News The AFL will introduce a 24 round home and away season in 2028

[GC2015]

So we all know Tasmania is entering the league in 2028 and it turns out that it's mathematically impossible to run a 23 round home and away season when you have 19 teams. It must be an even number and you already know the AFL aren't going to forego the extra money. They will expand to a 24 round home and away season. Just like the NRL.

So how is this going to work? I assume Round Zero will become a permanent thing with all clubs participating, the early season byes will go and Gather Round will be maintained, which means we have 23 rounds of home and away games to split. So which teams will get 12 home games and which teams will get 11 home games?

Does the AFL do the sensible thing and just have all Victorian clubs play 11 home games + 12 away games while the non-Victorian teams play 12 home games + 11 away games to help offset the travel factor that each non-Victorian team faces each season? or do they do something radical like send clubs into regional areas/overseas for the extra 24th round?

‘Take it to America’: AFL tipped to expand the season to 24 games, with calls to head back overseas

‘Take it to America’: AFL tipped to expand the season... with calls to head back overseas

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[Teen Wolf]

Does the AFL do the sensible thing and just have all Victorian clubs play 11 home games + 12 away games while the non-Victorian teams play 12 home games + 11 away games to help offset the travel factor that each non-Victorian team faces each season?

But there will be 10 Victorian teams and 9 non-Vic teams.

So in your scenario, one Victorian team doesn't have anybody to play in their 12th away game. Not sure that's very sensible.

 

[BigVic]

24 rounds
11 home
11 away
2 gather rounds

Extra gather round mid-season in July in WA

 

[Teen Wolf]

24 rounds
11 home
11 away
2 gather rounds

Extra gather round mid-season in July in WA

This also doesn't work because one team won't have anybody to play in GR.

 

[GC2015]

But there will be 10 Victorian teams and 9 non-Vic teams.

So in your scenario, one Victorian team doesn't have anybody to play in their 12th away game. Not sure that's very sensible.

I would've thought that would be easy to get around if it's true. Just reward the Victorian team that's doing the most interstate travel i.e. North because they play two home games in Perth annually on top of all their regular away travel. Pretty easy work around and easy to justify as well.

 

[Teen Wolf]

I think the AFL will look at it this way: Each team gets the usual 11 home + 11 away games. Then there will be 19 extra games at their disposal (38 slots, with each team taking up 2 slots).

Some of the 19 extra games will be played with a home ground advantage, e.g. Adelaide vs Brisbane at AO during Gather Round. But the AFL will balance that out by also scheduling Brisbane vs Adelaide at the Gabba, also part of the 19 extra games.

Some of the other 19 extra games will be played at a neutral venue, e.g. Carlton vs Collingwood and Essendon vs Fremantle at AO during Gather Round (just naming clubs in alphabetical order fwiw). Those clubs will play one more neutral venue game, be it in Sydney, Darwin, LA, Mumbai or wherever else the AFL sends them... again, also part of the 19 extra games.

 

[Teen Wolf]

I would've thought that would be easy to get around if it's true. Just reward the Victorian team that's doing the most interstate travel i.e. North because they play two home games in Perth annually on top of all their regular away travel. Pretty easy work around and easy to justify as well.

Instead that'll just mean one team won't have anybody to play in their 12th home game.

The problem is you're assuming everybody plays 1 game during Gather Round, which can't possibly be the case in a 19-team comp.

 

[GC2015]

Instead that'll just mean one team won't have anybody to play in their 12th home game.

The problem is you're assuming everybody plays 1 game during Gather Round, which can't possibly be the case in a 19-team comp.

Didn't Adelaide say they would be willing to play twice in Gather Round to ensure Tasmania participates? So you'd have the Crows playing on Thursday night and perhaps again on Monday night. Then you give them the bye the following week.

Does that fix your issue?

 

[Teen Wolf]

Didn't Adelaide say they would be willing to play twice in Gather Round to ensure Tasmania participates? So you'd have the Crows playing on Thursday night and perhaps again on Monday night. Then you give them the bye the following week.

Does that fix your issue?

Supposing one of the SA clubs would be willing to play off a 4-day break (I heard they weren't, let alone the AFLPA's thoughts, but clarity about that might be coming soon), it would at least ensure nobody is left without a partner further down the track.

Nevertheless it's likely to cause an almighty stink because one of the extra games would then be Vic vs Vic while all the others would be non-Vic at home vs Vic away.

 

[GC2015]

Supposing one of the SA clubs would be willing to play off a 4-day break (I heard they weren't, let alone the AFLPA's thoughts, but clarity about that might be coming soon), it would at least ensure nobody is left without a partner further down the track.

