Opinion Commentary & Media VIII

[DuckYeah]

players and fans will push back

The only way the push back will happen is people stop watching it. Footy is like a drug, the fans score their content, its shit but they’ll take the hit anyway.. fans are junkys for afl content

 

[DuckYeah]

I have an idea. Why not give the top 4 a week off and let the next 8 sides battle it out for the top 8? Look afl, created an extra two games, ya bunch of *******s.

How bout fixing the actual fixture. ******s

 

[Gorman2Geister]

I reckon everyone from 7 - 18 should be still in it for the wild card round and we don't know who is playing who until the team's song plays and they charge out through the race! C'mon AFL Euge - make it happen!

 

[Midas]

33 per cent of clubs made the 3 week Finals Series until the 5 was introduced in 1972.

It moved to 5 of 12 and then to 6 then 8 as we expanded.

Anyone whinging about club’s finishing 7th or 8th having to play an extra final compared to the top 33 per cent has it wrong I reckon.

The top 6 have a legitimate chance at winning it and the rest are playing for interest to keep the season alive for longer and perhaps one day someone will have a Cinderella run and prove us all wrong!

I like it.

 

[zoomba23]

33 per cent of clubs made the 3 week Finals Series until the 5 was introduced in 1972.

It moved to 5 of 12 and then to 6 then 8 as we expanded.

Anyone whinging about club’s finishing 7th or 8th having to play an extra final compared to the top 33 per cent has it wrong I reckon.

The top 6 have a legitimate chance at winning it and the rest are playing for interest to keep the season alive for longer and perhaps one day someone will have a Cinderella run and prove us all wrong!

I like it.

Raus mit dir, Monsieur Seppo

 

[gerry101101]

AFL wildcard finals will be awesome. Can’t wait to see who kicks the first Zooper Goal.

And if the * finally break their ‘haven’t won a final’ streak by winning a Finals ZooperClash (or whatever corporate naming rights are given to it) from 10th at least that win too will forever have an asterisk.

 

[marklovesbeer]

33 per cent of clubs made the 3 week Finals Series until the 5 was introduced in 1972.

It moved to 5 of 12 and then to 6 then 8 as we expanded.

Anyone whinging about club’s finishing 7th or 8th having to play an extra final compared to the top 33 per cent has it wrong I reckon.

The top 6 have a legitimate chance at winning it and the rest are playing for interest to keep the season alive for longer and perhaps one day someone will have a Cinderella run and prove us all wrong!

I like it.

Agree.
And everyone will get used to it very quickly.
Guaranteed nobody here will be complaining if we end up finishing tenth next season.

 

[apollo_creed]

I reckon Paul Roos' face after Corey Jones goal to put us in front, may explain why several years later he took our cash and p1ssed off to Hawaii

Reckon it could’ve had more to do with a club employee having a serious medical episode than a game of football. But sure mate..

 

[DuckYeah]

Did whately actually say this? If he did, probably one of the only times I agree with that pencil neck nerd

 

[gokangas]

Did whately actually say this? If he did, probably one of the only times I agree with that pencil neck nerd

Was the worst kept suppression order just about ever. Whately may have a point. Interesting that the AFL and Geelong haven't been called out for blatant lying. The bull5hit injury claims were just plain lies.

 

[King Corey]

Did whately actually say this? If he did, probably one of the only times I agree with that pencil neck nerd

Did he also say Geelong should be sanctioned for falsely reporting an injury?

 

[gokangas]

Hun's comments on our draw.

Thursday nights: 0

Friday nights: 0 (Good Friday afternoon game in round 4)

Marquee match-ups: Good Friday v Carlton (round 4), Brisbane (round 4), Carlton (round 6)

Who you play twice: Essendon, Geelong, Port Adelaide, Richmond, Sydney, West Coast,

When is your bye?: Round 12

Our say: If there was ever a draw to help a side bounce up the ladder, this is it. North only faces one 2025 finalist (Geelong)twice, and realistically only one other side (Sydney) that is widely expected to be in the finals mix. Double-ups against three of the other sides to finish in the bottom-four is a fixture that goes down easier than a cold beer on a hot day. Make sure you renew your Kayo subscription Roos fans: Good Friday is the only game scheduled for free-to-air and a Saturday night in round 3 is the only night match on the slate. Deservedly, the Roos are miles off Broadway.

 

[Themanbun]

Hun's comments on our draw.

