- Thread starter
- #51
Not bad but I'd change the finals series to:None. 19 teams is almost perfect for the fixture.
Each team plays each other once, 9 home and 9 away, with a reverse fixture the following year.
This provides a much fairer fixture as there will be less issues re: Who has to travel x times or how many games Vic teams play at MCG/Marvel. It also means oddities like Fremantle v Essendon always being played in Perth will cease to be.
Less games? Won't broadcasters be upset?
I don't see this as being as issue for anyone other than Foxtel. Nobody is going to miss the 4.10pm Saturday or 6.20pm Sunday games are they? They'd be saving money on staffing TBH. And we counter this because...
22 or 23 rounds will mean flexible fixtures.
This means the AFL can schedule the real prime time games IN PRIMETIME. With teams getting byes before/after there wont be any issues in getting the better games moved around to ensure maximum exposure. Byes also lead us to...
Players get more rest.
Star players not having to run out an extra 3-4 games a year means they should be fresher for longer. Keeping the marquee players in the game has always been the aim. Having fresh players will also mean...
We can go to a top 10 for finals.
I'm not a huge fan of this but it would be a necessary evil. The double chance would be gone so home ground advantage is what we are playing for.
Week 1 -
8v9
7v10
Week 2 -
1 v 8/9
4 v 5
---
2 v 7/10
3 v 6
Week 3 -
1 v 4
2 v 3
Week 4 -
1 v 2
I'd also be pushing really hard for team based streaming options. Would need more data on people's viewing habits but a cheaper ($5-$8 a month?) option to just get your team's games on your phone/laptop/smart TV with audio options ala the AFL app would be something to start investigating.
Week 2
A 1 v 4
B 2 v 3
C 5 v lowest-ranked winner of 7/8/9/10
D 6 v highest-ranked winner of 7/8/9/10
Week 3
E Loser A v Winner C
F Loser B v Winner D
Week 4
G Winner A v Winner F
H Winner B v Winner E
Week 5
Winner G v Winner H
No bye for 7-8-9-10 who play each other in week 1, bye for top 6.
edit: but yes, 19 teams might be best instead of trying to cram in a 20th team or relocate a Vic team which Tassie doesn't want. Let the 20th team come in when it feels right.