Opinion Is this the worst AFL season ever?

[ibd77]

Less is more type thing. But include soccer goals too and basketball hoops.

Makes more sense.

True but they need bibs and umpires yelling out contact and stand every 5 seconds.

 

[joe444]

In fairness, it has just produced the greatest last quarter comeback in history. So the season may be forgettable, but the NWM game is one for the ages.

 

[Hobbes]

Outside of 2020, this is the worst season of AFL I have ever watched.

Teams getting smashed, Geelong having an easy draw and the gap between top 4 and bottom 4

Cannot think of a worst AFL season than this year and it will be if we see Geelong dominate with a premiership, Coleman and Brownlow in one season.

Geelong drew the long straw with teams that were not widely tipped to fall from the eight but did. They were lucky.

Brisbane drew the short straw, drawing teams that have risen from outside the eight.

It’s just luck. But the fact remains that Geelong got a lucky draw, and Brisbane got an unlucky one.

 

[two blue tiger]

Total winning margin this week over the 9 games was 517 points. That's 57.4 per game.

No wonder I enjoy the NHL ice hockey so much..............

 

[z547043]

What

https://resources.afl.com.au/afl/document/2024/11/18/7725bb33-4432-471f-b038-356010b02148/ICL_EDT_2025_140694_Fixture-Release_Booklet_FA_R_LowRes.pdf

This will give you a better understanding of how the draw is constructed. We have an OP Collingwood fan claiming we are favoured by the draw.

I’m trying to explain how it is constructed and why the change in fortunes of certain teams has contributed to Geelong’s favourable draw.

But apparently it was always predictable and just more evidence of Geelong being looked after.

Hence, why I proposed just waiting to see which teams are good and then have Geelong play the hardest possible draw to appease OP and similar uneducated BF posters.

I think it has merit.

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

https://resources.afl.com.au/afl/document/2024/11/18/7725bb33-4432-471f-b038-356010b02148/ICL_EDT_2025_140694_Fixture-Release_Booklet_FA_R_LowRes.pdf

This will give you a better understanding of how the draw is constructed. We have an OP Collingwood fan claiming we are favoured by the draw.

I’m trying to explain how it is constructed and why the change in fortunes of certain teams has contributed to Geelong’s favourable draw.

But apparently it was always predictable and just more evidence of Geelong being looked after.

Hence, why I proposed just waiting to see which teams are good and then have Geelong play the hardest possible draw to appease OP and similar uneducated BF posters.

I think it has merit.

What

 

[smasha]

Total winning margin this week over the 9 games was 517 points. That's 57.4 per game.

No wonder I enjoy the NHL ice hockey so much..............

Getting into the MLB.

 

[MadMundy]

Speak for yourself I've been enjoying it.

 

[russ]

yep. terrible. between the farcical rules, scheduling, umpiring, MRO, goal review, 50m penalties and bumbling incompetent mismanagement of the game, i'm lost to it now. hate it

 

[z547043]

What

Re-read the initial post or highlight/bold the section you are having difficulty with. More than happy to explain to a Collingwood fan. The what response is a bit generic and difficult to respond to.

 

[Irish BlueBagger]

What i'm about to say is not going to go down well with a lot of the crowd but here goes.

Both clubs are a good bit off it at the (granted Carlton went on a finals run two years ago) moment, but the competition needs both Carlton and Essendon firing on all cylinders and being up and about again.

I'm not saying that either club is entitled to success just based on history alone, but both clubs are cash cows to the AFL and they still put the bums on the seats despite both being subpar for over twenty years now.

 

[MisterMarcus]

Whining about how easy or hard a club's fixture turned out to be with hindsight, is very silly.

At the beginning of the season, doubling up against Port, Carlton and Sydney would have been seen as a horror draw. Whereas getting 2 games each against Gold Coast, Collingwood, Adelaide and Fremantle mightn't have been seen as too bad.

Cats having Port and Sydney in the run home would have been seen as two tough outings against hardcore contenders a few weeks out from finals. Now maybe it's viewed as much easier, but it's not some grand conspiracy. It's just the luck of the draw.

 

[Rich01]

With such a chasm in performance of the best 8-10 clubs and the rest, it would be better if the season is shorter.

Cut down the games to 18, then get on with a finals series. A wildcard weekend before the start of it to play for the last two finals spots could have merit too.

The current season is just too long as it is. Too many dead rubbers.

 

[T2B_]

Think a major issue is players having far less character.

There aren’t many guys in awful teams who try their guts out and can give a contender a scare almost off their own boot- you used to get that a bit.

Most of these players don’t give two ****s, once finals are gone they treat it like a job and not a practice in pride.

Richmond have been alright to watch because they do have that mentality.

This is an interesting point and describes my team perfectly. They lose yet again, they're all laughs and having fun with oppo players after the final siren. Probably happy just to be paid and go play COD or FIFA on PlayStation afterwards.

 

[zyzzbruh]

Everyone thinking this is a new age thing when it was the norm 20 years ago. We've been spoilt with some pretty even seasons of late. I'm sure the supporters of the top 8 teams aren't bothered. Swings and roundabouts. My team is cooked but im still very much looking forward to the top 4 battle and ensuing finals series.