It was a story in Code Sports two weeks ago:

Nevertheless it's likely to cause an almighty stink because one of the extra games would then be Vic vs Vic while all the others would be non-Vic at home vs Vic away.

Why is that such a big deal in your mind? We already know Victorian teams like North and the Dees are play "home" games interstate. Why would it be a big deal if one of them got 12 home games and 11 away games? They're still going to have less games in Victoria than teams like Collingwood. I think most supporters would be okay with North getting to play in Melbourne for one extra game if they are selling two "home" games to WA.

The Roos play interstate 9 times this year vs Collingwood's 6 interstate games. Is it really such a big deal to give North another home game given the circumstances? Doesn't it make sense to just give the left over home game to North or whichever Victorian team in the future that does the most interstate travel?

 

[Cmarsh]

The 'play a game in America' idea sounds like a junket.

 

[Teen Wolf]

It was a story in Code Sports two weeks ago:

That story says the GR double-up "is not the preference of clubs including Adelaide". Could happen, but idk if Wednesday night games exactly fall within your prescribed scope of sensible.

Why is that such a big deal in your mind? We already know Victorian teams like North and the Dees are play "home" games interstate. Why would it be a big deal if one of them got 12 home games and 11 away games? They're still going to have less games in Victoria than teams like Collingwood. I think most supporters would be okay with North getting to play in Melbourne for one extra game if they are selling two "home" games to WA.

The Roos play interstate 9 times this year vs Collingwood's 6 interstate games. Is it really such a big deal to give North another home game given the circumstances? Doesn't it make sense to just give the left over home game to North or whichever Victorian team in the future that does the most interstate travel?

We've seen time and time again that any fixture initiative needs the support of the big Melbourne clubs, otherwise their hired goons in the media will bash the concept endlessly and make it more trouble than it's worth.

 

[GC2015]

That story says the GR double-up "is not the preference of clubs including Adelaide". Could happen, but idk if Wednesday night games exactly fall within your prescribed scope of sensible.

Fair enough. I got it slightly wrong in terms of it not being Adelaide's preference, but I think they'd be willing to do it if it meant keeping Gather Round in SA. They could alternate with Port Adelaide every second year to lessen the load.

We've seen time and time again that any fixture initiative needs the support of the big Melbourne clubs, otherwise their hired goons in the media will bash the concept endlessly and make it more trouble than it's worth.

Is it really that big of a deal? Keep in mind, Collingwood play five "away" games at the MCG this year. Would it really matter if North play one extra "home" game at Marvel when they are travelling interstate 3 more times than the Pies do throughout the year? Surely the actual reality of getting on a plane and travelling interstate trumps the label of "home" when you're playing against another Melbourne-based team.

 

[CarterS]

New week of wild card finals, another extra round added to the draw, it is obvious that to the AFL front office the game is just content to be generated for $$$. There is no less is more, it's more is more.

There is 0 consideration of whats best for the game, every thing seems to be planned through the lens of "how can we maximise revenue?"

There was also talk of selling the extra round to the highest bidder, is anyone shocked at this? This comes a couple of weeks after they floated the idea of selling wild card final hosting rights and only backed down because of massive back lash.

The money grabbing is reaching extreme levels.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

One of the SA clubs can play twice in five days over gather round. Essendon and Collingwood have played off four days when Anzac Day falls mid week. It’s just something you do because it’s worth it keep the fixture. Adelaide and Port can alternate who does it each year. One game can open Gather Round, the other can close it.

 

[Sentinel]

This also doesn't work because one team won't have anybody to play in GR.

19 teams in a 24 round season necessitates a minimum of 2 byes per year for each side. With Gather Round in existence, and assuming they'll introduce a 2nd neutral game to balance the ledger, there needs to be 18 teams with a 11H/11A/2N fixture, and a single team with a 12H/12A fixture. Means whichever team has a bye in the first neutral fixture also needs to have their 2nd bye in the subsuquent neutral fixture if it's all done in one weekend.

Alternatively, those 18 of 19 clubs could play neutral matches across the season (1 each) in any round given it doesn't need to be done all together, such as if they wanted to do a bit of a country roadshow to bring games to the regions rather than a second Gather Round style weekend. For example, turn the Alice Springs/Cairns/Darwin matches into neutral games.

Simply put, one team has to miss out.

(the above assumes that the AFL is bothered to ensure all clubs have a balanced H/A/N fixture)

One of the SA clubs can play twice in five days over gather round. Essendon and Collingwood have played off four days when Anzac Day falls mid week. It’s just something you do because it’s worth it keep the fixture. Adelaide and Port can alternate who does it each year. One game can open Gather Round, the other can close it.

This still results in a lopsided fixture. You can't have all 19 clubs participate in neutral games if you want a balanced 11H/11A/2N fixture, it's not possible.

