Opinion How do we fix the compromised season fixture?

[kranky al]

So your solution is to make it significantly less fair? Whoever finishes 7th is laughing all the way to a top 4 finish.

Do you really want to watch another Month Of eagles losing?

lol we wouldn’t have made the second division finals - only the top 4

 

[Dirty Bird]

You cant unless you cut it back to playing everyone once, or increase it to playing everyone twice (Which would be the only reason I'd accept games being shortened. To give us mid week games)

Because all the ideas and suggestions of 'everyone plays everyone, then you split ladder and play specific teams' are logisitcally impossible.

You have to decide in advance who you play so everyone has even home and away games. And it's sheer dumb luck if a team drops like Port Power did, or raises like Adelaide Did. Im sure entering the year Hawthorn would've prefered the prospect of playing Adelaide twice more than playing Port Power twice. Things change.

So if you stick with the current game amounts, I like the idea (and ive thought it since gather rd came into affect) of splitting the league into 6 groups of 3 and playing 1 team from the other 5 sectors each. Then to ensure you get your derbys/showdowns etc. Have 1 rivalry rd as well.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Step 1: Carlton and Essendon matches in 2026 to be non-televised.

 

[Clems Knee]

Would it make these games a little more special if they happened 4 times every 3 years instead of 6 times?

They could retain the ANZAC day fixture, just wouldn't be the less interestIng return fixture that everyone forgets about.

They'll never do it unfortunately - the crappy utterly manufactured and uneven fixture we have is the only way they can maximise those games.

Personally, I'd be fine with 1 Derby a year, 2 when we are scheduled to have a return fixture (every 3 seasons) but I know a lot of fans wouldn't like that, the TV wouldn't like it, the clubs would rather they get 1 home Derby each a year, guaranteed and the league want to make sure TV and crowds rise every season.

I think the main thing to remember is that the majority of stakeholders, including the fans, do not care about the integrity of the fixture, at all. Unfortunately.

The problem with only one derby a year is that means more travel for the non Victorian teams.
There should be a way to even up the travel loads of teams.

17 home and away includes guaranteed 9 home games for non-Victorian teams.
Every team must travel to a non-Victorian state once, and get the home game against the other team from that state.

Add a rivalry round. reduced travel loads for non Victorian teams and opportunity for cash cows.

At the end of these 18 rounds,
Compose a fixture for
1-6 to play each other for positions in finals and 7-12 to fight it out for the remaining two positions.
Top 12 retain their points gained from the first 18 rounds.
Final 6 start afresh from zero for the last 5 games to play for pick 1. The team that wins the most gets pick 1. AFL has a transparent system for giving priority picks to truly shit teams who can’t win 5 games over the year despite playing other bottom teams twice over the year.

Home and away is only really a problem for non Victorian teams as they suffer the travel burden more. To determine the last 6 rounds, make sure non Victorian teams have 3 home games out of the 5.
This gives non Victorian teams 12 home games for selling to members.
Victorian teams can have their home games for members split with other teams at the MCG when they play their second game.

 

[ItsAllAboutMe]

2 divisions of 9, basically Vic v The Rest.

Play everyone once + the other teams in your division twice.
28 game seasons, no preseason, no byes.

Top 5 from each division play finals.

 

[eddiesmith]

Would it make these games a little more special if they happened 4 times every 3 years instead of 6 times?

They could retain the ANZAC day fixture, just wouldn't be the less interestIng return fixture that everyone forgets about.

They'll never do it unfortunately - the crappy utterly manufactured and uneven fixture we have is the only way they can maximise those games.

Personally, I'd be fine with 1 Derby a year, 2 when we are scheduled to have a return fixture (every 3 seasons) but I know a lot of fans wouldn't like that, the TV wouldn't like it, the clubs would rather they get 1 home Derby each a year, guaranteed and the league want to make sure TV and crowds rise every season.

I think the main thing to remember is that the majority of stakeholders, including the fans, do not care about the integrity of the fixture, at all. Unfortunately.

Well Collingwood v Essendon is not a guaranteed double up every year anyway, with them shit this year they got Geelong twice and just once v Collingwood.

We also haven’t got Richmond twice since they stopped winning premierships…

 

[Cam Payne]

There can be no fair fixture until the big four vfl clubs automatically qualify for finals.

