Fixturing

[45HG 1,539]

Why is Hawthorn playing West Coast on a Friday night before the Split round/at all?

What would we change, or make sure would happen, if we were in charge of fixturing?

Now i don't want to turn this into Collingwood bashing, but of course theirs is the biggest inequality in the draw. But aside from that i think it is generally i ridiculous state of affairs. I remember from round 4-8 i think it was featured the same four teams. Pies, Dogs, Saints and Bombers (from memory).

There are too many fixturing mistakes that underline the lack of integrity that AFL should have in creating a fair an equitable system

[Yencks 8]

1.) you mentioned collingwood

2.) dont give us so many sunday games...a couple of fridays nights would fit in nicely too mr olympics

3.) dont let two teams play each other within 15 rounds (or 16 (Gold Coast))

4.) Let Melbourne have the Queens birthday (its more of a thing not to change here)

5.) Make sure there is at least 6-7 days break between travelling to Perth and playing at home again

6.) Bring back Princess Park for Carlton

ive gone off topic but those are the things i want

[pitmaster 3,513]

There are too many fixturing mistakes that underline the lack of integrity that AFL holds to maintaining a fair an equitable system

They are not mistakes.

They are intentional and they reflect AFL priorities. Otherwise you're right, it's not fair, it's not equitable - it is crooked in so many ways.

Our problem is that as far as the AFL is concerned we're just making up the numbers for the television broadcasting agreement.

Gotta hope DB can make us relevant again very soon.

[45HG 1,539]

Another i forgot was round 22, must be an attempt year in year out to have teams travelling as little as possible.

And yes, i realise they aren't mistakes, i was trying to be diplmoatic, something i'm not very good at!

[Ewok 9]

Unfortunate fact: Ordinary teams get ordinary draws.....

Out of interest, why do you think West Coast and Hawthorn should not have played tonight?

[45HG 1,539]

Ordinary team = Carlton. This year, they had the first match of the season plus two Saturday nights plus a Friday night and a Sat arvo all in the first 7 rounds.

Plus one of their other matches was a Sunday arvo against Collingwood, a home game.

Fixturing is not so much about giving lesser teams bad draws, as it is giving big teams very good draws as a means of furthering their own monetary receipts.

I don't necessarily think it's wrong. I just find it an odd fixture. Friday night at the MCG featuring an interstate side has always seemed an odd fixture to me. I remember we played the Crows and it seemed odd, thought was backed up by the Breast Cancer awareness initiative. I think it lowers the crowd and Victorian interest. A home game for W.C. against the Hawks in this round might have made sense, as interstate game on Friday can be live to a sellout crowd.

Friday at the G in my opinion should feature two Victorian teams.

[Ewok 9]

Ordinary team = Carlton. This year, they had the first match of the season plus two Saturday nights plus a Friday night and a Sat arvo all in the first 7 rounds.

Plus one of their other matches was a Sunday arvo against Collingwood, a home game.

Fixturing is not so much about giving lesser teams bad draws, as it is giving big teams very good draws as a means of furthering their own monetary receipts.

I don't necessarily think it's wrong. I just find it an odd fixture. Friday night at the MCG featuring an interstate side has always seemed an odd fixture to me. I remember we played the Crows and it seemed odd, thought was backed up by the Breast Cancer awareness initiative. I think it lessers the crowd and Victorian interest. A home game for W.C. against the Hawks in this round might have made sense, as interstate game on Friday can be live to a sellout crowd.

Friday at the G in my opinion should feature two Victorian teams.

Yeah, I reckon you can put round 1 down to Chris Judd. Carlton have a big following, we don't. That and the previous year's performance is what I meant by ordinary.

I agree that Friday nights should be genuine block busters with only a 20-30 min TV delay. 8:30pm start, with waaaaaay too many ad's, is too late.

Having said that tonight's game would have been a beauty on paper 6 months ago though....

It really shits me that the draw is so unfair, but with a 16 team comp, and so many sides in Victoria, what can you do? Ratings and attendance will always rule above all else unfortunately.

[Ewok 9]

Friday night at the MCG featuring an interstate side has always seemed an odd fixture to me..... I think it lessers the crowd and Victorian interest. A home game for W.C. against the Hawks in this round might have made sense, as interstate game on Friday can be live to a sellout crowd.

Friday at the G in my opinion should feature two Victorian teams.

I think you're on the money here.

[Jack7 528]

Why shouldn't non Victorian teams play Friday night? Every team wants Friday night exposure,could you imagine the uproar if Friday night football was only played by the 10 Victorian teams? How inequitable would that make the draw?

This year's draw came out late last year when West Coast was a top team,they want/deserve Friday night football like every other team.No wonder we play stuff all Friday night games,Paul Gardner requsted as many Sunday games as possible and the AFL granted his wish!!!!!

It's a National competition.

[45HG 1,539]

I don't believe you took in a word that was just said.

I'd like to see where any of us said they shouldn't play on a Friday night.

Of course they should play, but how equitable is it that W.C. have already had two Friday night games, Brisbane have had one, Freo have had two, Adelaide have had one (and have another in a weekend basically to themselves), Port had the opening game of the season. Not one of these have been at the G, aside from the Eagles game, most have been at the Interstate team's home ground. Whilst the MFC have had precisely ZERO friday night games in our, not the AFL's, 150th year.

Furthermore, to focus on this one distinct point within the broader nature of this thread is a little narrow in my opinion, especially if you're going to miss the point

[Ewok 9]

Double header Friday nights like the NRL have is an option well worth looking at. Even if one is on Foxtel. At least we could drop the stupid 4:30pm Sunday slot then.

