Analysis Strange fixturing, favouring some teams

[Windy At Moorabbin]

At the moment you have two camps in the ‘is this season fair’ conversation:

-Supporters who think their team is still in premiership contention.

-Supporters who think their teams can’t compete.

As the weeks go on the later group will grow

 

[nameless]

It's definitely unfair, no other way to dice it.
We get the breaks to play on weekends because we get 20-30,000 at our games which wouldn't happen during the week and the AFL needs the revenue.

I'm sure we'll have a tough run at some point to "equalise" it.

#fakeseason

 

[Plugger35]

The biggest problem - which a few people are starting to talk about - is this “festival of footy” was not even required.

It was cooked up by the AFL and Channel 7 as a replacement their Olympic coverage (running at exactly the same time).

People said this season would carry an asterisk, but it was still shaping up as being reasonably fair. But now? It’s now gotten ridiculous due to the “festival”... clubs playing of a few days break etc. It’s made it crazy... it’s almost like a carnival or a lightning premiership.

The AFL didn’t need to do it. They were okay to continue on and finish the season in a quasi-normal manner.

But they’ve done this for Channel 7 in order to (a) help recover their lost Olympic revenue and (b) finish it earlier for the least possible impact on cricket (which Channel 7 also has the rights for).

It’s a total compromise of the season’s integrity in order to appease Channel 7.

 

[PowerBaz]

Its almost like theres some big global event going on thats really put a spanner in the works.

Cant be that though, some sort of conspiracy going on.

Well WC and Brisbane getting a great run compared to all others, can't deny that, no different to Richmond in a normal year I guess, so flags all round hey.

 

[PowerBaz]

It's definitely unfair, no other way to dice it.
We get the breaks to play on weekends because we get 20-30,000 at our games which wouldn't happen during the week and the AFL needs the revenue.

I'm sure we'll have a tough run at some point to "equalise" it.

#fakeseason

and Port will get a nice run of 4 games in a row to end the season.......

 

[btdg]

Simple answer - the AFL is entertainment, nothing more. It’s not fair, but it exists and heading into what could be a 6-week plus hard lockdown in Victoria, I am just grateful there is something

Yep, this year’s oremiers will probably be Brisbane, West Coast or Port, or someone else who lucks into a huge advantage and nope, that’s not totally fair.

But sport isn’t interesting because it is equal, it is interesting because of the unpredictability and the narratives it throws up. Trying to see whether St Kilda are for real, whether Richmond or Collingwood can come together and find the form they need in the bubble, even just how it affects next season and beyond is fascinating imo. Just enjoy it for what it is imo

 

[Seeds]

The biggest problem - which a few people are starting to talk about - is this “festival of footy” was not even required.

It was cooked up by the AFL and Channel 7 as a replacement their Olympic coverage (running at exactly the same time).

People said this season would carry an asterisk, but it was still shaping up as being reasonably fair. But now? It’s now gotten ridiculous due to the “festival”... clubs playing of a few days break etc. It’s made it crazy... it’s almost like a carnival or a lightning premiership.

The AFL didn’t need to do it. They were okay to continue on and finish the season in a quasi-normal manner.

But they’ve done this for Channel 7 in order to (a) help recover their lost Olympic revenue and (b) finish it earlier for the least possible impact on cricket (which Channel 7 also has the rights for).

It’s a total compromise of the season’s integrity in order to appease Channel 7.

Didnt realise that. Thats unbelievable.

 

[HTT]

...Then why have a bye for each club? Why not eliminate said bye, and give each club one extra day in between each game? Riddle me that?

Lol, they're condensing the season, whilst also extending it with bye periods. Makes no sense at all.

The bye is needed because Essendon and Melbourne already had one.
The bye isn’t really a week off as you would expect though - GWS have a bye coming up and it gives them a 6 day break.

 

[Lsta062]

It’s Perth conditions vs QLD/SA conditions. Why West Coast do not have that is because teams are required to self-isolate after entering Perth. It’s why West Coast, Fremantle, Carlton and Hawthorn have reasonable breaks between games (Fremantle is the only one with a 5-day break and that’s only once).

Geelong and Collingwood only play 1 game in Perth during this fixture, so they go through the same thing as those outside of Perth.

 

[BF Tiger]

The fixture is a joke. An example where it benefits the Tigers is this week. We played the Bulldogs Wednesday night while our next opponent, Brisbane, played on Friday night. Richmond v Brisbane is on this Tuesday. That gives the Tigers a six day break against the Lions four day break. Fans complain when there is a two day differential in a normal season (eg 8 day break v a 6 day break) so this is crazy. I am sure Richmond will be disadvantaged further into the season though, but I admit it DOESN'T all even out.

 

[Papa G]

The AFL are worried that COVID will get into Queensland like it has in NSW. They are getting ahead of the game by ramming as many games in as they can, before the are forced to have a bye and Hub in WA and possibly SA.

 

[boncer34]

The biggest problem - which a few people are starting to talk about - is this “festival of footy” was not even required.

It was cooked up by the AFL and Channel 7 as a replacement their Olympic coverage (running at exactly the same time).

People said this season would carry an asterisk, but it was still shaping up as being reasonably fair. But now? It’s now gotten ridiculous due to the “festival”... clubs playing of a few days break etc. It’s made it crazy... it’s almost like a carnival or a lightning premiership.

The AFL didn’t need to do it. They were okay to continue on and finish the season in a quasi-normal manner.

But they’ve done this for Channel 7 in order to (a) help recover their lost Olympic revenue and (b) finish it earlier for the least possible impact on cricket (which Channel 7 also has the rights for).

