Sydney draws Essendon in Round 1 of 2015

[B0SK]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-10-21/round-one-2015-revealed

Officially confirmed.

Very interesting that given the way the ASADA business is running there is a high probability Essendon may not be able to field a full-strength team in this round, or in some that follow for that matter, but present speculation is leaning towards players being unavailable for the first few opening rounds at a bare minimum.

Obviously the AFL cannot wait until the ASADA business is concluded before deciding next year's fixture, but I would've thought some kind of "lottery" could have been implemented to decide how close to the start of the year each team would play Essendon, because let's be honest about this - if twenty or more Essendon players are suspended such games becomes training drills and four free premiership points for their opponents.

Why do SOME clubs deserve to profit from this while others will most likely miss out?

 

[BF Tiger]

It's a bit hard to rubbish it when we don't know the penalty and we don't know who else gets to play Essendon early on.

 

[Air_Chester]

Sydney 1W, 0L, 793.47%

L Franklin, 20 goals

 

[Underarm]

Sydney would be favourites regardless, maybe that's what they plan on going with?

 

[B0SK]

It's a bit hard to rubbish it when we don't know the penalty and we don't know who else gets to play Essendon early on.

Yes but I think its only prudent the AFL creates the fixture under the assumption that Essendon players will miss a chunk of the season given the odds of it happening aren't exactly slim. Heck the AFL is in a much better position to estimate what kind of possible penalty they'd be looking at than we are, I'm sure they'd have a pretty good idea what to expect.

Playing a team who's had half its list wiped out (if only temporarily) is a HUGE advantage over rival teams who don't enjoy the same benefit in may what shape up to be another tight race for the top 4 and top 8.

 

[Cole Dammett]

What do you want them to do? You can't just make a fixture without Essendon. It's the same as teams playing GC17 GWS twice, especially in previous years, obviously they're improving now. If they had drawn Hawthorn in round 1 would you of been creating this thread? Doubt it.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

Getting GWS in round 1 last year didn't exactly work for Sydney. Maybe this won't either

 

[ManWithNoName]

Sydney 1W, 0L, 793.47%

L Franklin, 20 goals

To be fair Buddy would probably kick 20 against us with us fielding our best 22.

 

[Clark G]

If Essendon was drawn a struggling team first up, there would be complaints. Now that it is confirmed that Essendon will play the 2014 minor premier and runner up first up next year, there are complaints. Can't win either way.

 

[BluesMan]

Yep, definite case of can't win either way. It's going to (if punishment is handed out) happen to some teams, and they are just lucky.

 

[BluesMan]

And why is there 3 threads discussing the fixture?

 

[Jobe Watson]

Most likely scenario is that there is no bans and Essendon field a full strength team.




And Sydney still have a massive win.

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

AFL given up on the rivarly? baffling considering the circumstances from round 1

 

[Air_Chester]

To be fair Buddy would probably kick 20 against us with us fielding our best 22.

Buddy being a late withdrawal last year was celebrated like a victory. I cried with happiness.

 

[Jaeger]

Won't be an issue as long as the bans are two years and not just the first couple of rounds; that would be a slap on the wrist.

 

[sickman112]

To be fair Buddy would probably kick 20 against us with us fielding our best 22.

Not with this man standing in his way.

 

[Jaeger]

AFL given up on the rivarly? baffling considering the circumstances from round 1

Can't have their Swannies losing games

 

[B0SK]

Won't be an issue as long as the bans are two years and not just the first couple of rounds; that would be a slap on the wrist.

Even if that turns out to be the case shepp -I'm not saying it will or it won't- there will still be a distinct advantage to playing Essendon as early as possible before whatever team the club is allowed to field has had time to gel, and perhaps acclimatize to AFL standard if many players happen to be newly-recruited from the state leagues.

Unless ALL Essendon players escape sanctions (looks unlikely at this stage) every club will want to play the Bombers as early in the season as possible.

 

[Jaeger]

Even if that turns out to be the case shepp -I'm not saying it will or it won't- there will still be a distinct advantage to playing Essendon as early as possible before whatever team the club is allowed to field has had time to gel, and perhaps acclimatize to AFL standard if many players happen to be newly-recruited from the state leagues.

Unless ALL Essendon players escape sanctions (looks unlikely at this stage) every club will want to play the Bombers as early in the season as possible.

So I guess some teams were bound to have an early advantage. No surprise with this outcome.

 

[J_Moore]

you are a sad man

 

[Forward Press]

We already have a fixture thread and this one is tending towards discussion which can be reserved for the Hot Topic board anyway.

Closed.