Thursday nights: 0

Friday nights: 0 (Good Friday afternoon game in round 4)

Marquee match-ups: Good Friday v Carlton (round 4), Brisbane (round 4), Carlton (round 6)

Who you play twice: Essendon, Geelong, Port Adelaide, Richmond, Sydney, West Coast,

When is your bye?: Round 12

Our say: If there was ever a draw to help a side bounce up the ladder, this is it. North only faces one 2025 finalist (Geelong)twice, and realistically only one other side (Sydney) that is widely expected to be in the finals mix. Double-ups against three of the other sides to finish in the bottom-four is a fixture that goes down easier than a cold beer on a hot day. Make sure you renew your Kayo subscription Roos fans: Good Friday is the only game scheduled for free-to-air and a Saturday night in round 3 is the only night match on the slate. Deservedly, the Roos are miles off Broadway.

Club won't, but should be kicking up a stink about this. We rely on support from low socio economic areas. Only one free to air match is a ****ing joke.

 

[King Corey]

Deservedly, the Roos are miles off Broadway.

Eh?

How does get ****ed sound?

Richmond/Carlton season opener, * and Carlton on Friday nights for years, Anzac Day etc.

Must've missed the memo about the results to fixture correlation.

 

[The Dingrel]

I was in year 10 at my schools quiz night with family, getting updates via the old school method of the Telstra text message at the end of each quarter.

Remember not giving a shit when I got the 3qtr time message, only for my phone to buzz again when all the parents where ****ing rowdy later in the evening saying we had won. couldn’t believe my eyes

In context though, seem to remember one of the swans officials literally had a heart attack during the game on the side line. Only a slight distraction I know.

 

[krakouers]

Hun's comments on our draw.

Thursday nights: 0

Friday nights: 0 (Good Friday afternoon game in round 4)

Marquee match-ups: Good Friday v Carlton (round 4), Brisbane (round 4), Carlton (round 6)

Who you play twice: Essendon, Geelong, Port Adelaide, Richmond, Sydney, West Coast,

When is your bye?: Round 12

Our say: If there was ever a draw to help a side bounce up the ladder, this is it. North only faces one 2025 finalist (Geelong)twice, and realistically only one other side (Sydney) that is widely expected to be in the finals mix. Double-ups against three of the other sides to finish in the bottom-four is a fixture that goes down easier than a cold beer on a hot day. Make sure you renew your Kayo subscription Roos fans: Good Friday is the only game scheduled for free-to-air and a Saturday night in round 3 is the only night match on the slate. Deservedly, the Roos are miles off Broadway.

?

Marquee match-ups: Good Friday v Carlton (round 4), Brisbane (round 4), Carlton (round 6)

Who you play twice: Essendon, Geelong, Port Adelaide, Richmond, Sydney, West Coast,

 

[joegreen]

?

Marquee match-ups: Good Friday v Carlton (round 4), Brisbane (round 4), Carlton (round 6)

Who you play twice: Essendon, Geelong, Port Adelaide, Richmond, Sydney, West Coast,

Would be initially AI generated then someone does a quick check for mistakes and then published. The person checking missed this!

I asked AI to summarise the fixture, number of trips, away games, venues etc etc. Kept making so many mistakes. Just couldn't get it right.

Asked it how many times all the teams have to travel on plane - came up with the below - but haven't checked how accurate it is.... EDIT: - just a quick look and Sydney travelling only 5 times is clearly a mistake. Just supports so much of the media are using AI to cut heads and costs...

Here’s the confirmed number of times each AFL club must board a plane to play an away or neutral game in the 2026 season — based on the full fixture and your definition of a “trip” as requiring a flight.

---

AFL 2026 – Interstate Trips by Club​

Club	Trips	Notes
Adelaide	6	VIC (x3), NSW, TAS, WA
Brisbane	8	VIC (x4), SA (x2), TAS, NSW
Carlton	6	QLD, WA, SA, ACT, TAS, NSW
Collingwood	6	QLD, SA, WA, TAS, ACT, NSW
Essendon	6	QLD, SA, WA, TAS, ACT, NSW
Fremantle	6	VIC (x3), SA, NSW, ACT
Geelong	7	QLD, SA (x3), NSW, WA, ACT
Gold Coast	7	VIC (x3), SA, WA, ACT, TAS
GWS Giants	6	VIC (x3), SA, WA, TAS
Hawthorn	6	TAS (x2), SA, WA, ACT, QLD
Melbourne	7	WA, SA (x3), QLD, NSW, NT
North Melbourne	7	WA (x1 trip covering 2 games), SA (x2), ACT, NSW, TAS
Port Adelaide	6	VIC (x3), WA (x2), NSW
Richmond	6	WA, SA, QLD, ACT, TAS, NT
St Kilda	6	WA, SA, QLD, ACT, TAS, NSW
Sydney	5	VIC (x3), SA, WA
West Coast	7	VIC (x3), SA, NSW, ACT, TAS
Western Bulldogs	6	WA, SA, QLD, ACT, TAS, NSW

---

Notes on Methodology​

• “Trips” = flights: Only counted when a team must fly interstate. Road trips (e.g., Geelong to Melbourne) are excluded.
• WA double-headers: North Melbourne’s R13–14 stay in WA counts as one trip, not two.
• Gather Round: All teams playing in SA that week are counted as travelling, even if it’s a “home” game.
• Regional VIC: Games in Ballarat or Geelong don’t count as flights for Melbourne-based teams.