 

[Altum Volantes]

The problem with only one derby a year is that means more travel for the non Victorian teams.
There should be a way to even up the travel loads of teams.

17 home and away includes guaranteed 9 home games for non-Victorian teams.
Every team must travel to a non-Victorian state once, and get the home game against the other team from that state.

Add a rivalry round. reduced travel loads for non Victorian teams and opportunity for cash cows.

At the end of these 18 rounds,
Compose a fixture for
1-6 to play each other for positions in finals and 7-12 to fight it out for the remaining two positions.
Top 12 retain their points gained from the first 18 rounds.
Final 6 start afresh from zero for the last 5 games to play for pick 1. The team that wins the most gets pick 1. AFL has a transparent system for giving priority picks to truly shit teams who can’t win 5 games over the year despite playing other bottom teams twice over the year.

Home and away is only really a problem for non Victorian teams as they suffer the travel burden more. To determine the last 6 rounds, make sure non Victorian teams have 3 home games out of the 5.
This gives non Victorian teams 12 home games for selling to members.
Victorian teams can have their home games for members split with other teams at the MCG when they play their second game.

That gets rather complicated, the simpler the better with a focus on everyone playing everyone on a set rotation, year on year, is the only way to future proof the fixture.

Unfortunately, the balance of the teams locations is what it is, compromising the fixture to favour non-Vic teams travel schedule doesn't help the integrity of the comp, it only further compromises it.

The obvious solution to at least lessen the 'imbalance' is to focus on a Victorian market with perhaps 6 or 7 big, strong clubs, plus 9 Non-Vic teams.

16 teams would get us closer to 3 games over a 2 year period, alternating home and away.

....but the appetite from the league is for more teams and there is no intention to reduce the number of teams in Melbourne.....so on we go....

 

[Clems Knee]

Unfortunately, the balance of the teams locations is what it is, compromising the fixture to favour non-Vic teams travel schedule doesn't help the integrity of the comp, it only further compromises it.

My suggestion isn’t compromising the fixture. It’s guaranteeing a more balanced fixture. In 23 games, non-Victorian teams would get 12 home games, an away derby, at least 3 games in the other states and at least 4 games in Victoria and up to 7 there, depending on who finishes in the same tier of 6.
Victorian teams would get 4 interstate games in the first 18 games and 14 games in Victoria. Then for the double up games, they may get at least another 2 Victorian games.
The real difference would be that all Victorian clubs would have to share the travel load, not just the Cinderella clubs.

 

[Cleric]

It can never be fair. You just have to beat who is in front of you.
Once you get to the finals, then its up to each team to beat every other team they face to win the GF.
The fact that we play the GF at the MCG every year means that even if you get to the GF its not a fair fight if you are an interstate team playing a Victorian one.
It is what it is. It won't change any time soon, so why bother complaining about it?

 

[Walshawk]

Lots of way to fix it.

Once Tassie come in, everybody plays each other once, then you split off the bottom seven, (they play each other once, over seven weeks, totally 24 games).

The top 12 are spit onto six groups (top 2, next 2, etc). Each team plays one game against a team in each group.over six weeks, totaling 24 games. You can make the last six games worth double points (or not).

It woild be an intense and exciting top 12. Then a week off then a normal final 8.

Also…

with an odd number of teams, you can’t have 23 games, it doesn’t work. Assuming they keep Gather Round, we will go to 24 games. I am ok with non-Vic clubs having 12 home games to balance out travel and the MCG GF. Vic clubs 11 home games. That leaves 10 neutral games. Gather Round would feature Crows and Port home games plus seven neutral games. Remaining three neutral games can be played in Darwin, Canberra, Cairns, NZ, etc.

 

[Duckimus Prime]

You have to decide in advance who you play so everyone has even home and away games. And it's sheer dumb luck if a team drops like Port Power did, or raises like Adelaide Did. Im sure entering the year Hawthorn would've prefered the prospect of playing Adelaide twice more than playing Port Power twice. Things change.

You say that, but Hawthorn went 1-1 against both.

 

[The Tilt]

Lots of way to fix it.

Once Tassie come in, everybody plays each other once, then you split off the bottom seven, (they play each other once, over seven weeks, totally 24 games).

