Here is my plan for how the AFL should look after the COVID-19 hiatus.
I would have two conferences: the first with all ten Victorian teams, and the second with the eight interstate teams.
The Victorian League would play all games at the MCG, while the National League would play Rounds 1 to 7 at the Adelaide Oval and Rounds 8 to 14 at Perth Stadium.
There would be 17 rounds between the restart on Thursday 25 June and the grand final on Sunday 31 October.
The finals would incorporate the top four from each comp (one versus four, two versus three), with the winners to play in prelims then the decider.
I would broadcast one game from each conference on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with two Victorian games on Saturday.
(Photo by Michael Dodge/AFL Media/Getty Images)
It is times like this when we realise how something as simple as a footy competition can bring us all together. While the outlook for us all in Australia in comparison to other parts of the world is looking better, we will still be in for a very long winter.
AFL in this country is often seen as the great communicator and it brings us all together. We all want our footy back but we also want to remain safe.
With all this talk of bias and the literal roadblocks the AFL is facing with interstate travel between teams, it is proving very hard for the AFL to come up with a game plan moving forward for the 2020 AFL season.
My plan values the health, mental health and safety of the players and the community, and stays within the guidelines set out by health departments and states. It also respects the fairness and evenness of the competition for the season, and minimises disruption and logistics for the clubs, the league, and the venues.
No matter what we choose, we are not going to please everyone, but by looking at things like statistics from the department of health as well as teams’ ladder positions and how often teams play each other and where they play, it’s a pretty good start. Obviously this would depend on the restrictions still in place and exemptions in travel, but that’s what I’ve tried to limit as much as possible.
The general rule of thumb would be to split the competition in half into two conferences: ten teams in Victoria, and eight across the nation.
By doing this it allows borders to remain closed, and allows 12 teams at once to stay home and doesn’t require the need to move away from families. It also limits the teams that would be interstate at one time to six teams, and limits the use of accommodation that would be needed if all 18 teams were in the same venue.
As far as evenness goes, these conferences split strong and weak teams fairly evenly.
(Ryan Pierse/AFL Photos/via Getty Images )
My plan allows the AFL to utilise the three biggest and newest stadiums in the game, so if it did get to the point where small numbers of crowds were allowed into games, they could be spaced easier.
It also means that there would only be four teams (Brisbane, Gold Coast, GWS and Sydney) that would not be playing games at a venue they do not host regular home games at. It would also free up NSW and Queensland to have more stadiums available, even though these are not regular NRL home grounds, if they wanted to do a hub-style project for the NRL.
The competition could run for 18 weeks from the last week in June to the last week in October. This would ensure the season finishes early enough not to impact summer sports and allow sufficient time between the season ending and next season starting for all injury management, surgeries, rehabilitation, and most importantly family and relaxation time.
At the end of the 18 weeks there is a two-week break then it would be the top four from each competition to play a knockout semi-final.
The two-week break would allow teams a 14-day isolation period if they needed to move states, such as going to Victoria to have all finals played at the MCG or going to WA to have all finals played at Optus Stadium. There is enough time for a mini-bye, injury recovery period and hopefully a bit of time for potential crowd numbers come finals if restrictions are once again eased by October. The grand final would be held on the last weekend of October.
My broadcast plan also puts games on TV four nights a week.
You are not going to please everyone. No matter how we go about it, there will be winners and there will be losers.
But as a footy fan and someone who misses the game tremendously, if everyone can stay safe, healthy and we get to watch the AFL again, then we are all winners.
Monica Di Battista
Roar Rookie
I hate the idea of a conference system. AFLW conference last season shows how bad it is. The best two teams all season did not make the grand final and the game was all over by half time. However your ideas of having footy on tv four nights a week I rate. That's what should happen more often.
Milo
Roar Rookie
To be fair, i think the reigning premier should be given 17 games plus finals at the MCG. Apart from that, no issues.
