Fairness of the fixture is brought up every year by supporters and quite possibly clubs behind closed doors.
I call it a fixture because that is what it is. Many games are guaranteed every year – Richmond versus Carlton in the opening round, Easter Monday with Geelong and Hawthorn, Anzac Day, Queen’s Birthday, two local derbies in WA, SA, Queensland and NSW. So it can never be called a draw.
Eighteen teams playing over 22 rounds, ten in Victoria and no more than two in any other state, it is not an easy thing to manage every year with the constraints given above and travel. Non-Victorian teams travel ten times a year (the other derby being an away game), Victorian teams only five to six times.
Not every team gets 11 home games on their home ground. It ranges from nine games to 16. Yes, this includes games that are played against co-tenants at the same ground as the MCG. Collingwood, Richmond, Melbourne and Hawthorn play their home games there. The get a huge advantage as well because of this.
Before you howl that the MCG is not their home ground, it is the ground that they play their home games on and therefore offers an advantage over the other clubs, particularly those from outside Victoria. Apart from the other tenants, they can play on the ground twice as much as any other team. In fact, Richmond and Collingwood do. And the only reason Hawthorn don’t play more is that they sell games to Tasmania.
According to Herald Sun stats, Richmond and Geelong have almost the same winning percentage at home, however Richmond have played 20 more games at home than Geelong over the same period (2017 to 2019). West Coast and Fremantle have only had 2018 and 2019 on Optus Stadium.
If it is rearranged to show the number of games on the team’s home ground, regardless of whether they are the away team, Collingwood and Richmond have a huge advantage over the other teams, with both Richmond and Collingwood playing twice as many games on their home ground than Carlton, and 20 games more than Geelong, Essendon and Fremantle. The next nearest team to Collingwood and Richmond is Adelaide and surprisingly St Kilda. Where is the fairness?
(Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos)
It is becoming more apparent in recent years than previously. Eight teams have played less than 50 per cent of their games at their home ground. Yes, things go in cycles, but there are times that they are exacerbated.
Certain teams have a huge advantage over others. This is especially enhanced when you get to the non-Victorian teams and their lack of exposure to the ground that hosts the grand final.
Home finals are earned from the performance throughout the season. This does have an impact on the way the final eight is formed from a Victorian viewpoint at least. The ground that the final is played on has conveniently changed to the home state to suit AFL purposes, which again is a move to show that they are trying to be fair, but it is the home-state part that is confusing.
They are all about maximising attendances, even if it is detrimental to a team in terms of having to play an away home final. Consider Geelong. They must play a home-state game for finals, yet Gold Coast and GWS get to play on smaller grounds in their home state. One rule for some, another for others.
Richmond, Collingwood and Melbourne benefit the most as shown by the number of games they play on the MCG throughout the season. They play finals at the MCG even if they are the lower-ranked team if it is against another Victorian team.
Imagine the outcry if West Coast finished third, fourth, seventh or eighth and got a home final, unless Fremantle finished first, second, fifth or sixth. This then allows a team to manipulate the finals, which can have a major impact, just like Fremantle and North resting players in the last round, with that leading to the bye before the finals.
How can it be fairer?
One option is a rolling final five rounds to ensure that after four years every club plays each other twice – once at home and the other away.
Another is a rolling four rounds allowing local derbies to be played twice a season.
Another is playing 17 rounds only and alternating home-and-away between two teams.
Another is splitting into two conferences of nine. This allows for the addition of two other teams as well.
Rolling five rounds
Pay the first 17 rounds with no return matches, then a rolling five that continues on year after year.
Say Adelaide play, as an example, Brisbane, Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon and Fremantle in the first year, Geelong, Gold Coast, GWS, Hawthorn and Melbourne in the second, North, Port, Richmond, St Kilda and Sydney in the third and West Coast, Western Bulldogs, Brisbane, Carlton and Collingwood in the fourth.
This means that local derbies and other return matches are not guaranteed.
Rolling four rounds
This allows the derbies and other return matches against a team to be played, maybe the biggest rival. For example, the rivalries could be West Coast-Fremantle, Adelaide-Port, Sydney-GWS, Brisbane-Gold Coast, Carlton-Richmond, Essendon-Collingwood, Hawthorn-Geelong, Melbourne-North Melbourne and St Kilda-Western Bulldogs.
(Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Then the last four rounds are rolling. Of course, then Adelaide couldn’t play Port three times in a year so it would roll through the other 16 teams.
For example, Adelaide would play Brisbane, Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon in the first year, Fremantle, Geelong, Gold Coast and GWS in the second, Hawthorn, Melbourne, North and Richmond in the third, then St Kilda, Sydney, West Coast and the Dogs in the fourth.
Seventeen rounds only
Yes, it means less football, but teams only play each other once. This removes the possibility of a team playing a low team twice in a season, which can be the difference in ladder positions with teams on the same points where one gets to play, say, Richmond twice and the other Gold Coast in recent seasons.
Home-and-away rotates. Hawthorn play West Coast at home, next time in Perth, then the MCG. This does, however, give a maximum of nine home games in a year and a minimum of eight away games.
