are visiting.
• Victorian-based clubs could do the same with a single trip to Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide or Sydney.
• The system can be introduced gradually with volunteering teams trialling it once in 2021.
• Clubs could request from the AFL fixtures committee one or two such road trips each season.
• Any team could opt out by request if they didn’t feel it was of any value.
• The fixtures may be a little more complicated but someone is getting paid a lot of money to do it now and if they don’t want to continue to do it, I’ll put my hand up!
• Playing two away games in a row will mean those travelling teams would inevitably play two home games in a row at some stage during the season.
AFL fixturing has only partly evolved. In the old days, footy was on at 2:30pm on Saturday afternoon. One week you played at home, the next away.
At the end of Round 23, all teams will have played 22 games with 11 at home and 11 away – I’m only proposing to change how we get there.
Antony Pincombe
Roar Rookie
I think there is a larger problem. Equalisation. Thev problem here is that some sides end up in the finals and then get blown away. Sydney in 2018 (the Swans raw was pretty easy and probably shouldn't have been but they are in a regenerative phase), Essendon in 2017. The bottom of the eight will be a place for sides who have not won on merit but on compromised draw to inhabit. This presents a huge problem when it comes to finals as those sides get blown away. this is going to become even more pronounced as the stronger sides in the eight, probably top 6, annihilate them year after year. Mind you in 2017 even sides in the top four were blown away. In 2018 the Swans were murdered by GWS and one of the top four contenders, Cats were bundled out in straight sets. Last year it was even worse. Essendon were absolutely annihilated by the Eagles. GWS & Richmond each had over 50 point victories. There are more one sided finals than ever before. Sure I remember blowouts in finals in other years. But not so many that you could say at least four sides were annihilated.
RT
Roar Rookie
Well they were! Like the Bays.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
He didn't say that
Michael44
Roar Rookie
Sorry,I'm not meaning to duplicate my comments but the site is not letting me reply directly to Kanga and my attempts are landing here instead.
Michael44
Roar Rookie
Kanga,what do you think about the umpiring stats?
Michael44
Roar Rookie
Kanga,what do you think about the Alan Richardson comments and the umpiring stats?
Michael44
Roar Rookie
Kanga is a West Coast fan. From the look of their comments, a biased one too. Want to talk about the umpiring Kanga??
Jonboy
Roar Rookie
One thing i will back the Eagles on, Peter Cameron umpired 306 games between 1977-93 and it was disgraceful his biased against them. Absolutely murdered them, especially in the non free department.
Jonboy
Roar Rookie
The Kangas do there fair share of travel including two long trips to Perth last year which is a a ten hour flight. Although they may be classed as "home games'' regular flights to Tassie. It is good to see these teams travelling and showcasing there club and they all have huge support in the West believe me. Most cannot afford the cost to travel to Melbourne especially families.
Michael44
Roar Rookie
They just refuse to see any advantage for their own team and only ever see (or just plain make up!) Richmond's possible advantages. Someone made a comment a few months ago that you may remember. They said that they have never known a successful team to be so villified as has been Richmond (or words to that effect). I never did this to other clubs. Not once since i started following the Tiges in about 1970. I always saw the premier as being deserved winners. All the best mate.
Michael44
Roar Rookie
Yeah,I also realise that the team with the more free kicks isn't necessarily being favoured,but,........
Michael44
Roar Rookie
Yeah,I know that you are Freo Jonboy, :) I just needed a spot to insert my comment and replying below you seemed like a good position. Also,I thought that you were likely to reply to me and that may get others to look as well. :) Yeah,I know that the stats don't include "free's not paid' but seeing that we don't have those stats, we have to go on what we do have,and it does look suspicious to me (and obviously to Alan Richardson as well).
RT
Roar Rookie
Michael, it seems on this site that when it comes to Richmond and only Richmond, quite a few people constantly harp on about any advantages Richmond may have, but can't even acknowledge that everything else is not equal and that other clubs have other advantages. I guess that is what happens when you are the best.
Jonboy
Roar Rookie
Your good on the stats M44 well done. I am a Freo fan not Eagles and are not biased. Love the Tigers supported them for over fifty years. The stats do look and are one sided in favour of the Eagles.I am not going to make a case for them, but we all know the teams that receive the most frees doesn't equate to the umps favouring. Looks suspicious though. I attend Freo games in Perth and quite frankly i think we get a better rub of the green away from home. A lot of games i watch the umpires tend to be easy on the underdog like the Bulldogs in the GF.
