After two weeks of the AFL finals series, there are four teams solely focused on winning the flag in 2022, while the remaining 14 teams have turned their focus to 2023, working out where it all went wrong this year, and what they can fix going into next season.
No doubt the fixture, which will likely be released in October or November, will play a big part in the fortunes of each team. The AFL has a weighted system based on the previous season’s standings in an attempt to even out the double-up games, but what if there was a fairer way to do it?
What if each team just played each other once for a 17-round competition? Not enough games right? Got to keep those broadcasters happy.
What if the competition was then split for the remaining home and away fixtures, with all teams keeping points and percentage accrued to that point?
The top six play each other once for five more games. The top three get three home games, while 4-6 get two. At the end, the top four after these rounds get a second chance as per usual, while fifth and sixth will be joined in the elimination finals by the teams which finish up top in the second tier.
The next six play each other once for five more games, with the two remaining finals spots up for grabs. It’s the same as with the 1-6 tier: 7-9 get three home games, while 10-12 get two.
The bottom six would therefore play each other once; given their focus is draft picks, it makes sense to have the most successful team in this tier ‘win’ the number one draft pick.
So in the competition’s entirety, each team ends up playing everyone once before joining their bracket of 6 and playing another 5 games. Each team would play 22 games (the same as the 2022 season) in total and between 10 and 12 home games.
Rounding out the fairness, the teams that played away against a team in one season would then host that same team the following season. For instance, if Richmond played West Coast at home in the first 17 rounds, the Eagles would then host the Tigers in the next season.
Dejected Carlton players walk from the ground after losing to Melbourne. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
It’s naive to think that coaches and fans won’t still complain about short turnarounds, travel and a range of other things. But this would be a simple approach to ensure that when teams enter their six-team bracket, they deserve to be where they land.
This would also eliminate so many meaningless games towards the end of the season, with the majority of teams having something to play for right until the end.
As an example, after each team had played 17 games in 2022, this would be the middle bracket:
Carlton – 44 points
Richmond – 36
Western Bulldogs – 36
St Kilda – 36
Port Adelaide – 32
Gold Coast – 32
With a potential 20 points up for grabs, all of those teams would be a chance of making the top two of that bracket and making the finals.
The current weighted system is based around the previous season’s results: however, with most teams changing their roster, coaches and tactics teams can look very fit from one year to the next. At least this model splits teams based on their most current form.
No doubt if the AFL competition was expanded to 19 teams or more there would be some further considerations required, but for the time being, this is an option the AFL should explore.
Cat
Roar Guru
So what’s your solution then? Where should Melbourne teams play Melbourne teams?
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
Very deep. So rather than have the Victorian teams travel more,i.e. a fair move ,West Coast and Fremantle travel less but don't have their support staff ,their own rooms, their own beds for nine weeks a year,i.e. unfair. Less travel,true. How about this? The Cats play every interstate team at their home ground once a season, as do every other Victorian team but they can only take two of their physios and they have to catch the midnight horror back home. That'll even things up...
Curmudgeon1961
Roar Rookie
Heavens one Melbourne based team fans struggles to attend Docklands but luuuurve telling everybody else how soft they are. Think that group also gives it to the Cats for being unhappy about giving up finals games to play at the MCG
Curmudgeon1961
Roar Rookie
You cannot argue with Bay supporters Rowdy. Well you can but they struggle with the logic FaceBook style. Ironically I grew up in Glenelg North but supported Port
Greg
Roar Rookie
Might as well go with a home and way and see how that works.
TheFireFighterOfAntarctica
Roar Rookie
The system you have suggested is called the 17-5. It was mooted at AFL house back in 2010. 12 years later, and still no change. What a shame!!!
Cat
Roar Guru
Algorithm or formula. But it’s a predefined system that attempts to make it as fair as possible with zero concessions for ‘wish lists’ and crowd numbers. Under this formula, all teams are guaranteed to play every other team in their own conference at least once every three years, and to play every team in the other conference at least once every four years. The formula also guarantees a similar schedule for every team in a division each season, as all four teams will play fourteen out of their seventeen games against common opponents or each other.
Cat
Roar Guru
Geography cant be made fair. Attempting to balance unfairnesses holds no interest to me. One thing that could be done which I suspect would be rejected by certain clubs is scheduling ‘trips’. Instead of alternating home and away every single week so that travel is guaranteed every other week go on a road trip for two or three weeks then have the same number of games at home. Example: West coast travels to Melbourne and plays Geelong, Collingwood and St Kilda in consecutive weeks. They stay in Melbourne for the three weeks. They train in Melbourne (at which ever ground or grounds those 3 games were played at. Then they return home and play 3 home games. This would cut travel by 2/3rds.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
That's what I'm asking you. There is already a heavy layer of unfairness regarding travel and my other concerns which interstate clubs accommodate. How much unfairness could Victorian sides put up with before they squeak? If you have a considered representative position, which I doubt, then not much at all.. What impositions would you accept?
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
Has anyone considered that the AFL has been playing the long game? Keep GWS and the Suns ticking along to keep RL and soccer at bay, they have the cash after all to do this. Tasmania stand alone team in two years time. NT and Tiwis a year after that.. Twenty one game season. Derbies, Showdowns and such to make the extra.
Jimmy Woods
Roar Rookie
Not often but definitely saw him a few times at Victoria Park. You could say he was a tad over dressed.
Cat
Roar Guru
Tell me how do you account for geography without just adding more unfairness?
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
A pocksee idea and obviously not serious. If it's too hard to consider player welfare and team equity that doesn't involve Victorian teams,then say so
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
West Perth for mine. Claremont are like Sturt, further back.
DTM
Roar Rookie
Maybe we could include Claremont. Of course, Richmond would have to change their jumper and wouldn't be allowed to be called the Tigers!
Davico
Roar Pro
The Suns was never going to work, no professional sports team has worked on the Coast. GWS, you can argue. It may not be a heartland etc, but the sheer population and youth demographics of the area and potential to grow the game was probably worht the punt. Having said that, you will get no argument that def Tassie and potentially NT and Canberra should have had teams first.
Davico
Roar Pro
The other way to make up the games would be to bring back State or Origin or have an All-Stars game.
Davico
Roar Pro
The NFL is not a great example as they play each of their division rivals twice, and they also don't play all other teams. They play a handful of teams in the other conference once, I don't even think they play all teams in their own conference once ie AFC,NFC.
.kraM
Roar Rookie
I believe there’s an algorithm for NFL so slightly different.
Chris Lewis
Roar Guru
AFL could expand league slowly. New opportunities and a bigger population over time could produce more quality footballers. In a sport with lots of $$$$, cannot see any reason why more talented youngsters would not happen.