Conferences
Split the teams into two lots of nine. This could be done a couple of ways.
Each conference could have a team in WA, SA, Queensland and NSW with five Victorian teams each.
WA, NSW and five Victorian teams in one, then SA, Queensland and five Victorian teams (considering travel) in the other.
Or the conferences could be based on finishes from the previous season and maybe that opens the possibility of play-offs to determine next year’s conference.
The key question is whether the AFL want fairness or financial return. With an uneven draw, isn’t it more important to be fair?
(Ryan Pierse/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)
What is a fair draw?
• 11 homes games at your home ground – yes, all teams, including Geelong
• Play all teams once before return games, so no double-ups until Round 18
• With the bye rounds, teams coming off a bye should play another team coming off a bye (at worst, when coming off a bye your next game should involve the least amount of travel, so staying in your state)
• If there are to be Rounds 18 to 23, one is the rival round, such as West Coast-Fremantle, Sydney-GWS, Brisbane-Gold Coast and Adelaide-Port, then the rest are rotated so that you play everyone twice through before you start again
• More games for the interstate teams at the MCG
• Finals played at the teams’ actual home ground, at least Weeks 1 and 2 and possibly Week 3
• Grand final is at the MCG
People will complain that Geelong has the best home advantage, so deal with it. And that Richmond, Collingwood, Melbourne and Hawthorn play against the co-tenants on the MCG, so it is not an advantage. Look at it again – at most that happens four times a year and in the case of Richmond and Collingwood they still get another ten games against non-tenants of the MCG.
This is still one more than Geelong. Those who rail against this need to consider that Geelong is not a suburb of Melbourne. They deserve 11 home games and home finals just as everyone else. Western Bulldogs should play home finals at Marvel and the same goes for Essendon, Carlton and St Kilda. At worst the home club should decide where they play their home final.
The AFL would allow this if they are about fairness as crowd size should have nothing to do with where the game is played. Otherwise, GWS should play at the SCG, Gold Coast at the Gabba and when the non-Victorian teams play the big teams, then they should automatically default to the MCG. The current option is only about a financial return for the AFL.
Ironically, in the long run, the AFL would possibly generate more money if the public and supporters understood fairness comes first.
Flagpies
Roar Rookie
The question how do you make it fairer without financial impact? You can't really, particularly now. The majority of the market is over east in vic. The market dictates the landscape, sending big ticket teams like rich or coll to Tas for instance is not maximising financial potential. That's how HQ view it. Until such time that market would readily accept such changes HQ won't go for it.
Seymorebutts
Guest
Mate, West Coast finished higher on the ladder than Collingwood in 2018 but the Pies got 24 hours more recovery time.. ditto 2005, 2006 AND 2015!! So the last FOUR Grand Finals the Eagles have played in they have had 24 hours less recovery for the big game, REGARDLESS of wether or not they finished higher on the ladder or won their first final. That goes along with the times we finished higher on the ladder , won our first final and were rewarded with a home game at the MCG... Other times during the home and away season we have played in Melbourne on a Monday night.. NO Victorian side has ever had to play in Perth on a Monday night against the Eagles. Collingwood have NEVER played in Tasmania... so if they dont have to do it why to all the non Melourne sides? Let the Victorian sides play each other down there if the AFL feels so strongly about it. The AFL bend over backwards to give their opponents any edge they can when it comes to the West Coast Eagles and Grand Finals. The Barry Hall being cleared to play in 2005 when he was clearly guilty of striking still rankles as well. If Collingwood were the opponents instead of us he would have gotten a month. ;-) So, its not a ''conspiracy theory '' if its true ;-)
Seymorebutts
Guest
Ditch the pre season play everyone twice, abolish the bye weekend. Maybe push the finals back to October? Professional Rugby Union starts in February and goes until November if you are good enough to play for the national teams. Rugby league also start late February I believe... thats a tough game as well. It was fair when you played every team twice of a three year period, but the AFL moved away from that model a long time ago. T
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
Yeah, I’m sure that about three or four years ago, the AFL brains trust sat down one day & drew up plans to ensure that Richmond was “looked after”. Yeah, obviously. Absolutely ludicrous and erroneous assumption. One that a supporter of a poorly performing club might latch onto out of sheer desperation and resentment.
quokka
Guest
Expand! Expand to 22 teams...that way there's still 21 rounds and everyone plays each other once. Alternate home/away games each year. Extra teams - Tassie, NT, two from WA - Joondalup Falcons and Peel Thunder - with home grounds in their region, not at Optus. WA can afford extra teams, SA can't, and NSW and Qld don't care enough about AFL. That way each team comes to WA twice, play Eagles and expansion 1 one year and Freo and exp2 the next. Similarly, each team goes to SA, Qld and NSW once per year. You could always have an extra rival round - remove a bye week - for more tv$...