Could win the lotto and you lot would still find something to complain about. The only thing that's half true is that the game is probably over umpired - but that has come as a result of everyone complaining about umpiring, and if they take action on some of the pressing umpiring issues and rules being complained about currently it is only going to make the game even more over umpired and watered down.

Fixturing is what it is, funny how it's a pies supporter bringing it up about a contending top 4 team whilst they're sitting 1st. The only fair resolution is to play each team twice which is a stretch. Bringing down to 18 rounds is still unfair on the home v away factor, and **** seeing less footy. if you don't want to watch it just don't - stop trying to push for less footy for everyone else.

 

[Erakor]

Having the best talent in the draft go to the two previous premiers is just a joke. The academy system is also pretty poor. Some clubs seem to just have 2-4 top 20 draft kids each year.

Fixturing.... Jesus Christ. A random computer generated fixture would do better.

And of course free agency .... the cream just raises to the top.

A top 8 that is this strong will make for a great finals spectacle though.

Adelaide and Collingwood are the strongest, but I don’t think anyone will be shocked if a team from 5-8th beat them.

Every team has claims, like a cox plate field.

Don’t remember a year where 7th and 8th weren’t just making up numbers.

 

[kreglze]

Probably be OK if we reduced players on the ground from 18 to 15. That's 54 players less in the comp and less congestion on the ground.

Then you can have last touch out of bounds so the game will be a lot faster.

I am an advocate for dropping players on the ground to 16. Cuts 36 players off the lists right there, opens up the game more, would also allow for interesting decisions on where you pull the players from, do you get rid of both wingman or perhaps you go 6 - 6 - 4 and really open your forward line up?

 

[Orange crush]

Whining about how easy or hard a club's fixture turned out to be with hindsight, is very silly.

At the beginning of the season, doubling up against Port, Carlton and Sydney would have been seen as a horror draw. Whereas getting 2 games each against Gold Coast, Collingwood, Adelaide and Fremantle mightn't have been seen as too bad.

Cats having Port and Sydney in the run home would have been seen as two tough outings against hardcore contenders a few weeks out from finals. Now maybe it's viewed as much easier, but it's not some grand conspiracy. It's just the luck of the draw.

Yeah the double ups based on the previous year are pretty random … I get the underlying idea but it never works out as expected

 

[gungho]

Here are a few considerations to the AFL

Umpiring - Stop over officiating. When it gets to the point where you shake your head when your own team gets a soft free kick you know it has gone too far. Just let them play FFS.
Goal Review: Only review the goals. There will never be a review required for Out of bounds on full or point. Will knock a few minutes off each game.
Kicking backwards: Should be discouraged. Simple solution - play on from a mark on any kick going backwards.
Fixturing: 18 rounds. Play each other once. Finally makes it a fair sport. (Less revenue perhaps but each game is more important).
MRO: The one size fits all box ticking exercise has been tried and failed.
Marquee Games: Thursday Night, Friday Night - go to exciting, or contending teams. Floating fixture if needed.
Sports Gambling Advertising. Is completely banned during games and there are no affiliations at all. This breaks up family's. How about you have a backbone AFL.
Father Son and Academy: The first round is protected. The top 18 guys go in the draft to the club selected. End of story, and will even the playing field. Finally.

 

[Demons09]

What i'm about to say is not going to go down well with a lot of the crowd but here goes.

Both clubs are a good bit off it at the (granted Carlton went on a finals run two years ago) moment, but the competition needs both Carlton and Essendon firing on all cylinders and being up and about again.

I'm not saying that either club is entitled to success just based on history alone, but both clubs are cash cows to the AFL and they still put the bums on the seats despite both being subpar for over twenty years now.

No ones talking about the financial state of the game.

 

[Irish BlueBagger]

No ones talking about the financial state of the game.

Neither am i people are saying that there's apparently no excitement and things are going stale etc.

Having two of the leagues big historical powerhouse clubs up and about again, would go a long way towards fixing that imo.

 

[QuietB]

How can this be the worst season ever?

It one of the first seasons in living memory where the top 8 is not set yet. Hawthorn miss for mine.

There is no clear premiership favourite.

There are teams from every state in finals.

It is actually a good season.

 

[Irish BlueBagger]

This is an interesting point and describes my team perfectly. They lose yet again, they're all laughs and having fun with oppo players after the final siren. Probably happy just to be paid and go play COD or FIFA on PlayStation afterwards.

I said before that some of our current players, could do with a pep talk from the likes of the Dominator, Craig Bradley and Kenny Hunter etc about what playing for Carlton is supposed to be about.

It would probably be a case of in one ear and straight out the other with a lot of them though.

 

[GhostofJimJess]

In fairness, it has just produced the greatest last quarter comeback in history. So the season may be forgettable, but the NWM game is one for the ages.

True, but ironic also that the only decently contested match for the weekend involved two clubs with no impact on the final 8.

 

[Norwood1878]

What i'm about to say is not going to go down well with a lot of the crowd but here goes.

Both clubs are a good bit off it at the (granted Carlton went on a finals run two years ago) moment, but the competition needs both Carlton and Essendon firing on all cylinders and being up and about again.

I'm not saying that either club is entitled to success just based on history alone, but both clubs are cash cows to the AFL and they still put the bums on the seats despite both being subpar for over twenty years now.

What can we do to help? Priority pics, draft concessions, more home games, kick off the season giving Ess and Carl 12 premiership points?
J/K