Scott
Guest
Yeah I know. But I’ve read an article on the procedures the AFL want to use if teams come to WA. If they use them on the WA teams after they’ve travelled to states without new cases, then they’d be very safe to return home. If not it doesn’t matter, can keep playing interstate till they allow it. It’ll work out good for west coast and freo anyway cause they’ll get a string of home games to finish the season. Either way, with that system, the next 2 rounds can get booked in regardless. Get them played and then reassess. The way it’s going border restrictions will be off by then anyway
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
I think your proposal dies at “surely the government ....” they can’t be both adamant about rules and then look away the odd instance.
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
How about a different topic is discussed on the Roar?
Scott
Guest
I like the way you are thinking outside the box. There are many ways around this situation. I proposed an idea in another article on this site about a week ago which was as follows; “ I don’t reckon they need to wait till the end of June. Set a date right now for the start of June. That’s 4 weeks away. Start mini preseason now. Have the the 2 WA teams travel to South Australia or vice versa. Both sides can share a chartered flight. Do the same thing with the Queensland and Sydney teams. Play each of the 2 sides from the opposing state over a 6 day break. Can do the same with all the Victorian teams playing each other. That means by the 2nd week of June every team will have 14 games remaining. That’s only 3 weeks behind the original schedule with only 2 planes crossing a border. By that time some restrictions will likely have eased and the fixture should get easier, if the restrictions havnt eased, at least you’ve completed 3 rounds and now only need to organise 14 more. There will surely be plenty more options by that time, including playing games in Darwin or whatever states have the least restrictions. Get it going!” Adding to that proposal, WA is the only state holding things up at the moment with interstate travel. In the proposal above they could then fly over to either Queensland or Sydney to play the 2 sides from that state in round 4 and 5, depending on which state has the fewest new cases. West coast and Freo played 2 Victorian teams in the 1st round so the schedule allows for this scenario. Surely restrictions will have lessened by then and everything can be reassessed. If not they can travel again, after returning home for a short break. Surely the government will let the teams come back for a week or 2 if they have only travelled to 2 states with the least new cases. I really think they can at least organise the next 2 round schedule now without causing problems for anyone
DTM
Guest
Yes, it doesn't work to say "stuff you" to 22% of the competition. After all, aren't we trying to grow the game in NSW and Queensland? If this proposal was seriously considered by the AFL (and I don't think it will be) the AFLPA would stop it immediately. Sadly, I'm coming to the conclusion that the 2020 season will not be completed.
Johnno
Roar Rookie
On the face of it it would appear the 2 WA & 2 SA teams will need to relocate even for part of the rest of the season. Getting the right plan so it at least looks fair is a great challenge for the AFL. This creates so many problems for the AFL to fix. They won’t get it perfect, and there will be some inequities, but they are under the microscope like never before. Their exorbitant pay packets (even with their temporary reduction) are now being tested.
Ads
Guest
Or hows about the interstate teams just play each other from now on and the VFL can go stare deep into each others eyes in one big circle jerk. Eddie, BT and Delicious can even commentate it.
Damo
Guest
Unlikely on WA borders. McGowan said on Sunday it would be the last restriction lifted. So WCE and Feo either need to settle in Vic for a long time or not participate at all.
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
But why?
Gerard Klomp
Guest
Just hope WA has lifted the Interstate ban by then. Do not like the Idea of Conferences. Just get back to the full AFL. The Conference Idea is too American. We do not need American Ideas in our Great Australian Game. Just leave it Australian. The Isolation is very Boring.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Interesting, I rate the creativity but I think it moves a little too far away from the competition roots. I would do more a soccer World Cup style thing with three groups of six teams each playing out of one city. And sorry Sydney because they’ve had the worst outbreak of coronavirus I would force both gws and swans out of there.
Gyfox
Roar Rookie
As soon as I saw the word, Conferences, I stopped reading!
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
A bold plan Brendan. The main issues at a quick glance. The Sydney and Qld teams would be away from their families for a long time. AFLPA would be seen as negligent to endorse this. No home games at all doesn’t seem fair too. I do get it’s hard to please all. The only advantage in finishing 1st over 4th is that you play the 4th side instead of 2 or 3. No second chance. Let’s say Richmond are undefeated and then go into an elimination final. The National league you get to finish top 4 from 8, needing to beat 4 other sides to make it, VFL you have to beat 6 other sides to make it.