My Idea for a New Structure to the AFL Season

[bennymacca]

Right now I think most of us think that it is a little unfair/uneven that you only play some of the teams twice, but most of the other ways around this without cutting the number of games played end up with contrived conference or division setups.

Well i think i have an idea that could solve the problems

Each teams plays each other once throughout the season. Games alternate every year home/away.

After 17 rounds, a top and bottom 9 is formed. This is basically division 1 and 2.

From that point on, each team plays everyone in their division for a second time. This creates 8 more matches for each division.

Then, at the end of the season, the top 4 play in two prelim finals, and then in the grand final.

You could either keep the ladder going, with previous wins carried into the second phase, or you could reset it all.

Maybe you could find some small way of rewarding the best performing div 2 team for the second phase to keep the lower teams in it (though i dont think they should have finals or anything like that)

Pros

A completely fair system.
The better teams are guaranteed to play each other twice, which means better games of football
more footy! every team plays 25 games, with the grand finalists playing 27 games.

Cons
not guaranteed two "blockbuster" games every year.
Some people think the season is too long already, and we also run into issues with scheduling, injuries, etc etc.
lots and lots of games at the end of the season that nobody cares about, like the WB GWS game.

just an idea guys, if you dont like it say so, say why you dont like it though. and before people say, we finished 10th so the crows wouldnt have made it this year anyway

[the joker]

Won't be fair.
Let's say your 10th and one game out the 8. You will probably finish in the top 4 after playing all the lower sides again

[bennymacca]

Won't be fair.
Let's say your 10th and one game out the 8. You will probably finish in the top 4 after playing all the lower sides again

They would then only finish top of the second division, they wouldn't go above 10th.

[the joker]

So after round 17 your season is over.

[bennymacca]

So after round 17 your season is over.

In the bottom 9, probably. Hence why I said there has to be some small way of rewarding the div 2 winner.

But realistically the season was over for 7 or 8 teams post round 17 anyway.

But yep that is probably the biggest drawback, you create a lot of div 2 meaningless games.

[the joker]

So after round 17 your season is over.

In the bottom 9, probably. Hence why I said there has to be some small way of rewarding the div 2 winner.

But realistically the season was over for 7 or 8 teams post round 17 anyway.

But yep that is probably the biggest drawback, you create a lot of div 2 meaningless games.

Richmond had 6 wins at round 17

[bennymacca]

Yep, that was pretty rare though.

But yeah the second phase of the season could get VERY long for some teams, collingwood was probably in the eight after round 17 too

[whufc]

Considering the AFL follows everything the US does I reckon within 5 years there will be two conferences

Split into two divisions, one with the 10 Melbourne based clubs the other with the 8 interstate clubs otherwise they may split 9 and 9

This enabled the afl to maximise attendances and tv ratings even further.

Finals would still be top 8 with the top 3 from each division automatically in and then the two best records in as well to make the 8.

This guarentees nationwide interest in the finals and would mean having small division most teams seasons will still be alive late in the year.

I hate the idea but have no doubt the AFL will head down a path like that in the near future

[mighty_tiger_79]

25 weeks of footy. Need to incorporate the byes

[bennymacca]

25 weeks of footy. Need to incorporate the byes

Yep. Another issue.

[bennymacca]

Considering the AFL follows everything the US does I reckon within 5 years there will be two conferences

Split into two divisions, one with the 10 Melbourne based clubs the other with the 8 interstate clubs otherwise they may split 9 and 9

This enabled the afl to maximise attendances and tv ratings even further.

Finals would still be top 8 with the top 3 from each division automatically in and then the two best records in as well to make the 8.

This guarentees nationwide interest in the finals and would mean having small division most teams seasons will still be alive late in the year.

I hate the idea but have no doubt the AFL will head down a path like that in the near future

Good post.

I really hope they don't go down that line. Just don't see any benefit from it, though the guaranteed nation wide finals interest is one very small benefit, I don't think this outweighs the negatives.


Another option for divisions I have seen is based on last years ladder, then you play everyone twice from your division and everyone once from the other division, and have promotion and relegation. This works in that it is completely fair, but I don't like that it then takes 2 years for any club to make the div 1 finals.

[whufc]

The huge benefit I have heard from the 'experts' that have suggested it is for the sustanability of the small Melbourne clubs

At present the smaller clubs like bulldogs and demons cannot survive under the current system, especially having home games against GWS, GC etc etc

The AFL cannot afford to lose these clubs as they need the 9 games to maximise TV deals and at present they see no other place as suitable for an expansion side (personally I think tassie is a great idea) so these smaller clubs are still critical to the AFL

By having the divisions it would most likely mean you play your division rivals twice once home once away given these smaller clubs a chance to maximise profits with guarenteed home games against the big Melbourne clubs

It's the only way to give these small clubs a chance to survive while not taking away blockbuster games from the big clubs!

It makes perfect sense unfortunatly

[bennymacca]

I agree that there is a market in Tasmania and they deserve their own team. Given hawthorn and north move their games down there because it is MORE profitable too, this tells me the economics can work, providing tassie gets behind the club.

Could play half their games in launceston and half in Hobart.

[Jim05]

I agree that there is a market in Tasmania and they deserve their own team. Given hawthorn and north move their games down there because it is MORE profitable too, this tells me the economics can work, providing tassie gets behind the club.

Could play half their games in launceston and half in Hobart.

Brayshaw has said numerous times that Tassie is only viable because the Tassie government pumps in massive $$ to get them down there. Not sure if they are willing or able to put in more to get a permanent side down there but It would be good to see a side based there.
The Etihad deal is what holds back North and the Dogs, they get stitched up majorly and hence the reason why the AFL are in the process of buying it.
I know when Etihad was built they wanted a large Melbourne club in there so they had more bargaining power with the MCG. Collingwood, Richmond and Carlton were not interested initially and we said no at first. They came back with a much improved offer for us so we took it, hence our deal is far better than the Dogs or North. Not sure what the exact figures are as I havnt been to the last 2 AGM's but I still believe that we make more money from a 40-45k crowd then what they do with a full house.

[bennymacca]

Yeah it does seem like they get screwed over a bit with the stadium deals.

[Pag]

I'd rather go to 20-teams and have promotion/relegation than do conferences. I would never see Richmond play in Adelaide if that was the case, and vice versa for supporters of interstate clubs living in Melbourne.

[whufc]

I'd rather go to 20-teams and have promotion/relegation than do conferences. I would never see Richmond play in Adelaide if that was the case, and vice versa for supporters of interstate clubs living in Melbourne.

The version I heard is the fixture wouldn't much different to it is now, each team plays there own division sides twice and then the games to make it up to a 23 game season would be cross division games

[MatteeG]

Each teams plays each other once throughout the season. Games alternate every year home/away.

This.

[whufc]

Each teams plays each other once throughout the season. Games alternate every year home/away.

This.

Agree it's the ideal solution other than home and away, unfortunately though having every side playing 5 less games would cost the AFL and it's club millions especially when the AFL manipulates the fixture so the extra games are the 'blockbuster' games

[Booney]

So round 17 comes along and round 18 needs to be arranged for season ticket holders, fans to travel, catering at the venues etc etc?

Nope, the AFL can't get much right as far as the fixture goes and you want to give them one week to do it?