Opening Round

[Gaspard]

I was surprised that there is no thread on this topic to be seen. If there is, under some heading, please move my contribution to join any others.

To my eyes, opening round, which may make sense in a promotional context, is a terrible addition to the AFL calendar. Besides the incursion into weather unsuited to football, it is an insertion an extra unfairness into an already distorted fixturing system. Watching the round one games that involved teams that had and hadn't played in round 0, it was very clear that those that had played early had a big advantage over those that didn't. Depending on the opposition, some overcame it (Brisbane) and some didn't (Port Adelaide, Melbourne) Whichever way the results went, the contest was not fair, and the unfairness is totally down to an AFL decision. Other unfair structures, like the distribution of double up matches among clubs could only be removed by a complete restructure of the competition into divisions or something similar. Opening round could be removed at the stroke of a pen, and the system would be the better for it. We know it won't happen, because the dollar is far more important than fairness. Just ask Donald Trump.

 

[Colonial]

I was surprised that there is no thread on this topic to be seen. If there is, under some heading, please move my contribution to join any others.

To my eyes, opening round, which may make sense in a promotional context, is a terrible addition to the AFL calendar. Besides the incursion into weather unsuited to football, it is an insertion an extra unfairness into an already distorted fixturing system. Watching the round one games that involved teams that had and hadn't played in round 0, it was very clear that those that had played early had a big advantage over those that didn't. Depending on the opposition, some overcame it (Brisbane) and some didn't (Port Adelaide, Melbourne) Whichever way the results went, the contest was not fair, and the unfairness is totally down to an AFL decision. Other unfair structures, like the distribution of double up matches among clubs could only be removed by a complete restructure of the competition into divisions or something similar. Opening round could be removed at the stroke of a pen, and the system would be the better for it. We know it won't happen, because the dollar is far more important than fairness. Just ask Donald Trump.

fairness from a Pies fan

You are taking the piss or gone fishing.


Either way

 

[Gaspard]

fairness from a Pies fan

You are taking the piss or gone fishing.


Either way

And your response to what I said?

 

[Colonial]

And your response to what I said?

Literally what I wrote.

 

[Gaspard]

So a post about an AFL problem calls for a derogatory comment about the club I support rather than a consideration of what I said? I could go on about the preferential treatment Gold Coast gets, but it is not relevant to the issue I raised, and so there is no point.
There will be no penetration into the recesses of the AFL decision makers minds as long as they can rely on fans to look to score points over opposition fans whenever a question is raised about the quality of the AFL administration.

 

[Colonial]

So a post about an AFL problem calls for a derogatory comment about the club I support rather than a consideration of what I said? I could go on about the preferential treatment Gold Coast gets, but it is not relevant to the issue I raised, and so there is no point.
There will be no penetration into the recesses of the AFL decision makers minds as long as they can rely on fans to look to score points over opposition fans whenever a question is raised about the quality of the AFL administration.

I wasn’t being derogatory, just pointing out the hypocrisy.

It would be like if I complained about F/S in a thread while enjoying academies.
Or
Start up concessions to Tassie after what the Giants got in Start up.

Pies have some of the most advantageous bonuses playing in this league, yet opening round is your annoyance.

Opening Round ain’t perfect and can be improved.

 

[glengowan]

Opening Round
Thu N Rich v Carl MCG
Fri N Syd v GWS SCG
Fri N Freo v NM Perth
Sat N Bris v GC Gabba
Sat N WC v SK Perth
Sun T Melb v Geel MCG
Sun N Port v WB Adel Oval
Mon T Haw v Ess MCG
Mon N Adel v Coll Adel Oval

Begin with the traditional opening game at the MCG on a Thursday night.
Make a big thing of the local derbies in NSW and QLD by playing them on primetime Fri and Sat night - opening round.
Take advantage of the Perth time zone and have double headers Fri and Sat night after the NSW/QLD derbies.
With the holiday Monday in Vic and SA on the March long weekend, have double headers of a twilight game at the MCG leading into games at Adelaide Oval on Sunday and Monday night.

With these double up games for opening round in WA and SA, you could create a second "gather round" in Melbourne later in the season without compromising the draw.