It’s a total compromise of the season’s integrity in order to appease Channel 7.

Channel 7 don't have another game till Thursday. So how exactly is it appeasing them?

 

[boncer34]

The AFL are worried that COVID will get into Queensland like it has in NSW. They are getting ahead of the game by ramming as many games in as they can, before the are forced to have a bye and Hub in WA and possibly SA.

Not as exciting as blaming television executives but here's the answer.

 

[BIRDBRAIN]

All the inequities in the fixture are just a more extreme version of the normal inequities we get and the teams that are normally favoured are now getting the raw end of the stick which makes for some pretty irate people. The AFL is not a sporting competition, it just pretends to be one. This year it's not even pretending.

 

[triggering bro]

If the finals teams hub in the same location throughout the finals series the favouritism to the home team will be mitigated. Travel won’t be an issue & the away teams will get use to the same field/s. Notwithstanding the home & away season is heavily compromised. However it is what it is. If you are good enough you’ll win. Same as any other year. Just glad we have had football. The standard seems to be improving week by week & we are starting to see the disparity between the good & bad - which is bringing back some normality.

 

[juss]

The legitimacy has been questioned the entire season. You cant have an elite level competition where this many things are made up as you go week to week, with such stark differences and unique circumstances. Its why I think the premiership should be called something else.

 

[Papa G]

The legitimacy has been questioned the entire season. You cant have an elite level competition where this many things are made up as you go week to week, with such stark differences and unique circumstances. Its why I think the premiership should be called something else.

So inherent Vic Bias is fairer because we all know it's there at the start of every season?

 

[WaywardSonSon]

All the inequities in the fixture are just a more extreme version of the normal inequities we get and the teams that are normally favoured are now getting the raw end of the stick which makes for some pretty irate people. The AFL is not a sporting competition, it just pretends to be one. This year it's not even pretending.

Haha, so true! I mean, they're not evenly remotely capable of securing impartial umpires, without conflicts of interest, in the way that such sporting organisations as the EPL are capable of doing.

 

[juss]

So inherent Vic Bias is fairer because we all know it's there at the start of every season?

I knew someone would try and equate this season to the Grand Final at MCG inequality certain years, and completely miss the point.

Well done on being that first person.

 

[Dr Tigris]

In the end everyone will be disadvantaged and advantaged - except maybe Melbourne and Essendon, who won't get the break cause of their early cancelled game.

WC playing at home advantages them. But then they were terrible in Qld (and the Tigers didn't get them when they couldn't beat an egg, and will get them at home {I guess} when they are in great form). So it all evens out.

They said early in the season that they expected to run a compressed fixture to get games in so that they could finish the season in there were problems. And right now there are problems.

As to $ being dominant - probably are. If they get in a season this year they'll get enough $ that they can keep the AFL going in something like the way it has been. If they lose enough $ some clubs will be in dire straights. The richer clubs are probably OKish. But some clubs basically can't afford to lose so many $ if the season goes down the gurgler. So yes, the clubs want the season to happen, and so does the AFL, because of money.

 

[Teen Wolf]

(b) finish it earlier for the least possible impact on cricket (which Channel 7 also has the rights for).

Although men's international cricket is scheduled for early-mid October at Metricon, the Gabba, Adelaide Oval, Cairns, Townsville and Canberra (and may end up cancelled in favour of the IPL), Seven aren't due to broadcast it until late November.

 

[Forward Flank]

Hey guys,

Genuine question here, but how has the fixturing been decided over this 'festival of footy.' West Coast deserved winners tonight, so no sour grapes, but looking at their fixture ahead compared to ours - it's a complete polar opposite in terms of difficulty.

We played Freo on Monday night, then played West Coast today (5 day break for us, 6 day break for them - not a big deal)

Our next game is on Wednesday August 5 (4 day break), Eagles have a bye

Our next game is then the following Monday August 10 (5 day break), whilst theirs is on the Sunday August 8 (8 day break)

We then play one more game on Friday August 14 (4 day break), whilst Eagles play their game Sunday August 16 (7 day break)

In total, we play 5 games in 18 days, whilst they play 4 games over the space of 21 days - that is a significant difference, given the fact they don't leave home in that period, and 3 out of 4 of their games are against bottom 8 sides, while 3 of our 4 are against top 8 sides

I understand that we'll get a bye at some stage, but, it's kinda useless if it's not during that 18 day block, given that we'll probably be shot with injuries by that point.

Anyone have insight on how some teams have been so heavily favoured during the condensed fixture, and others not? Would love to know how they came up with this?

Any feedback/knowledge is appreciated

Cheers,

Shadow

The Eagles (and Dockers) have been looked after very nicely with the current fixturing block. There's every chance they'll need to go back to QLD for the final stretch of the season though, unless WA restrictions ease.

 

[Kwality]

This is exactly the explanation I was looking for. Colour me shocked, the AFL putting profit before player well-being/equity/commonsense & fairness.

Absolute farce, when they could have just extended the season by 4 weeks.

It’s a total compromise of the season’s integrity in order to appease Channel 7

The idea that the AFL can fixture a fortnight ahead with any certainty?

 

[Kwality]

Well WC and Brisbane getting a great run compared to all others, can't deny that, no different to Richmond in a normal year I guess, so flags all round hey.

100%.

 

[Rich]

Meanwhile Seven and Fox are making record profits due to the huge increase in numbers of people home every night/increased games during this time.

Makes me f*cking sick.

Fox aren’t making record profits, they’re ****ed. But they’ll just put their hand out and the Feds oblige.