Analysis Strange fixturing, favouring some teams

Shadow89

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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
 
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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.
 
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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

You did play rounds 2, 3, 5 at Kardinia Park and round 4 at the MCG. We played rounds 2-6 in Queensland including Brisbane and Port. There are some swings and roundabouts in play.

The 'festival of footy' is marketing nonsense. There's no real need for it. Is Geelong's run worse than most other teams? WB have Richmond Wednesday, Port in Adelaide Monday, Brisbane in Brisbane Saturday then Adelaide on the Gold Coast the next Sunday. Seems to be no real science to it at all. Short breaks then 8 days, why?
 

Shadow89

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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.

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.
 

Shadow89

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You did play rounds 2, 3, 5 at Kardinia Park and round 4 at the MCG. We played rounds 2-6 in Queensland including Brisbane and Port. There are some swings and roundabouts in play.

The 'festival of footy' is marketing nonsense. There's no real need for it. Is Geelong's run worse than most other teams? WB have Richmond Wednesday, Port in Adelaide Monday, Brisbane in Brisbane Saturday then Adelaide on the Gold Coast the next Sunday. Seems to be no real science to it at all. Short breaks then 8 days, why?

Definitely agree it's all 'swings and roundabouts', it does just seem that the time to have some equity, is during such a condensed fixture where there will be a huge chance for mass injuries. The teams that have their fixture broken up, are the teams that most likely will have players not doing soft tissue injuries or running out of gas during games.

This isn't about any footy clubs or players, it's squarely on the AFL and their completely selfish revenue-based approach. Clubs can only play with what their given, but there has been really no thought put into this whole shambolic 'festival of footy', by those in charge.

Players are getting paid 30% of their wage and leaving their families during a pandemic, and still no accomodations are given to make it a bit easier on everyone. 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.
 

Shadow89

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Victorians complaining about bias?

This is the AFL equivalent of white fragility.

Good job offering nothing to the conversation. Was a genuine question put open for discussion. Has more to do with the people operating the show, than one club in particular. Seems you're the one who's fragile, given your 'victimized' attitude.
 

big_e

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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 exactly the opposite.

They're cramming games in to give them the best chance of finishing the season if it all has to shut down because of another nationwide outbreak. If anything, they should have done it earlier.
 

Shadow89

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It's exactly the opposite.

They're cramming games in to give them the best chance of finishing the season if it all has to shut down because of another nationwide outbreak. If anything, they should have done it earlier.

...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.
 
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We’ll cop a compacted fixture later in the season I assume.

Will spend at least 3-4 weeks away you’d expect.

Good chance they’ll ‘hub’ all the finals in Qld anyway, so I doubt any of it matters anyway!
 
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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.
Thought i read that Channel 7 had no more midweek games, so I'm not sure that explanation makes any sense
 
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I would say what you have suggested there is nearly certain to happen.

COVID permitting they will be all over it. It advantages Brisbane significantly, but the AFL won't care. Gold Coast are iffy to make finals but if they get 7th/8th then it will help them too.

My money is on the AFL to shift all the Vic clubs into Qld for the last few weeks of the season then announce a Qld finals hub.
 

Shadow89

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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.

Nah not a conspiracy, just prioritization of profit over equity. Also a lack of planning/thought put into this 'festival' by AFL management.

We're not winning it this year, that's not even in question - so this fixturing is moot for us. For teams like Saints, Port, Richmond, GWS etc. they're definitely going to be up against it. Very likely to be a Brisbane v West Coast Grand Final, if things continue the way they have this year.

Swings and roundabouts of course, but the AFL could have at least made the one thing they do have control over - the fixture/breaks for clubs and season length - equitable across the board.
 

db26

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The problem is the clubs should get together and oppose it and show some balls not let the afl take the Mickey out of the competition.What is the point of the festival of footy nothing more then $$$$ .No regards for players and injuries with short turn around , there health and safety and families etc.Decisions on the run suit them and the broadcaster.
 
Nah not a conspiracy, just prioritization of profit over equity. Also a lack of planning/thought put into this 'festival' by AFL management.

We're not winning it this year, that's not even in question - so this fixturing is moot for us. For teams like Saints, Port, Richmond, GWS etc. they're definitely going to be up against it. Very likely to be a Brisbane v West Coast Grand Final, if things continue the way they have this year.

Swings and roundabouts of course, but the AFL could have at least made the one thing they do have control over - the fixture/breaks for clubs and season length - equitable across the board.

They COULD have made a hub right at the start of all of this and had all clubs in one state for the whole season.

Pretty sure that got shut down fast as an option so now they are doing their best. Not going to disagree they are going to make some calls to prioritize profits, but thats not surprising, the AFL is run like a business and all businesses have trouble when things change so drastically.
 

Jupes

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...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.
with the 2 week quarantine it means they can't really condense the fixture over here. hence the eagle/dockers getting 7/8 day breaks. the afl should've sent more teams over.
 
Profit over equity is garbage

there won’t be profit this year

they are trying to stem the bleeding so the organisation can stay solvent

but sure let’s have an equitable fixture this year and bankrupt the game

any other year - you might have a point

this year there are thousands of jobs on the line

the fixture is s**t - some clubs are going to hVe it worse than Others - some players worse than others - it’s the sacrifice to keep the game alive behind 2020
 
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