Most Favorable Fixture Draws In AFL History? (Single Season)

[Always Ballin]

Thought this was an interesting topic. The first one that comes to my head is Adelaide 2012. They got GWS and Gold Coast twice that year, when they were fresh expansion squads. They also had the privilege of playing Port twice, whom only won 5 games that season. They did have to play Geelong and Fremantle twice that year as well, who finished 6th and 7th on the ladder. Even considering that, it's still a really favorable draw. I haven't looked at who they played at home vs. who they played away, but I imagine it worked out in their favor.

This thread is a good read on 2012 Adelaide: https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/adelaide-is-the-2012-darkhorse.886087/

Bulldogs had a pretty advantageous fixture last year given they didn't have to travel until like round 9.

2011 Eagles had an easy draw I think.

 

[Topkent]

Who
Gives
A
Rats
Toss
Bag

 

[footy75]

It´s why the comp is unfair.

Would of Essendon been a finals side if not for their easy draw?

 

[Jeff76]

Geelong every year, we don't have a home ground, we have a home state and we only play shit sides at Kadinia park.

 

[Brunswick Trap King]

Adelaide 2012 was the first thing that came to mind. Having a weak draw seems to give teams a slingshot type of momentum that allows them to play beyond themselves.


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[BTs Nana]

Port this year?

Difference between them Adelaide 2012 is that Adelaide actually won a final

 

[marty36]

Draws are unknown would you have wanted at the end of 2016 to play the bulldogs twice in 2017

But it turned out you would


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[HairyO]

Draws are unknown would you have wanted at the end of 2016 to play the bulldogs twice in 2017

But it turned out you would


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You can play the averages. Would you rather Essendon's draw or Geelong's?

 

[Kwality]

Thought this was an interesting topic. The first one that comes to my head is Adelaide 2012. They got GWS and Gold Coast twice that year, when they were fresh expansion squads. They also had the privilege of playing Port twice, whom only won 5 games that season. They did have to play Geelong and Fremantle twice that year as well, who finished 6th and 7th on the ladder. Even considering that, it's still a really favorable draw. I haven't looked at who they played at home vs. who they played away, but I imagine it worked out in their favor.

This thread is a good read on 2012 Adelaide: https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/adelaide-is-the-2012-darkhorse.886087/

Bulldogs had a pretty advantageous fixture last year given they didn't have to travel until like round 9.

2011 Eagles had an easy draw I think.

In retrospect or pre season ?

 

[The Swans Blog]

Dogs last year played their first 7 games at Etihad. I don't think there's many teams over the AFL period that played 7 consecutive games at their home ground.

 

[Halftimehero]

It´s why the comp is unfair.

Would of Essendon been a finals side if not for their easy draw?

Yes, we lost to 3 of the bottom teams that we had double ups against, we could have exchanged those matches with the top 3 teams(one of which we beat) and lost them all and still made it.

 

[Bluelegs]

Geelong every year, we don't have a home ground, we have a home state and we only play shit sides at Kadinia park.

The whinging is amazing. You played every other top 8 side there this year bar Essendon and West Coast and that's even with the ground being shut for the first half of the season.

 

[Bluelegs]

Yes, we lost to 3 of the bottom teams that we had double ups against, we could have exchanged those matches with the top 3 teams(one of which we beat) and lost them all and still made it.

Only if you exchange the ones you lost and not the ones you won.

 

[radiojake]

It's hard to argue otherwise re: Adelaide 2012- especially when you look at the ladder position of 2010-2011/2013-2014

I remember thinking that we lucked out with the double ups -and given the Tippett crap that happened in that off-season, probably best we didn't go any further than giving Hawks a scare in the prelim

Port 2017 would have to be up there too

A bee's dick from top 4 but only beat two top 8 sides - the 0-6 Swans, and a West Coast that have been considered lucky to end up there

 

[theyellowsash]

Geelong every year, we don't have a home ground, we have a home state and we only play shit sides at Kadinia park.

You could make a fortune selling all that salt

 

[Halftimehero]

Only if you exchange the ones you lost and not the ones you won.

Which is impossible to know, Melbourne had just as many double ups against bottom 4 teams, played only 3 interstate away matches compared to Essendon's 6 and were the closest team outside the 8, they had their chance.

 

[Jeff76]

The whinging is amazing. You played every other top 8 side there this year bar Essendon and West Coast and that's even with the ground being shut for the first half of the season.

You could make a fortune selling all that salt

Lol there's 2 fish in the bag

 

[Gydafud]

Lol there's 2 fish in the bag

I thought it was too obvious, but some people get emotional about this sort of thing....

 

[PowerForGood]

Is this with respect to where teams finished in that year, or where they finished the previous year when the fixture is made?

 

[PowerForGood]

It's hard to argue otherwise re: Adelaide 2012- especially when you look at the ladder position of 2010-2011/2013-2014

I remember thinking that we lucked out with the double ups -and given the Tippett crap that happened in that off-season, probably best we didn't go any further than giving Hawks a scare in the prelim

Port 2017 would have to be up there too

A bee's dick from top 4 but only beat two top 8 sides - the 0-6 Swans, and a West Coast that have been considered lucky to end up there

Re comments for Port Adelaide
Isnt it about who you play, not who you beat?
We finished high up because we beat just about everyone we played from outside the 8 whereas others dropped games.

As for the fixture
We doubled up against Adelaide, West Coast, Collingwood, Brisbane and Gold Coast. Two top 8 teams and 3 bottom 10.

Interestingly (for me anyway) last years top 4 was Geelong Sydney GWS and Bulldogs. We were selected to play all 4 away from home this year. Beat Sydney. Beat Bulldogs. Led Geelong with 30 secs to play. Led GWS at 3 quarter time. Would have taken that in a heartbeat if given the chance.

 

[BEEG]

Geelong every year, we don't have a home ground, we have a home state and we only play shit sides at Kadinia park.

You play good teams at Skilled, that's why the Cats finish so high each year.

Massive advantage

 

[marty36]

You play good teams at Skilled, that's why the Cats finish so high each year.

Massive advantage

Dedfinetly rather play the good sides on your home deck as percentages say you will beat the shit sides where ever you play them

That is a massive advantage in the draw, I would love to play Sydney, GWS, Geelong, Essendon, Richmond, West Coast next year at home and not see them anywhere else and play GC,Brisbane and North Freo away

 

[Deep]

Adelaide 2017

Crows played 10 (Port twice so really 11) of the top 12 clubs at their extremely advantageous Adelaide Oval (excluding West Coast and themselves, duh). The only other side they played was 14th placed Freo.

Gifted a privilege by playing teams such as North, Brisbane, Carlton, Collingwood, Gold Coast away.

They only played 5 top 12 clubs away not including Port because they're an AO tenant & only one of these were above 7th.

That's the best draw a team could hope for.

 

[Deep]

Dedfinetly rather play the good sides on your home deck as percentages say you will beat the shit sides where ever you play them

That is a massive advantage in the draw, I would love to play Sydney, GWS, Geelong, Essendon, Richmond, West Coast next year at home and not see them anywhere else and play GC,Brisbane and North Freo away

Minus WC at home & Freo away you already got this easy draw in 2017. Check the above post.

 

[Deep]

You play good teams at Skilled, that's why the Cats finish so high each year.

Massive advantage

It's not our fault sides such as Sydney and to a lower extent Adelaide and West Coast are continually up and about somewhere most years. Because of the terribly ran clubs such as Collingwood and Carlton refusing to make the trip these guys get shafted.

If everyone was welcome people would see where Geelong were really at to a larger extent- a fraud of a top team.