The top 12 are spit onto six groups (top 2, next 2, etc). Each team plays one game against a team in each group.over six weeks, totaling 24 games. You can make the last six games worth double points (or not).

It woild be an intense and exciting top 12. Then a week off then a normal final 8.

Also…

with an odd number of teams, you can’t have 23 games, it doesn’t work. Assuming they keep Gather Round, we will go to 24 games. I am ok with non-Vic clubs having 12 home games to balance out travel and the MCG GF. Vic clubs 11 home games. That leaves 10 neutral games. Gather Round would feature Crows and Port home games plus seven neutral games. Remaining three neutral games can be played in Darwin, Canberra, Cairns, NZ, etc.

Yeah, that's a decent version of the 17-6/18-6 model. But I'm voting against the last six games being worth double points. I can imagine splitting the top 12 into six groups of 2 makes it easier to avoid teams hosting others twice in a H&A season.

I'm not really into the idea of an 12th home game for non-Vic clubs, but I can see them doing that when Tasmania enters.

 

[VinnieB]

Other Victorian teams having their own ground....what kind of fantasy bullshit is that

Yeah exactly. Like it used to be. Now only Geelong get to take the advantage of playing at their home ground + 5 games at the MCG each year.

No other club in the competition get such an enormous advantage.

 

[Mr Meow]

Yeah exactly. Like it used to be. Now only Geelong get to take the advantage of playing at their home ground + 5 games at the MCG each year.

No other club in the competition get such an enormous advantage.

Geez, you really do relentlessly sob about this topic all year round, huh? You're competing with BigVic for the most salty and sore Pie following all those Geelong finals won at Collingwood's home ground.

 

[VinnieB]

From what I understand a full capacity game at the G is the equivalent of an average Geelong home game at Kardinia Park. So no, if Geelong do request games against Collingwood (which is doubtful) at the G it's to accomodate the Geelong supporters who live in Melbourne and not for financial gain.

No, Scott wants to play some games at the MCG. Whether you play 5 or 8 it doesn’t matter. 5 or 6 games each year gives you an advantage come finals time. Add tot hat all those home games which you should win most of, and you have the clear advantage over every Melbourne club and interstate club in the competition.

 

[VinnieB]

Geez, you really do relentlessly sob about this topic all year round, huh? You're competing with BigVic for the most salty and sore Pie following all those Geelong finals won at Collingwood's home ground.

No. Just stating facts.
This is a forum about a compromised fixture. Geelong are the big winners each and every season.

 

[randyzany]

No, Scott wants to play some games at the MCG. Whether you play 5 or 8 it doesn’t matter. 5 or 6 games each year gives you an advantage come finals time. Add tot hat all those home games which you should win most of, and you have the clear advantage over every Melbourne club and interstate club in the competition.

Home games? I doubt that. Away games against Melbourne Clubs at the G? I think that's what the club wants and is fine with.

 

[Mr Meow]

No. Just stating facts.
This is a forum about a compromised fixture. Geelong are the big winners each and every season.

Nope, Geelong are just better than most (but not all) sides nearly every season. 9-4 away from Geelong this season. Fairly similar in 2024. We have won many finals away from our home ground (GMHBA) in that time frame, even when we have to host MCG teams that get the cushiest ride of all teams. Collingwood in particular. Luckily the Colliwobbles have resulted in a whole bunch of finals chokes at the G, or else there would be a lot more talk about it. Every Pies flag is worth about 25% a normal one.

 

[SSSSSS]

Just for shits and gigs I've tried to create an alternate ladder to address the double up issue.

If you win both match ups in the double up you get 4 points.
If you win one each, you get 2 points.
Lose both you get 0 points.

I thought of this as a way to try and minimize the peculiarities of a draw when clubs get to feast on weaker sides.

It didn't actually change the result too much but this is the adjusted ladder

Original points in brackets

1. Crows on 54 points (72)
2. Cats on 52 points (68)
3. Lions on 52 points (66)
4. Collingwood on 48 points (64)
5. GWS on 48 points (64)
6. Freo on 48 points (64)
7. Hawthorn on 46 points (60)
8. Bulldogs on 44 points (56)

9. GC on 44 points (60)
10. Sydney on 38 points (48)
11. Carlton on 28 points (36)
12. St Kilda on 28 points (36)
13. Port Adelaide on 28 points (36)
14. Demons on 22 points (28)
15. Essendon on 18 points (24)
16. North on 16 points (22)
17. Richmond on 14 points (20)
18. Eagles on 4 points (4)

The only real difference I can see is the Dogs are rewarded with a finals spot having a better percentage over the Gold Coast. The Lions also are on equal tally with the Cats, and the Hawks are outright ahead of 8th place.

