Fixture 2025 Fixture Discussion

[Libbaaaa]

Another 'home' game in Adelaide against a strong team for Gather-round.

I quite like the Gather-round concept, but they need to be more even handed with the matchups.

We have been treated to tough fixtures each year, and our close losses in the last two seasons both proved costly. Giving up home advantage against the reigning premier, is a significant price to pay, especially after giving up home advantage against Geelong last year.

If you aren't an Adelaide team the only thing that makes it a 'home' game is the guernsey and shorts you wear.

It is interesting that in the 3 years (including this year) of Gather Round the two Adelaide teams have only played Victorian teams.

All about the crowds.

 

[Turtleman3]

All about the crowds.

But the Adelaide teams should be able to draw crowds whoever they play, surely, like they do during the regular season.

 

[Libbaaaa]

But the Adelaide teams should be able to draw crowds whoever they play, surely, like they do during the regular season.

Crows/Power rarely push 40k against non Vic sides.

 

[Proffessor]

I'm against the concept myself (mainly because the AFL couldn't organise a chook raffle), but we haven't given up anything. This is an additional game, we haven't lost a home game. The first year we were disadvantaged playing an SA team, any non-SA opponent is just another game.

It's comparative, some teams get to play away games against non-SA teams in Adelaide that they would greatly prefer playing at a neutral venue rather than the oppositions actual home ground, where they might be a significant home-advantage.

We play 2 games against Brisbane, one at the Gabba, and one in Adelaide. I'm sure Brisbane are happier with that arrangement than they would be with fixtures at Marvel and Adelaide.

 

[threenewpadlocks]

It's comparative, some teams get to play away games against non-SA teams in Adelaide that they would greatly prefer playing at a neutral venue rather than the oppositions actual home ground, where they might be a significant home-advantage.

But Gather Round adds the match to the existing 11 home 11 away games.

If you were to play the Gather Round matchup at the opposition's home ground, and not have gather round at all, you'd be having 12 away and only 10 home games, which makes no sense.

We play 2 games against Brisbane, one at the Gabba, and one in Adelaide. I'm sure Brisbane are happier with that arrangement than they would be with fixtures at Marvel and Adelaide.

But we have 11 home and 10 away games in our other 21 fixtures, we have a small overall net home ground advantage. Other than those games, Brisbane still have 10 home and 11 away games, too, so you can't ignore that when looking at the overall "arrangement".

On the margins yes it means that we're more likely to have a higher proportion of our home games be against Melbourne-based away teams where we enjoy a smaller home-ground advantage on the margins, but it's so small to not be worthwhile discussing, and besides, it means that of our 9 Melbourne home games, 6 are against other teams from Melbourne, which is very helpful financially, even if it means we're screwed over a handful of points on the season for HGA.