Bring in Monday night football when the 18th side is on board.

[Jack7 528]

Friday night at the MCG featuring an interstate side has always seemed an odd fixture to me.

That's what i'm responding to!

Everyone wants to play Friday night,It's a national competition.

[45HG 1,539]

At the MCG. As i said, i find interstate teams playing at the G on a Friday night to be an odd fixture. Them not playing there has not diminshed their propensity to play Friday matches.

I fail to see the relevance.

[Jack7 528]

At the MCG. As i said, i find interstate teams playing at the G on a Friday night to be an odd fixture. Them not playing there has not diminshed their propensity to play Friday matches.

I fail to see the relevance.

It was the Hawks home game,where else would they play it?

[45HG 1,539]

So Richmond versus Melbourne not 3 weeks ago was played at the MCG was it?

Collingwood versus the Bulldogs last Sunday was played at the G too then i assume?

Richmond also host the Lions at TD, the Cats home ground is Skilled but they play home games at the G, or vice versa whichever way you look at it. The Dogs home ground is the Dome yet they hosted the Lions not two weeks ago? Shall i continue?

Are you saying the AFL couldn't have fixtured a home W.C. v Hawthorn game? Or a Telstra Dome Hawk v West Coast game, given it was a game that was never going to attract more then 50,000 fans

[Jack7 528]

So Richmond versus Melbourne not 3 weeks ago was played at the MCG was it?

Collingwood versus the Bulldogs last Sunday was played at the G too then i assume?

Richmond also host the Lions at TD, the Cats home ground is Skilled but they play home games at the G, or vice versa whichever way you look at it. The Dogs home ground is the Dome yet they hosted the Lions not two weeks ago? Shall i continue?

Are you saying the AFL couldn't have fixtured a home W.C. v Hawthorn game? Or a Telstra Dome Hawk v West Coast game, given it was a game that was never going to attract more then 50,000 fans

Hawks play 4 games in Tassie,this was one of their MCG HOME GAMES.

[45HG 1,539]

Far out, you really aren't getting it are you.

If this is one of their few MCG games, why wouldn't the AFL give them Friday night exposure against another Victorian club so it could be played in front of a much bigger crowd, with a much bigger build up.

Especially when this is the split round and the AFL would surely want to maximize its exposure, attendance and viewing audience

[Jack7 528]

Hawks play Sydney next Sunday at the MCG,ANOTHER HAWKS MCG HOME GAME.!!!

[Jack7 528]

Far out, you really aren't getting it are you.

If this is one of their few MCG games, why wouldn't the AFL give them Friday night exposure against another Victorian club so it could be played in front of a much bigger crowd, with a much bigger build up.

Especially when this is the split round and the AFL would surely want to maximize its exposure, attendance and viewing audience

BECAUSE THIS ROUND IS HAWKS HOME GAME AGAINST WEST COAST,NO OTHER TEAM!!!

THEY HAVE TO PLAY WEST COAST THIS ROUND AND IT'S HAWKS HOME GAME AT THE MCG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I CAN'T SPELL IT OUT ANY CLEARER THAN THAT FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[45HG 1,539]

Indeed, no AFL team plays next Sunday. At the G, or at any AFL ground.

When did i say Hawthorn shouldn't get a home MCG game? How have you gone from complaining against no one that Interstate teams deserve friday night games, to now stating claims for Hawthorn MCG games that again no one is questioning.

If you aren't going to bring up any relevant or meaningful points I give up. You are giving one line answers with no insight or argument, and i'm bored of it

And yes, i'm sorry i forgot round 14 is an annual Hawks v Eagles AFL fixture that must be adhered to, because this thread didn't begin as a discussion to the types of changes you would make to a fixture.......

Far out

[Jack7 528]

Round 15-Hawks v Sydney at MCG.

Another Hawks MCG home game,regardless of who the opponent is.

Yes,it's probably better off being played at the Dome,but they have every right to play their HOME games at the MCG,like they did against West Coast tonight.

[Jack7 528]

This year,Hawks play West Coast twice.

Once at the MCG,Hawks home game.

Once at Subiaco,West Coast home game.

So it doesn't matter which rounds these 2 games are played.

One is West Coast's HOME game.

One is Hawks HOME game.

West Coast play their HOME games at Subiaco.

Hawks play their HOME games at the MCG.

END OF STORY!!!

[45HG 1,539]

Hawks play their HOME games at the MCG.

END OF STORY!!!

Except when they play at Aurora...........

You don't read very well do you.

Again, for the last time, I never said they shouldn't play it at the MCG. I'm saying it's odd to put this match on a Friday night at the MCG. For instance, why couldn't the AFL have put Hawks v Eagles at Aurora a few weeks ago and Hawks v Dogs at the G tonight.

Of course, you won't read this, so i'm not sure why i'm still bothering.

For your information, tonight was the first MCG Friday night game featuring any interstate team since round 10 last year, and there hasn't been one before that since 2005 (which was our Breast cancer awareness match) and before that was Port versus Collingwood in '04.

For anyone keeping score that's 4 of 110 Friday night matches at the MCG featuring interstate sides in the last 5 seasons.

If you still believe that this game should definitely have been a friday night game at the G, and that this type of fixture best serves the competitiong going forward then good luck to you

Further to this, i find it even more odd that this game would be played on the Friday, and then the Carlton Richmond game is put on the Saturday with no Free to air coverage to celebrate the Tige's 100th year.