 

[shintemaster]

Eh?

How does get ****ed sound?

Richmond/Carlton season opener, * and Carlton on Friday nights for years, Anzac Day etc.

Must've missed the memo about the results to fixture correlation.

You're making a big assumption. They might just mean deservedly because we are North Melbourne.

 

[Rod Stroker]

Would be initially AI generated then someone does a quick check for mistakes and then published. The person checking missed this!

I asked AI to summarise the fixture, number of trips, away games, venues etc etc. Kept making so many mistakes. Just couldn't get it right.

Asked it how many times all the teams have to travel on plane - came up with the below - but haven't checked how accurate it is.... EDIT: - just a quick look and Sydney travelling only 5 times is clearly a mistake. Just supports so much of the media are using AI to cut heads and costs...

Here’s the confirmed number of times each AFL club must board a plane to play an away or neutral game in the 2026 season — based on the full fixture and your definition of a “trip” as requiring a flight.

---

AFL 2026 – Interstate Trips by Club​

Club	Trips	Notes
Adelaide	6	VIC (x3), NSW, TAS, WA
Brisbane	8	VIC (x4), SA (x2), TAS, NSW
Carlton	6	QLD, WA, SA, ACT, TAS, NSW
Collingwood	6	QLD, SA, WA, TAS, ACT, NSW
Essendon	6	QLD, SA, WA, TAS, ACT, NSW
Fremantle	6	VIC (x3), SA, NSW, ACT
Geelong	7	QLD, SA (x3), NSW, WA, ACT
Gold Coast	7	VIC (x3), SA, WA, ACT, TAS
GWS Giants	6	VIC (x3), SA, WA, TAS
Hawthorn	6	TAS (x2), SA, WA, ACT, QLD
Melbourne	7	WA, SA (x3), QLD, NSW, NT
North Melbourne	7	WA (x1 trip covering 2 games), SA (x2), ACT, NSW, TAS
Port Adelaide	6	VIC (x3), WA (x2), NSW
Richmond	6	WA, SA, QLD, ACT, TAS, NT
St Kilda	6	WA, SA, QLD, ACT, TAS, NSW
Sydney	5	VIC (x3), SA, WA
West Coast	7	VIC (x3), SA, NSW, ACT, TAS
Western Bulldogs	6	WA, SA, QLD, ACT, TAS, NSW

---

Notes on Methodology​

• “Trips” = flights: Only counted when a team must fly interstate. Road trips (e.g., Geelong to Melbourne) are excluded.
• WA double-headers: North Melbourne’s R13–14 stay in WA counts as one trip, not two.
• Gather Round: All teams playing in SA that week are counted as travelling, even if it’s a “home” game.
• Regional VIC: Games in Ballarat or Geelong don’t count as flights for Melbourne-based teams.

this is wrong though. we have 2 trips (flights) to WA, not 1.

 

[joegreen]

this is wrong though. we have 2 trips (flights) to WA, not 1.

Case in point! AI is often wrong. Why you see so many errors in the media now. They are all using AI with limited checking.

I actually gave up after the 6th prompt pointing out the errors and asking to do it again. Fixes 1 error and makes another.

 

[Loose_Cannon]

Case in point! AI is often wrong. Why you see so many errors in the media now. They are all using AI with limited checking.

I actually gave up after the 6th prompt pointing out the errors and asking to do it again. Fixes 1 error and makes another.

Exactly. AI is cooked. This is a classic that is also surprisingly repeatable.

 

[North1411]

this is wrong though. we have 2 trips (flights) to WA, not 1.

total number of trips is right though

 

[Samsquanch]

Club won't, but should be kicking up a stink about this. We rely on support from low socio economic areas. Only one free to air match is a ****ing joke.

That's an absolute abomination of a situation re: FTA broadcasts!!!!!!

 

[Tas]

Did whately actually say this? If he did, probably one of the only times I agree with that pencil neck nerd

He had pretty strong feelings about Clarko when just hearing the alleged accusation. I don't recall him ever apologising.

 

[Tas]

AFL wildcard finals will be awesome. Can’t wait to see who kicks the first Zooper Goal.

And if the * finally break their ‘haven’t won a final’ streak by winning a Finals ZooperClash (or whatever corporate naming rights are given to it) from 10th at least that win too will forever have an asterisk.

I'll be honest, not ever going to go to a Mickey Mouse "final". This is such a dogshit move that stains the competition. I know it isn't much of a competition with the AFL pretty much choosing which clubs get advantages or disadvantages, but if we support it then they are just going to continue to make more horrific decisions like it.