Opinion After all this is over.

[Black_White]

What will AFL look like?
Will the league buy/operate its own jet to move teams around? Fly in, fly out on the day of the game. Did work early in this pandemic.
Will the league decide to put a couple of teams in a hub to play three or four games against interstate teams and each other, there may be savings to be made if there were sponsors on board.
The fixture that pew know can be altered to accommodate these things.
And,
why would 7 and Foxtel fly/accomodate the commentary team to the game when working from different cities/studios has been seamless?
There is a lot to learn from this pandemic for our game going forward.
Next five years is going to be very interesting.

 

[Captivating]

Floating fixtures....the AFL can set the first 5-6 rounds and then decide the rest depending on form. No more s**t Friday night games.

Possible games from Thursday to Monday night to become the norm.

 

[Black_White]

Floating fixtures....the AFL can set the first 5-6 rounds and then decide the rest depending on form. No more sh*t Friday night games.

Possible games from Thursday to Monday night to become the norm.

Would be an uproar from the lesser followed teams if access to prime time FTA broadcasts ended up distilled to fast the top 6-8 teams.

 

[Stoods]

Real danger period for the * wits to really ruin the game going forward.

This year is completely unique and changes had to be made for a season to even take place, please dont make knee jerk reactions, go back to normal as things were.

They keep trying to change things, it just needs to be left alone, it wont happen though, i 100% know they will change rules

 

[Doc1763]

I think we will find that a 17 game season is the best result going forward. It is the fairest, most equitable format - so it probably wont happen.

Less is more - a 22 game season for an 18 team competition is just ridiculous.

 

[vjknight]

I think we will find that a 17 game season is the best result going forward. It is the fairest, most equitable format - so it probably wont happen.

Less is more - a 22 game season for an 18 team competition is just ridiculous.

they haven't mentioned it lately but there was a lot of talk early in the year that the 2021 season would also be affected - not inconceivable to see a repeat of 2020 next year.......with some tweaks......which then might reveal some of the bucket list items gil/ch7/fox want to impose on the game longterm. if there's less money in the game going forward there's bound to be changes like we haven't envisaged before.

you know we have F all say in it, so sit back and enjoy put up with the ride

 

[gouki88]

Whatever it is, I’m not excited. I’m quite frightened about what Fox might do to the game I love

 

[76woodenspooners]

My guess within 5 years

- 16 on the field
- shortened quarters here to stay
- extended travel here to stay (Eg: Vic teams staying in WA for a full week to play WCE and Freo)
- 32 on the list
- end of Cat B rookie program
- massive cut to football dept spending
- extended period of successful teams staying successful, and unsuccessful teams staying on the bottom
- it’ll remain 18 teams, but an existing team moving to Hobart.
- despite contraction of $$$ in the men’s game, AFLW to be expanded to include full 18 teams, and regular season.
- women’s games to be played as curtain raiser to men’s games
- revolution in broadcasting (IMO the old school commentary will be gone ... fewer old boys and more commentary specialists)
- Next Full broadcasting rights to be purchased by a Netflix type streaming service

 

[covid19]

My guess within 5 years

- 16 on the field
- shortened quarters here to stay
- extended travel here to stay (Eg: Vic teams staying in WA for a full week to play WCE and Freo)
- 32 on the list
- end of Cat B rookie program
- massive cut to football dept spending
- extended period of successful teams staying successful, and unsuccessful teams staying on the bottom
- it’ll remain 18 teams, but an existing team moving to Hobart.
- despite contraction of $$$ in the men’s game, AFLW to be expanded to include full 18 teams, and regular season.
- women’s games to be played as curtain raiser to men’s games
- revolution in broadcasting (IMO the old school commentary will be gone ... fewer old boys and more commentary specialists)
- Next Full broadcasting rights to be purchased by a Netflix type streaming type service

In that case, I may have to find something else to do with my life.

 

[vjknight]

In that case, I may have to find something else to do with my life.

try hurling - the game, not the result of too much grog.

 

[vjknight]

My guess within 5 years

- 16 on the field - LESS CONGESTION - MAYBE
- shortened quarters here to stay - FIT THE BROADCAST INTO 2 HOURS - TICK
- extended travel here to stay (Eg: Vic teams staying in WA for a full week to play WCE and Freo) TWO AT A TIME - TICK
- 32 on the list - AFLPA WILL DECIDE THAT
- end of Cat B rookie program - TICK
- massive cut to football dept spending - TICK
- extended period of successful teams staying successful, and unsuccessful teams staying on the bottom - SAME AS LAST DECADE
- it’ll remain 18 teams, but an existing team moving to Hobart. - DO NOT DISCOUNT DARWIN TOO
- despite contraction of $$$ in the men’s game, AFLW to be expanded to include full 18 teams, and regular season. WHAT TIME OF YEAR THOUGH ?
- women’s games to be played as curtain raiser to men’s games - I DOUBT IT
- revolution in broadcasting (IMO the old school commentary will be gone ... fewer old boys and more commentary specialists) WELCOME
- Next Full broadcasting rights to be purchased by a Netflix type streaming type service JUST NOT HUTCHY

 

[Sea fog]

I think we will find that a 17 game season is the best result going forward. It is the fairest, most equitable format - so it probably wont happen.

Less is more - a 22 game season for an 18 team competition is just ridiculous.

Not really though when home advantage like Perth, Adelaide etc. is still so pronounced.

 

[covid19]

try hurling - the game, not the result of too much grog.

Seems a bit obtuse to base a life around. Do you hurl?

 

[adammania9]

try hurling - the game, not the result of too much grog.

