Gather Round: Who will have to give up a home game from 2028 onwards given that you can only have an even number of matches in a 19-team league?

[Walshawk]

So, in 2028, the competition will comprise of 19 teams. Currently, we have a 23-game Home and Away season comprised of the following:

• 11 home games
• 11 away games
• 1 neutral game (Gather Round)

It is impossible to have an odd number of games in a 19-team league. It can only be 22 or 24 matches. Let's assume a 22-game season. That means if Gather Round continues to be a thing, one team will not be able to compete in Gather Round, and 7 of the 19 clubs will have to "sell" a home game to South Australia essentially against their will. Port Adelaide and the Crows will obviously host genuine home games as one of their 11 home games in that round.

But which of the 7 clubs will be forced to sell one of their 11 home games? And do they get a say in it? I'm sure the Victorian clubs that already sell home games to other venues wouldn't want to forfeit a home game to S.A against their will, but selling those other games is their choice, so why should they get to avoid it? Surely, all 17 clubs (other than the two S.A teams) over a period of a few years would have to equally give up a home game, but how would West Coast fans feel about only having 10 home games? Unfortunately, it's the only fair way to do it. You have to rotate it. Or will the AFL pay certain clubs and essentially bribe them?

A 24-game season doesn't solve anything. It just means every team should get 12 home games and 7 clubs would only get 11.

The AFL was proposing a silly idea about a year ago, which I think Andrew Dillon has said is not going to happen, which was three Gather Rounds per season for a total of 19 games - All Clubs participate in two of the three Gather Rounds + 22 other H&A games per year (24 total).

The whole thing is just a mess.

You can’t have a 23 game season with an odd number of teams, as not all teams can play an equal number of matches. It either goes to 24 or back to 22 (unlikely). With an even. Number of games, each team play the same number of matches.

There are multiple way to do it with 24 rounds:

- 11 home games each plus 19 neutral games. Ten of those at Gather round (either Port or Crows play twice). The other nine games can be extra home game for non-Vic clubs to balance out travel and the MCG GF. You can have a. Krthern promo round, or games in Darwin, wherever.

- similar to that, you could give all non Vic clubs 12 home games, that leaves 10 neutral games. Seven of those are played at GR. I would make the Crows/Port games in GR hkme games for this clubs and play the three spare neutral games n Darwin/Canberra/Cairns, etc.

 

[fargothegreat]

I think the planned 'Rivalry' round pretty much solves this, as both teams are effectively the "home" team, while in Gather Round, both teams are the "away" team.

The fixture is still inequitable due to the lopsided number of Victorian teams, but the following helps slightly with this:

• The SA teams pick up an extra home game during Gather Round
• The WA teams pick up an extra home game playing North in WA
• Tasmania picks up an extra home game playing Hawthorn in Launceston

The only question mark would be who gets the byes in Gather Round and Rivalry Round each year.

 

[The Tilt]

So neutral gather round matches are local derbies?

Trying to wrap my head around that bit.

By 'neutral', I just mean matches where neither team is assigned as the home (or away) team. i.e. this includes the Gather Round matches the Crows and the Power play in. Clearly, those matches are not at a neutral venue, but they're technically not home games for either team (hence they're 'neutral' in the sense I'm using the term).

When we move to 19 clubs, my guess is everyone will have 2 neutral matches rather than one (so 19 neutral games in total across the season). There's quite a bit of flexibility as to how they organise this. One obvious way is to have a Gather Round in SA with 9 matches, another Gather Round in Queensland (or Tasmania or wherever) also with 9 matches. The two clubs who had a bye in either of the Gather rounds would then be schedule to play their second neutral game at some other point in the season, possibly at some regional venue.

 

[The Tilt]

You can’t have a 23 game season with an odd number of teams, as not all teams can play an equal number of matches. It either goes to 24 or back to 22 (unlikely). With an even. Number of games, each team play the same number of matches.

There are multiple way to do it with 24 rounds:

- 11 home games each plus 19 neutral games. Ten of those at Gather round (either Port or Crows play twice). The other nine games can be extra home game for non-Vic clubs to balance out travel and the MCG GF. You can have a. Krthern promo round, or games in Darwin, wherever.

- similar to that, you could give all non Vic clubs 12 home games, that leaves 10 neutral games. Seven of those are played at GR. I would make the Crows/Port games in GR hkme games for this clubs and play the three spare neutral games n Darwin/Canberra/Cairns, etc.

I'd be pretty surprised if they tried to schedule a ten-game Gather round. For one thing the round will go for too long if the Crows are playing on the Wednesday, and then again on the Monday. For another, it's too big an advantage having the one of the SA clubs getting not one but two neutral matches on their home deck. It's also not really necessary to have all 19 neutral games squeezed into two rounds. e.g. There's nothing preventing them from doing the SA Gather Round, and then spreading the remaining 10 neutral matches across the season at different venues.

I agree with the Crows/Port games in GR counting as home games and scheduling the addition 2 matches in Darwin or somewhere.

 

[Walshawk]

I'd be pretty surprised if they tried to schedule a ten-game Gather round. For one thing the round will go for too long if the Crows are playing on the Wednesday, and then again on the Monday. For another, it's too big an advantage having the one of the SA clubs getting not one but two neutral matches on their home deck. It's also not really necessary to have all 19 neutral games squeezed into two rounds. e.g. There's nothing preventing them from doing the SA Gather Round, and then spreading the remaining 10 neutral matches across the season at different venues.

I agree with the Crows/Port games in GR counting as home games and scheduling the addition 2 matches in Darwin or somewhere.

GR should be home games for the SA clubs. Certainly any second one. Don’t reckon they will leave a club out.

 

[Altum Volantes]

Do it over 2 weeks so everyone gets a go - really ****ing stupid idea but hey, thats never stopped these jokers before has it?

 

[FreddyTwoShoes]

They could temporarily merge the 18th and 19th placed clubs for that week (so, a kind of "Kangas/Weagles All-Star" team). If they win, both clubs collect 4 points.

I think that's the sort of carefully thought out planning that AFL House regularly rolls out these days.