The Dom is good
Roar Rookie
all teams should be given a fair go as the author has suggested not just Richmond & c/wood. The time is now for Gil and co to figure out a better system other than having his pet favorites play a plethora of games at the G just to fill his pockets. I'm simply asking for a fairer draw for the fixtures so all teams are treated equal in the best way possible.
RT
Roar Rookie
As you well know I never admitted any such thing.
Larrikin
Roar Rookie
hilarious comment r/tiger. at least it shows you have character admitting Richmond get looked after
RT
Roar Rookie
Who are you replying to? It is shocking how West Coast (and Fremantle who WC supporters don't seem to include in their victims of a conspiracy posts) have to travel further than other clubs, when they are the only teams in the most isolated city in the world. You would think the AFL would have had cities moved by now.
Larrikin
Roar Rookie
so you finally admit that Richmond has been looked after with fixture fixing since 2017? nice of you to admit what everyone else has been saying
RT
Roar Rookie
Ages? Probably only since October 2017.
WCE
Roar Rookie
Ive been crying fowl about Richmonds fixtures for ages, so thanks for the solid back up
AJ73
Roar Rookie
You don't make it fair? I'm only putting forward a suggestion. At least if the Giants finish in the top 4, there is a chance of playing a home preliminary final at Giants Stadium. And you should be given that right. My point is more about giving more teams a chance to play on the MCG and ensure that every team plays half their games at their home ground - a least given the choice. I used Geelong as an example as they want 11 games at GMHBA, yet the AFL still schedules them 2 "home" games in Melbourne. They make around $1 million every time they play in Geelong, they don't make as much is made with bigger crowds at MCG or Marvel.
AJ73
Roar Rookie
Hi MarkD, while I think that yes adding a few teams to make it two conferences of 10, I don't think 11 will happen. Mainly because of the depth of talent, maybe if they reduce the list sizes as they are talking about it may happen. Also, I think expansion is on hold now because of the current situation. Unfortunately, while there are 9 teams in Melbourne it will also be the main problem of it becoming a truly national competition (same goes for the NRL and even the A-League to some point). It would be great though with your proposal well. Thanks for your comment
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I'm feelin Grate and cheesed off. Grated cheese if you like.
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
That's quite a list 'grating' on you, Rowdy. Take a Bex and have a good lie down.
peter ostle
Guest
You cannot, due to that every year supporters of every team will feel that their team lost a match due to the unfairness of the schedule, the unfairness of the tribunal, the unfairness of the umpires etc. So, we have to live with this 'level' of unfairness and avoid egregious examples in all the above contexts. That through gritted teeth we have to acknowledge that side 'A' won the comp 'deservedly' or 'fairly', but we will always remember that moment when our team was denied its true place in the winner's circle.
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
The concept of fairness in team sport is a nonsense at the best of times, even more so in the current situation. In other words, don't worry about trying to make the season fair: worry about just having a season, any type of season. Also, as someone mentioned above, the AFL is now servicing a $600 million debt, presumably with a mortgage over Docklands. Priority no. 1 for the next decade: pay off the debt, by any means, even if it means the big popular clubs playing each other five times per season. Forget about fair.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
You don't. Im a Giants supporter. Last year, we were shit for a lot of the season, but we were good enough to beat Collingwood at the G, and then lost to Richmond at it. Shit. There's always next year, and the year after that.
MarkD
Guest
Gday AJ73 , liked the article and the multiple options you've put forward. I think that the 2 conference system is the one i prefer . Firstly this could allow for the expansion the comp by 2 or 4 teams so it would be 10 or 11 teams in each conference with one of each of the interstate teams in either conference along with Melbourne team rivals separated , eg. eagles ,crows , sydney , brisbane, 5 Melbourne teams plus 1 or 2 expansion teams (canberra, northern territory ) and the other conference the dockers, power, suns, giants ,5 Melbourne teams plus 1 or 2 expansion teams(regional vic,tassie). Depending on whether it's 10or11 team conferences, have home and away rounds,18 or 20 matches with 2or4 extra rounds . 1or2 rounds for rivalry/derby round and the other 1 or 2 so the afl can keep anzac and the indigenous rounds giving 22 full rounds. I know this system still means the interstate teams travel more than the Melbourne teams (10 team conterence the interstate sides travel 9 times,11 home matches if you include the derby rounds with the Melbourne sides only traveling 5 times,15 home matches) but maybe the powers that be could make the melbourne sides travel for the indigenous round. This would mean no matches in Melbourne including the dreamtime at the G and for a rare opportunity to have 2 matches played in Qld ,SA, WA and Nsw on the same weekend. Dreamtime at the Gabba or Optus stadium , wow , imagine the AUSTRALIAN Football League sharing a marquee game with the rest of the country and finally showing us all that the AFL is body that doesn't just rule for the Melbourne (i know its wishful thinking, just look at how the afl has honored its promise to give interstate sides extra access to the G :laughing: ) Finals would see the top 4/5 sides from each conference depending on which finals setup is used with highest seeded team getting home ground. Only the grand final guaranteed to be at the G. Not sure how the comp can be truly national or fair when Melbourne interests are always the primary consideration.