Jonboy
Roar Rookie
Your right about Geelong very easy draw.
Michael44
Roar Rookie
Ok,I'm just gonna borrow your bulltish-adjustor IAP if that's ok with you?? Oh,good. Thanx mate. :) Ok,feeding Kanga's comment into it right now.....ok...right..."Bulltish Adjustment complete" it says. Kanga's comment now reads:- "I'm just gonna have a go at Richmond cos we all know how easy they have it and that's the only reason they won in 2019 when I really thought we would (and deserved to go back-to-back). I have made sure that I've provided the obligatory incorrect and exaggerated information,as well as little-to-no evidence to support my view as, if I did, I may actually have to get into a debate with actual facts included,and I don't want that."
Michael44
Roar Rookie
I think Geelong do quite nicely when it comes to the draw Gatto,.....well,at least in 2019 compared to Richmond:- Look at games where teams get to play in front of crowds where the fan proportion is approx 90% or greater one way or the other (we call them "true" home and away games). Geelong – 9 true home games & 5 true away games (i.e 6 if the game against the Suns at Metricon had 10% or less Geelong fans – I’m not sure) Richmond _ 3 true home games & 3 true away games (i.e 4 if the game against the Giants at Giants Stadium had 10% or less Richmond fans – I’m not sure; 5 if the game against the Suns at Metricon had 10% or less Richmond fans – I’m not sure). So,Geel- 9TH 5 to 6 TA (advantage of 3 to 4 games) Rich- 3TH 3 to 5 TA (disadvantage of 0 to 2 games) Total true home and away games advantage of Geel compared to Rich in 2019 - 3 to 6 games advantage. Now, I am cherry picking the data to a degree as,if I had used a figure of 70% instead of 90%, then Richmond’s game’s against Sydney and Brisbane that were played in Melbourne would be considered to be true home games,but, I'm putting them up again o show you that maybe Geel do ok when it comes to the draw. Also, Geelong having a ground in Geelong that is so unfamiliar to teams compared to Richmond's home ground surely is another advantage to Geel as well. Oh, also, Geelong is the only team in Victoria that can train and practice at it’s home ground as much as it wants and till it’s heart’s content. Richmond is not allowed to train at it’s home ground except if it makes it to a grand final (I’m not sure about other finals.I think it is just the grand final tho).
Michael44
Roar Rookie
Talking about possible gifts,look what IAP posted a few days ago:- https://www.sen.com.au/news/2018/06/04/the-numbers-behind-west-coast's-free-kick-advantage/ Then I posted this:- I had a look at AFL Tables for the same time period:- In 2019 West Coast at home had 13th best free kick % at home. Rich were 18th. In 2018,West Coast 1st Rich 18th. In 2017,West Coast 2nd Rich 17th. In 2016,West Coast 5th Rich 8th. In 2015,West Coast 1st Rich 2nd. In 2014,West Coast 1st Rich 10th. In 2013,West Coast 1st Rich 7th. In 2012,West Coast 1st Rich 6th. In 2011,West Coast 4th Rich 16th. Look at all the 1st’s for the Eagles! 5 1st’s out of the last 9 seasons!. Now of course,because Richmond don’t play in front of nearly as many couldron-like crowds when at home compared to a team like the Eagles,we wouldn’t expect Richmond to get the free kick advantage as often as the Eagles,but ,look how many times the Eagles come out ahead of the other non-vic clubs who also play in front of couldron-like crowds when they play at home.
Gatto Nero
Roar Rookie
There will always be an asterisk on the 2019 Cup.
DTM
Guest
Thanks Anthony. I think the sports tourism angle would be very appealing to some of the big Victorian clubs (like Richmond). I'm sure if you go to watch them now against GWS or the Swans, the atmosphere is a little one sided. If Victorian based Tigers fans had the opportunity to spend a week in Sydney and watch two games, many would take it up. If you could get say 5,000 extra at each game it would improve the atmosphere and would be good for football. The only time non- Victorian clubs get to experience anything other than a very parochial crowd is when their team plays in a local Derby and that's only twice a year. Victorian teams get this better atmosphere regularly when they play other Victorian teams. This doesn't equate to any advantage but a more even crowd enhances the spectators view (IMO).