I don't think this system is very good.

 

[2009premiers]

How about every team negotiates with each other club to determine the fixture. Under this, everyone plays each other once and signs an agreement with 6 other teams to play a double up.

Teams may look at minimising travel.
Others may look at the commercial approach.
Others may try to project a favourable draw against weaker teams.

There are certain elements of this already in the system.
i.e. North plays in WA for commercial advantage while WC and Freo minimise travel
Collingwood generally plays Brisbane at Easter and a return game at the MCG late in the season.
Showdowns, Derbies and traditional rivalries etc can be built in.

If each team is responsible for their own destiny, there can’t be any complaints about the uneven fixture.

 

[Freomaniac]

We should at least get to play everyone ONCE before any double ups occurs. The fact we only played Brisbane during round 23 shouldn’t happen.

I enjoyed the simple days of 1995 to 2010 when it was 16 sides.

22 rounds. Or 22 games.

You already knew who your 7 Double ups were by looking at your fixture.

Any team in your 1st 7 games, you played again In your last 7 games.

Rounds 8 to 15, you knew who you had and you had them once in the regular season.

Any team you had at-home from rounds 1 to 7, you knew you had them away at the opponent's home turf from rounds 16 to 22

 

[Freomaniac]

20 teams, play each other once each and then double up on a “rivalry” round” to make it an even 20 game season. So 2 x Showdowns, 2 x Western Derby’s, 2 x Q Clash’s etc, saves interstate teams on even more travel.

20 games is more than enough. The NFL only have a 17 game regular season. The amount of absolutely unwatchable games towards the end of this season was dire.

No I want more games LoL. Each side Plays 24 or 26 games each regular season LoL

In the NRL, each side Plays 24 games each over 26 rounds

 

[JohnZ]

Rounds 1-17: Everyone plays everyone once
8 Games at Home, 8 Games Away and 1 "Neutral Game"
Neutral Games are local Derbies/Showdowns/etc. Neutral Games split the gate and all club members have equal access

For VIC Teams they could be:
Geelong v Hawthorn (Easter Monday)
Essendon v Richmond (Dreamtime)
Melbourne v Collingwood (Kings Birthday)
North v Blues (Good Friday)
Saints v Bulldogs (Labur Day Weekend - or another PH weekend)
(Collingwood and Essendon to alternate as Home Team for ANZAC Day)

At the end of Round 17, the comp gets split into the Top 9 and the Bottom 9

State of Origin: Instead of Gather Round, we play a 1-2 weeks of Carnival State of Origin Footy with reduced game time and quick turnarounds

Rounds 18-25: Top 9 v Top 9
4 Games at Home, 4 Games Away (Opposite to first 17 Rounds where possible to ensure fairness. If playing your neutral opponenet then the winner of that games hosts the return game)
Ladder for Top 9 does not reset, those who finish top retain advantage against lower teams

Rounds 18-25: Bottom 9 v Bottom 9
4 Games at Home, 4 Games Away (Opposite to first 17 Rounds where possible to ensure fairness. If playing your neutral opponenet then the winner of that games hosts the return game)
Ladder for Bottom resets, with a handicap put in place. Top of the ladder after Round 25 wins the top draft pick, and 2nd 2nd and so on.

Finals: Top 4 or Top 6 (over 2-3 Weeks)
Following Round 25, Finals would be Top 4 or Top 6 (Top 8/9 doesn't make sense coming from a Top 9 comp).
No Bye Week between Round 25 and Finals, Bye Week between Prelims and Grand Final instead.

Total Length of Season from Round 1 to GF would be about 30 weeks.

 

[blackey]

not like this

Geelong, which will host Brisbane in a qualifying final after finishing second, met only two of this year's finalists twice, with double-up matches against Brisbane and Greater Western Sydney, losing all four.


The remainder of the Cats' double-ups came against St Kilda (who finished 12th), Port Adelaide (13th), Essendon (15th) and Richmond (17th).