 

[The Terrible Thinker]

Seems pretty reasonable that 1 of SA team plays 2 home games within 5 days (Thursday & Monday) with the 2nd game being the start of the next round. Sure it's only 5 a day break, but there is no travel to worry about. That SA team will then get a extended break into the following away game.

The other team that plays on Monday will at least have a 8 day advantage but will need to travel.

 

[Cam Payne]

**** off overseas round.

 

[Teen Wolf]

One of the SA clubs can play twice in five days over gather round. Essendon and Collingwood have played off four days when Anzac Day falls mid week. It’s just something you do because it’s worth it keep the fixture. Adelaide and Port can alternate who does it each year. One game can open Gather Round, the other can close it.

Seems pretty reasonable that 1 of SA team plays 2 home games within 5 days (Thursday & Monday) with the 2nd game being the start of the next round. Sure it's only 5 a day break, but there is no travel to worry about. That SA team will then get a extended break into the following away game.

The other team that plays on Monday will at least have a 8 day advantage but will need to travel.

Playing twice in five days (a four-day break) doesn't happen anymore. Having one SA club playing a second game off a five-day break seems to be one solution considered, but it means extending Gather Round by two days with some clubs getting stuck with less desirable Wed/Mon night fixtures not centred around public holidays.

 

[Teen Wolf]

19 teams in a 24 round season necessitates a minimum of 2 byes per year for each side. With Gather Round in existence, and assuming they'll introduce a 2nd neutral game to balance the ledger, there needs to be 18 teams with a 11H/11A/2N fixture, and a single team with a 12H/12A fixture. Means whichever team has a bye in the first neutral fixture also needs to have their 2nd bye in the subsuquent neutral fixture if it's all done in one weekend.

Alternatively, those 18 of 19 clubs could play neutral matches across the season (1 each) in any round given it doesn't need to be done all together, such as if they wanted to do a bit of a country roadshow to bring games to the regions rather than a second Gather Round style weekend. For example, turn the Alice Springs/Cairns/Darwin matches into neutral games.

Simply put, one team has to miss out.

They can just do something like this...

Gather Round: 9 matches, with one club missing out.

Rounds 12 & 13: 10 matches total. Every club plays once (their second 'neutral' game of the year) except the club that missed GR would play twice.

 

[The Terrible Thinker]

Playing twice in five days (a four-day break) doesn't happen anymore. Having one SA club playing a second game off a five-day break seems to be one solution considered, but it means extending Gather Round by two days with some clubs getting stuck with less desirable Wed/Mon night fixtures not centred around public holidays.

GR is always been programmed around Victoria's school holidays and not public holidays so thats not an issue here.

However the biggest issue for the 2nd game is it now would be locked in for standard club members to attend with very limited tickets for the general public. This doesn't work for GR concept unless an SA team gets an additional home game allocated to their season. i.e. 11 standard season home games, +2 GR home games. Then what happens to the SA team that misses out?

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Tell me where my maths in wrong (I’m sure it is)

All clubs need to have 2 byes

So how do you play 11 home + 11 away + gather round, which is 23 games. Add two byes and it’s 25 rounds. Not 24 rounds

Or are we set to see the end of traditional “rounds”, with clubs playing at all kinds of strange and uneven times

 

[LordLucifer]

The AFL committee meeting to discuss this latest plan :

 

[Sentinel]

They can just do something like this...

Gather Round: 9 matches, with one club missing out.

Rounds 12 & 13: 10 matches total. Every club plays once (their second 'neutral' game of the year) except the club that missed GR would play twice.

Where this falls down is that you end up having 18 byes across 2 rounds (the rounds 12 & 13 that you propose). There's a total of 38 byes (2 x 19 teams) to be had across the season, which leaves 20 byes remaining outside of these rounds.

With 19 teams, each round needs an odd number of byes (minimum 1) - therefore you'd need to split 20 byes across the remaining 22 rounds, so it doesn't work.

I think your solution could only work in a 22 round season (10H/10A/2N).

 

[Sentinel]

Tell me where my maths in wrong (I’m sure it is)

All clubs need to have 2 byes

So how do you play 11 home + 11 away + gather round, which is 23 games. Add two byes and it’s 25 rounds. Not 24 rounds

Or are we set to see the end of traditional “rounds”, with clubs playing at all kinds of strange and uneven times

With 19 teams you must have an even number of rounds (i.e. 22 or 24), or else one team must have an extra bye above what the rest of the competition gets.

There needs to be an even number of games since there are two clubs competing (i.e. 19 x 24 = 456, for a total of 228 games (456/2)). Your proposal of 19 x 25 calculates at 475 (19 x 25) divided by 2 = 237.5 games.