 

[Perry Pie]

Opening Round
Thu N Rich v Carl MCG
Fri N Syd v GWS SCG
Fri N Freo v NM Perth
Sat N Bris v GC Gabba
Sat N WC v SK Perth
Sun T Melb v Geel MCG
Sun N Port v WB Adel Oval
Mon T Haw v Ess MCG
Mon N Adel v Coll Adel Oval

Begin with the traditional opening game at the MCG on a Thursday night.
Make a big thing of the local derbies in NSW and QLD by playing them on primetime Fri and Sat night - opening round.
Take advantage of the Perth time zone and have double headers Fri and Sat night after the NSW/QLD derbies.
With the holiday Monday in Vic and SA on the March long weekend, have double headers of a twilight game at the MCG leading into games at Adelaide Oval on Sunday and Monday night.

With these double up games for opening round in WA and SA, you could create a second "gather round" in Melbourne later in the season without compromising the draw.

Like the OP I think the opening round where some teams play and others do not is a lousy idea. My concern is less about fairness (that can be argued in a number of ways) but is more to do with the missed chance for a great opening to the season.

Like the post above I suggest we start with round 1 - all teams play. But I would not promote the non-Victorian derby games in round 1, save those for later.

My suggestion for round 1 is open with the Thu N Rich v Carl MCG game as has become a bit traditional.
Have Bris, GC Suns, GWS and Sydney all play home games over the round 1 weekend to give a promotional opportunity for the teams in NSW and QLD. At the same time have the Perth and SA teams play away in round 1 (Some in Victoria, some in QLD and NSW). (we end up with 4 games in NSW & QLD in round 1, 5 games in Vic).
In round 2 have West Coast, Freo, Adelaide and Port play home games so there is a lot of football in WA and SA as promotional start the season there. (we end up with 4 games in WA and SA, 1 game each in QLD and NSW, and 3 games in Vic)

My other suggestion is to start the season a bit later - it has got earlier over the years. Start on the weekend of the second last Saturday in March.

I don't think the AFL is going to change the early start because they are preparing for Tasmania to enter the comp in 2028. They need more weeks for the season to allow for all teams to have a minimum of 2 byes in the season while keeping the 23 game H & A season, the round 0 effectively gives the extra round needed.

 

[North park]

I am very confused with the whole Opening Round concept.

The reason given by the AFL for Opening Round is to help grow the game in NSW and Queensland by having the spotlight on teams in these states.

In Opening Round this year, the two NSW teams were able to host home games - Sydney v Hawthorn and GWS v Collingwood.

The next week in Round 1, Sydney hosted a Grand Final rematch against Brisbane while GWS played Melbourne away at the MCG.

From here the draw gets strange.

In round 2, GWS had the bye while Sydney played Fremantle in Perth - so no games played in Sydney.

In Round 3, Sydney had the bye while GWS played Hawthorn in Launceston - so again no games played in Sydney.

In Round 4, GWS will host West Coast (not exactly a blockbuster) while Sydney plays North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium.

Round 5 is Gather Round, so both teams will be playing in Adelaide.

Round 6 sees Sydney host Port Adelaide (on Easter Sunday) while GWS plays away in Adelaide.

In Round 7, GWS hosts the Bulldogs (at Manuka Oval in Canberra) while Sydney plays away in the Gold Coast - so again no games in Sydney.

In Round 8, Sydney and GWS meet at the SCG - so both sets of fans get a home game.

In Round 9, both teams play away - Sydney at Marvel Stadium and GWS in Geelong.

In Round 10, both teams get to host home games, while in Round 11, both teams travel to Melbourne for away games.

It means in Rounds 1 - 11, there are 6 rounds where no games are being played in Sydney (one of those is being played in Canberra). After Round 1, Sydney doesn't play at home again until Round 6 - so 36 days between home games for fans. After hosting Opening Round, GWS won't have another home game until Round 4 this Sunday - 27 days between home games for fans.

The fixture for the Queensland teams is slightly better, although the original draw had Gold Coast hosting Essendon in Opening Round followed by an away game in Perth, a bye, and an away game in Melbourne before another home game in Round 4. Due to the cancellation of the Essendon game, Gold Coast will finally play a home game this week - 29 days into the season.

Considering the concept of Opening Round is to grow AFL in NSW and Queensland, it does seem odd to fixture so may away games for these teams in the first part of the season and have whole weekends where the state is AFL-free.

 

[Professor Knowall]

I am very confused with the whole Opening Round concept.

The reason given by the AFL for Opening Round is to help grow the game in NSW and Queensland by having the spotlight on teams in these states.

In Opening Round this year, the two NSW teams were able to host home games - Sydney v Hawthorn and GWS v Collingwood.

The next week in Round 1, Sydney hosted a Grand Final rematch against Brisbane while GWS played Melbourne away at the MCG.

