Which side fails to play in September?

[The Feeder Club]

I don’t see how to avoid the possibility except for:

(a) Every team plays all of the others once
(b) Every team plays all of the others twice
(c) 17-5 or similar - Every team plays all of the others once, then the draw is reconsidered.

So you've already given three solutions that are improvements

 

[Cyclonus]

The issue with playing everyone once is that you may just luck out and get all the dangerous sides at home. People would still whinge.

 

[Hobbes]

So you've already given three solutions that are improvements

(a) is too short
(b) is too long
(c) might be workable

 

[NetworkNerd]

Hate to say it, but the loser of Fremantle and Brisbane could be in a bit of strife.

Not really. If Brisbane lose they just have to beat Hawks in rd23 who are 0-4 in their interstate games after beating the Swans in the Opening Round

 

[The Feeder Club]

(a) is too short
(b) is too long
(c) might be workable

Yes obviously in the immediate term, c) is the most workable solution and an improvement on the current mess.
a) will work out in the long term if they keep adding teams,
b) is the purest comp, H&A against every other team, but we'll only ever see it again if they cull teams and/or expand list sizes dramatically

 

[Guardian Hawk]

I don’t see how to avoid the possibility except for:

(a) Every team plays all of the others once
(b) Every team plays all of the others twice
(c) 17-5 or similar - Every team plays all of the others once, then the draw is reconsidered.

(a) and (b) won't be entertained (for the reasons you've mentioned) but (c) is absolutely workable.

Not only is it workable, but it actually serves the AFL's best interests. You can better schedule games that have meaningful remifications (teams vying for finals on Thursday, Friday, etc). Instead of having heaps of late season blowouts, you can end up scheduling more likely to be close matches. IN short, you can better maximise $$ whilst also evening the fixture.

It probably can't be reconsidered after Round 17 (as teams, supporters, etc need time for flights, accommodation, etc) exactly but could be done after say 12 or so rounds - which would still be a huge improvement. It would prevent teams like Collingwood, Adelaide and Gold Coast being classed as the poor teams in 'double up' match ups and the likes of Port and Carlton being classed as the top teams.

 

[dean33]

The fixture should be as even as practicallly possible

No it shouldn't. The afl group teams 1-6, 7-12, 13-18 and do the fixture accordingly. This isnt a new thing. Unless every team played each other twice home and away you will always have teams with good and bad fixtures. Its more when you play a team rather than who you play. Pies much better to play now than earlier in the year while Swans much harder to play now than earlier in the season. The best team will always win the flag regardless of fixture.

 

[Freshwater]

No it shouldn't. The afl group teams 1-6, 7-12, 13-18 and do the fixture accordingly. This isnt a new thing. Unless every team played each other twice home and away you will always have teams with good and bad fixtures. Its more when you play a team rather than who you play. Pies much better to play now than earlier in the year while Swans much harder to play now than earlier in the season. The best team will always win the flag regardless of fixture.

They don’t actually do that with the fixture, it would be good if they did but they don’t. Crows play Power twice a year regardless, Carlton plays Collingwood twice a year regardless, same with the WA teams, Queensland and NSW’s teams too. Dogs always play Saints and Roos and Giants twice a year regardless. In fact there is a real stale sameness about the AFL fixture the last decade and not even close to bottom 6, middle 6, top 6 double ups.

 

[Mr MysteryGuest]

No it shouldn't. The afl group teams 1-6, 7-12, 13-18 and do the fixture accordingly. This isnt a new thing.

No shit, Judy because the afl do it that way doesn’t mean they should

 

[Freshwater]

The issue with playing everyone once is that you may just luck out and get all the dangerous sides at home. People would still whinge.

But at least much fairer than now.

 

[The Tilt]

They don’t actually do that with the fixture, it would be good if they did but they don’t. Crows play Power twice a year regardless, Carlton plays Collingwood twice a year regardless, same with the WA teams, Queensland and NSW’s teams too. Dogs always play Saints and Roos and Giants twice a year regardless. In fact there is a real stale sameness about the AFL fixture the last decade and not even close to bottom 6, middle 6, top 6 double ups.

I agree that the current system is sh!t, but I don't think sorting double-ups via the previous year's top, middle and bottom six is the way to go. I'm an advocate of some version of the 17-5 or 17-6 model now. Everyone plays each other once, followed by a formula-driven fixture for the final five (or six) games of the season. Not perfect, but about as good as we can hope for.

 

[Optimistic Dog]

I agree that the current system is sh!t, but I don't think sorting double-ups via the previous year's top, middle and bottom six is the way to go. I'm an advocate of some version of the 17-5 or 17-6 model now. Everyone plays each other once, followed by a formula-driven fixture for the final five (or six) games of the season. Not perfect, but about as good as we can hope for.

The solution is fairly simple; every team you play once it is for 8 points and everyone you play twice you play for 4 points. this means you play all teams for 8 points.

 

[kaiserchief13]

Will GC play home finals at gabba or metricon

 

[The Tilt]

The solution is fairly simple; every team you play once it is for 4 points and everyone you play twice you play for 8 points. this means you play all teams for 8 points.

I assume you have it the wrong way around(?) Teams you play once: 4 points; teams you play twice: 2 points.

It's not the worst idea, but I don't really like it. It means some matches are worth less than others. It will lead to the anomaly of teams ending up lower on the ladder despite having more wins than others.

 

[Optimistic Dog]

I assume you have it the wrong way around(?) Teams you play once: 4 points; teams you play twice: 2 points.

It's not the worst idea, but I don't really like it. It means some matches are worth less than others. It will lead to the anomaly of teams ending up lower on the ladder despite having more wins than others.

Yes typo and you are correct it is not the wins per se it is the number points gained against each team totalled. Still believe it is fairer than current fixture.

 

[ReturningHawk]

It’s quite incredible that with two rounds to go that only one side has mathematically qualified for the finals.

 

[Big Sauce 21]

Can someone give me Geelong's doubles up for the year please.

 

[catstorm]

Will GC play home finals at gabba or metricon

That’s a really interesting questions that I’ll be watching closely.

Particularly with the very real possibility of a GC v Brisbane match with GC as the “Home” team.

 

[Piggy Smalls]

Will GC play home finals at gabba or metricon

Where do GWS play theirs? Very comparable, I would think.

 

[Wojcinski]

Can someone give me Geelong's doubles up for the year please.

Brisbane, GWS, Port, Essendon, Richmond & St Kilda

 

[Piggy Smalls]

A lot of Geelong talk in here considering they're one of the 3 teams that is most unlikely to miss

 

[Piggy Smalls]

Adelaide, Geelong, and Gold Coast are the only safe teams. Pies should get in on % but it's not locked in for certain.

 

[The Tilt]

Will GC play home finals at gabba or metricon

That’s a really interesting questions that I’ll be watching closely.

Particularly with the very real possibility of a GC v Brisbane match with GC as the “Home” team.

I'd be shocked if it wasn't at Carrara. Would be pretty cool if there was a Q-Clash in the finals.

 

[catstorm]

I'd be shocked if it wasn't at Carrara. Would be pretty cool if there was a Q-Clash in the finals.

Would really fly in the face of the whole “home state” argument used against Geelong though.

GC v Brisbane would get a bigger crowed at the Gabba and is in GC home state so it should be played there.

 

[beez]

The solution is fairly simple; every team you play once it is for 8 points and everyone you play twice you play for 4 points. this means you play all teams for 8 points.

Careful, mate.

You're giving Eddie ideas.