The 2020 AFL season looks like no other, with teams relocating from around the country into hubs just to keep the delayed home-and-away fixture ticking over to make it to the finals.
But based on how this has worked out, with 33 games in 19 days, should the AFL consider permanently changing to a 34-round fixture whereby all clubs play each other twice before the finals?
The AFL should look at this busier 34-plus-finals model in 2023, which would allow it to sell the TV rights at the next round of negotiations at a higher price, making up for the shortfall in revenue the game as a whole is experiencing during this pandemic.
The AFL has the chance to create a level playing field in terms of the match schedule while also expanding the season at the same time.
(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
This will bring in huge revenue for the footy rights. We could also have media broadcasters paying extra for boutique games such as Anzac Day, the grand final, finals, derbies and rivalries.
Could this be the foundation of a new AFL era post-COVID-19?
The AFL will lose revenue over 2020-21 seasons, and as the effects of coronavirus continue, there’s a real danger major corporate sponsorship will withdraw from the game.
The AFL has to look at revenue for the near future, and by expanding the game schedule and making it a more even deal for all clubs will enhance the value of the media rights.
The packaging of the series would be simple: 34 rounds with two byes, after Round 11 and Round 22, after which the finals would be played as normal.
Player lists would have to be expanded to 50 to fill a senior and reserves side.
AFL boutique games could be sold to the highest bidder as one-off matches or as a bundle, with the maximum permitted games sold and some financial benefit going back to the respective clubs in the match-up.
Out of the 306 games played over a 34-round season, all have to be on free-to-air TV, even if they are delayed by up to 72 hours.
The AFLW season should also be expanded to 34 rounds and played before senior games, with reserves games doing likewise, to be player before AFLW games.
These are my thoughts from this coronavirus era. What do you think, Roarers? Could an expanded AFL post-pandemic build a better game?
Joe from Perth
Guest
34 rounds plus finals would be too long by about a month. 1 March to 30 November - too hot at one end and cricket season at the other. A proper home and away season would work if there were two fewer teams, and that discussion has been had before. Which two teams are to go? I also agree with some other comments which note that too much Big Bash is, well, too much. How much is too much footy?
RT
Roar Rookie
To date, they have said they will go back to 20 minutes.
RT
Roar Rookie
Nice that they might listen to us on one thing.
Cracka
Roar Rookie
Hmmmm I think the Media rights holder has more say on what time a Grand Final is played, personally, but yeah maybe they hear the call of the supporter on the timing of the Grand Final.
RT
Roar Rookie
Absolutely, you make a good point. Like I said, an extra 4 rounds might be something they look at and hopefully it won't be overkill. The AFL is still kind of listening to people about not having a night grand final, but not enough to stop talking about it.
Cracka
Roar Rookie
Well its like this Richie, the AFLPA want more money for their players and the AFL is a non profit organization, the AFL will have to increase the games played to increase revenue for the players, these are the facts and the players union are pushing for more money, so really your opinion or mine really doesn't matter as the AFL will be looking at adding more games to their fixture in the future to increase the value of the footy rights, my simple article is to get others to think about how it may work, as it will happen and it won't matter what I think or you, they the AFL will do what they have to. Tell me the last time the opinion of the AFL supporters was a factor in the AFL decision making?
Brian
Guest
34 too much. However I do expect the AFL to increase the number of games. Previously there was 15,840 minutes of regular season (22*9*80) + 1,296 minutes of pre-season so 17,136 total. So sticking to 16 minutes quarters and cancelling the pre-season you can have 26 rounds for a total of 16,848 minutes on par with a regular season. Those 26 rounds would allow to start in early March like the NRL and have an extra 4 weeks of product so I'm sure they will consider it.
RT
Roar Rookie
PTS, should everyone come in and just say "nice article" like you and write about something else? Positive or negative, every other person commenting on this article made a better contribution than you.
Gyfox
Roar Rookie
Spruce....there's a difference between reluctance & refusing to go. Hence the AFL is now paying for loads of partners & kids
Nick
Roar Guru
"Some" 5 out of about 500.
Nick
Roar Guru
Your last paragraph in this post is closer to reality. The rest is dribble. That fact that PtS liked the post means it's a poor post. Sorry - but it's true. He's literally the last person you'd want validation from. Although, shorter quarters means less advertising. And, as we've unfortunately seen this year - shorter quarters + embarrassingly few goals leads to even less advertising. It is in the interests of broadcasters to want 20 minute quarters. They are losing 16 minutes + time on of potential advertising revenue every match.
George Apps
Roar Rookie
I think we could have the season starting the first Friday in March and finishing with the Grand Final on the first Saturday in October. With a bye mid-season, this gives us 26 H&A matches and 4 weeks of Finals, with only the top 6 competing. Games would continue like now with shortened quarters. And so players couldn’t complain about extra workloads we would have 6 bench-warmers. I look forward to discussion.
Nick
Roar Guru
You've forgotten the MASSIVE elephant in the room. Where are the broadcasters getting the money to pay for 34 rounds of football? Also, even condensing the season to play multiple games a week, you still need to play it over a longer period of the calendar year. You will have to play well into October, and start likely in early February. So, therefore, where will they play these games? ALL the AFL ovals get handed over to cricket for the summer in October. Finally, on the topic of the cricket - considering your season is guaranteed to overlap with the cricket, who is going to broadcast it? Channel 7 and Fox paid overs for the cricket...reckon they are going to be happy diluting that product to broadcast the AFL in February!?
Nick
Roar Guru
If he was looking at his spreadsheets they would show it's absolutely unfeasible.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Have a go yourself WUL. Put yourself out there and write an article yourself?
Cracka
Roar Rookie
thanks mate, but the article is a thinker, the future for the AFL will be revenue based decisions and the only way they will be able to generate more revenue for the game is to playing more game, I can see in the future a 28 game season with shorter quarters, the media rights will demand more games and time in the game to show more advertising at some point. More time for advertising in game and more games more revenue for the AFL and players. AFLW will be pegged to the new TV rights, but I’m sure the Media buying the AFLW will want more games to again generate more revenue, so for example say channel 9 buys the AFLW season and say 5 boutique games plus 2 finals. I think the Media rights in the future will be split between more media companies, TV and internet and they will all want more games played and shorter quarters so they can sell more advertising.
Cracka
Roar Rookie
I have always liked the Australian Rules game to be just that so I would never like a conference system, not to say its a bad idea and indeed it maybe the future. I just hate waiting for the footy to start every year and with the AFL playing with the idea of a 26, 28, 32 or 34 season, I think they the AFL would look at starting the season playing games from Thursday through to Monday with double header on a Saturday and Sunday. A lot of people here have said its way to much and that fair.
WUL
Guest
Perhaps that is because most people seeing a dog tend to point that its a dog.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Gee everyone so eager to just jump in and bag the idea aren’t they? Nice article Cracka. Personally I’d like them to focus on fixing scrum footy and move to a permanent 17 game season but that’s just my preference.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
No chance. Zero sustainability.