Unironically an unbelievably good sport. Hard to follow and get passionate about a solely Irish sport but if I lived in Britain, I know I'd be crazy about it.

 

[Jen2310]

With interstate teams, we should play one team there, and one team here. Not both in WA or SA etc.

 

[76woodenspooners]

Hard to follow and get passionate about a solely Irish sport but if I lived in Britain, I know I'd be crazy about it.

Err, careful about offending the Irish there.

That’s kinda like saying “If I lived in New Zealand, I know I’d be crazy about AFL” (which you probably would, but you take my point)

 

[Chief Ten Beers]

With interstate teams, we should play one team there, and one team here. Not both in WA or SA etc.

Or Sydney/GWS/Sun's in at their home like 16 years in a row.

Seriously this sport is so compromised with the fixture and interpretation of the complicated rules, it's amazing flags are taken seriously.

Just want Collingwood to broadcast the VFL, so I can watch pure footy moving forward and be done with this commercial entertainment business and social justice lecturer that is the AFL.

 

[MooreTreloar]

With interstate teams, we should play one team there, and one team here. Not both in WA or SA etc.

Either that or have it in a two year rotation. One year we play West Coast and Fremantle in Perth, the next next year we don’t go to Perth and they both come here.

So one year would see us play four games in Perth and Sydney then the following year it’d be Adelaide and Queensland.

 

[barrackers]

Cross

• Floating fixtures where the opponent is unknown is too open to manipulation or a perception of bias by the AFL. It also hinders travel plans.
• Shorter quarters, nope. Just as a game feels like it's starting, it's over. It also takes away the endurance aspect.
• 17 round fixture. Broadcast dollars will dictate that this doesn't happen permanently under the life of the current agreement.

Unlikely

• 16 per side. I hope we see it while maintaining a match day 22 (6 bench), however 2020 would have been the perfect year to trial it. Has won some support with reduced numbers in the scratch matches though.
• Staying interstate between back to back interstate matches. I can't see the AFLPA signing off players being away from home for extended periods permanently.

Maybe

• Longer quarter time and half time breaks. More adverti$ing, more time for fans to buy food. Clubs seem to be ready to restart before this time elapses though.
• Individual water bottles. Merit from a hygiene perspective even post covid. It's a little silly to have a blood rule, but share bottles.
• Scratch matches instead of a formal reserves comp . Let's face it most AFL clubs are more concerned about development anyway; I can see that the in game coaching/training associated with scratch matches could enhance developing players. Do scratch matches provide the desired intensity though?
• TV prime time grand final. The start time has been creeping towards twilight for a while now, however if we see a night grand final in 2020 I can see it being permanent.
• 7.50pm matches. Terrible for families with the late finish time, but it allows channel 7 to do a pre-game show. Like the grand final the start time of Friday night matches has been drifting already.
• Reduced football departments; dual roles. Again more of an acceleration than a revolution.

Tick

• Floating the day of the match has merit. Eg. schedule the round, the match ups and venues, but whether the teams play on Friday or Sunday can determined closer to the match.
• Longer time between goals. More adverti$ing.
• Fly in, fly out.
• Thursday night football. Was already amping up, but we won't see many rounds without Thursday footy in 2021.
• 17 / 5 fixture. 17 round home and away season; 5 game round robin (top 6 - playing for top 4, middle 6 - playing for 7th and 8th, bottom 6 - playing for picks). Should rotate home/away games on a two year cycle, but the AFL often prioritises the corporate dollar over fairness when fixturing.

 

[Doc1763]

they haven't mentioned it lately but there was a lot of talk early in the year that the 2021 season would also be affected - not inconceivable to see a repeat of 2020 next year.......with some tweaks......which then might reveal some of the bucket list items gil/ch7/fox want to impose on the game longterm. if there's less money in the game going forward there's bound to be changes like we haven't envisaged before.

you know we have F all say in it, so sit back and enjoy put up with the ride

There wont be a vaccine readily available before next season, so you would have to think next season will be affected in some way. Cant see big crowds at the G for a while.

 

[loki04]

In that case, I may have to find something else to do with my life.

100%.

New league will need to be created.

 

[loki04]

I think we will find that a 17 game season is the best result going forward. It is the fairest, most equitable format - so it probably wont happen.

Less is more - a 22 game season for an 18 team competition is just ridiculous.

No less is less.

The off season is long enough as it is without adding another 5 weeks to it.

22 game season is fine as every team plays the same amount of games.
Not like 1 team plays 17 and the other 22. Fairness lies in all teams having the same amount of games.

Not often a really poor team makes the top 4 even with a soft draw.

 

[Anzacday]

Unironically an unbelievably good sport. Hard to follow and get passionate about a solely Irish sport but if I lived in Britain, I know I'd be crazy about it.

Thanks for posting that.
I’ve never watched it before and loved it.

 

[gouki88]

Thanks for posting that.
I’ve never watched it before and loved it.

It's fantastic. My girlfriend's grandad played it back in Ireland, and I got a little bit hooked. Lots of good hits too, really physical game.


Even the ref cops one in that vid!

 

[Doc1763]

No less is less.

The off season is long enough as it is without adding another 5 weeks to it.

22 game season is fine as every team plays the same amount of games.
Not like 1 team plays 17 and the other 22. Fairness lies in all teams having the same amount of games.

Not often a really poor team makes the top 4 even with a soft draw.

One side playing the bottom side twice wile another plays them once, but plays the top side twice is not fair in any way.

The 22 game season is hopelessly compromised, doesn't happen in any other major sporting code in the world.

If another 5 weeks without football is too hard to handle, you need to find something else to do.