From here the draw gets strange.

In round 2, GWS had the bye while Sydney played Fremantle in Perth - so no games played in Sydney.

In Round 3, Sydney had the bye while GWS played Hawthorn in Launceston - so again no games played in Sydney.

In Round 4, GWS will host West Coast (not exactly a blockbuster) while Sydney plays North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium.

Round 5 is Gather Round, so both teams will be playing in Adelaide.

Round 6 sees Sydney host Port Adelaide (on Easter Sunday) while GWS plays away in Adelaide.

In Round 7, GWS hosts the Bulldogs (at Manuka Oval in Canberra) while Sydney plays away in the Gold Coast - so again no games in Sydney.

In Round 8, Sydney and GWS meet at the SCG - so both sets of fans get a home game.

In Round 9, both teams play away - Sydney at Marvel Stadium and GWS in Geelong.

In Round 10, both teams get to host home games, while in Round 11, both teams travel to Melbourne for away games.

It means in Rounds 1 - 11, there are 6 rounds where no games are being played in Sydney (one of those is being played in Canberra). After Round 1, Sydney doesn't play at home again until Round 6 - so 36 days between home games for fans. After hosting Opening Round, GWS won't have another home game until Round 4 this Sunday - 27 days between home games for fans.

The fixture for the Queensland teams is slightly better, although the original draw had Gold Coast hosting Essendon in Opening Round followed by an away game in Perth, a bye, and an away game in Melbourne before another home game in Round 4. Due to the cancellation of the Essendon game, Gold Coast will finally play a home game this week - 29 days into the season.

Considering the concept of Opening Round is to grow AFL in NSW and Queensland, it does seem odd to fixture so may away games for these teams in the first part of the season and have whole weekends where the state is AFL-free.

You make good points. But one thing to consider - it’s the Northern clubs that have driven the whole Round Zero concept, not so much the AFL itself.

Still, as you outlined, once past Round Zero is done, the footy cupboard up North seems a bit sparse for the following couple of months

 

[Walshawk]

I am very confused with the whole Opening Round concept.

The reason given by the AFL for Opening Round is to help grow the game in NSW and Queensland by having the spotlight on teams in these states.

In Opening Round this year, the two NSW teams were able to host home games - Sydney v Hawthorn and GWS v Collingwood.

The next week in Round 1, Sydney hosted a Grand Final rematch against Brisbane while GWS played Melbourne away at the MCG.

From here the draw gets strange.

In round 2, GWS had the bye while Sydney played Fremantle in Perth - so no games played in Sydney.

In Round 3, Sydney had the bye while GWS played Hawthorn in Launceston - so again no games played in Sydney.

In Round 4, GWS will host West Coast (not exactly a blockbuster) while Sydney plays North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium.

Round 5 is Gather Round, so both teams will be playing in Adelaide.

Round 6 sees Sydney host Port Adelaide (on Easter Sunday) while GWS plays away in Adelaide.

In Round 7, GWS hosts the Bulldogs (at Manuka Oval in Canberra) while Sydney plays away in the Gold Coast - so again no games in Sydney.

In Round 8, Sydney and GWS meet at the SCG - so both sets of fans get a home game.

In Round 9, both teams play away - Sydney at Marvel Stadium and GWS in Geelong.

In Round 10, both teams get to host home games, while in Round 11, both teams travel to Melbourne for away games.

It means in Rounds 1 - 11, there are 6 rounds where no games are being played in Sydney (one of those is being played in Canberra). After Round 1, Sydney doesn't play at home again until Round 6 - so 36 days between home games for fans. After hosting Opening Round, GWS won't have another home game until Round 4 this Sunday - 27 days between home games for fans.

The fixture for the Queensland teams is slightly better, although the original draw had Gold Coast hosting Essendon in Opening Round followed by an away game in Perth, a bye, and an away game in Melbourne before another home game in Round 4. Due to the cancellation of the Essendon game, Gold Coast will finally play a home game this week - 29 days into the season.

Considering the concept of Opening Round is to grow AFL in NSW and Queensland, it does seem odd to fixture so may away games for these teams in the first part of the season and have whole weekends where the state is AFL-free.

The AFLis paying lip service to GWS. ‘Let’s really get the semis going, after OR, we’ll have GWS on the road for three weeks, then schedule a game that will draw less than 10k’.

If their success was a priority for the AFL, they would have hosted Blues/Hawks/Bombers in Round 2 and hosted the Swans this week.