Season too long?

[NorwoodDemon 20]

Hardwick keeps saying that the season is too long and it reduces the quality of games. His opinion is that it teams should only play each other once making it 17 rounds long plus the finals.

Hird says that the season is fine as is and it needs to be hard to thin out the weaker teams.

I think teams should play each other twice with a month gap in between maybe even scrapping the pre season (which I don't like anyway the round robin thing is stupid).

So something like 17 matches then 4 weeks break then another 17 matches then finals.

What are your thoughts?

[cowboy_from_hell 2,390]

I'd be happy with 18 rounds plus a week break before the GF and one bye thrown in. I like the NFL style where every game is that damn important. There are so many junk games in the last month of footy and it's bad for business for the clubs but it's great coin for the AFL.

[Bitter but optimistic 22,136]

For Melbourne supporters, I'd suggest that this season has been about 18 weeks too long!

[45HG 1,539]

I like the NFL style where every game is that damn important.

This is a bit of a myth IMO.

Every game is so damn important in the NFL because only 8 of the 32 teams have been able to make the playoffs (meaning an even quota wins/losses won't get you over the line). The equivalent would essentially be returning to a top-5 system in the AFL.

If you did that, every game would be pretty important! Obviously, however, the season would then need to be shorter.

[45HG 1,539]

As for quality:

I honestly don't think I've seen 10 more powerful, surprising, minutes of football than what Hawthorn just produced.

They had been obliterated, completely and utterly outplayed for a quarter and a half.

47-9 down.

Ten minutes of brutal, attacking, skilful football later.

47 apiece.

Amazing to watch.

[Face Your Demons 175]

Was too long after round five.

[cat attack 26]

I thought the season was over 10 minutes into the last qtr against Brisbane

Edited August 25, 2012 by cat attack

[RalphiusMaximus 6,013]

I see no real value in playing some teams once and others twice. It skews the results. It's just an excuse to get more money out of the fans. A balanced draw would see every team play every other team once or twice, not this halfway rubbish. Since I can't see them every doing a 34 week home and away season, it should be dropped down to 17 rounds + finals.

[titan_uranus 24,925]

This is a bit of a myth IMO.

Every game is so damn important in the NFL because only 8 of the 32 teams have been able to make the playoffs (meaning an even quota wins/losses won't get you over the line). The equivalent would essentially be returning to a top-5 system in the AFL.

If you did that, every game would be pretty important! Obviously, however, the season would then need to be shorter.

Unless you're the Seattle Seahawks in 2010...

Also, don't 12 teams make the NFL playoffs?

[Sdemon53 15]

Simple answer to the question is TV BROADCASTING RIGHTS.

Reducing the number of games would mean less money.

[Sir Why You Little 36,761]

The season is fine at 22 weeks when the Demons are pushing for a top 8 finish.

This season was over during the 3rd Quarter of round 1.

[DemonDave 1,082]

Every game is so damn important in the NFL because only 8 of the 32 teams have been able to make the playoffs (meaning an even quota wins/losses won't get you over the line). The equivalent would essentially be returning to a top-5 system in the AFL.

If you did that, every game would be pretty important! Obviously, however, the season would then need to be shorter.

12 teams make the playoffs HG! 4 Divisional winners and 2 wildcards in each conference. And in some instances, such as the NFC west in 2010, teams can win their conference with a losing record. That team went to beat their opponent in first week of finals too!

[DemonDave 1,082]

I think teams should play each other twice with a month gap in between maybe even scrapping the pre season (which I don't like anyway the round robin thing is stupid).

So something like 17 matches then 4 weeks break then another 17 matches then finals.

What are your thoughts?

So this premise would involve 17 weeks, then 4 weeks rest, then 17 weeks, then 4 weeks finals. A total of 42 weeks for the season. Good grief! Throw in the players mandatory 6 weks of leave they must have and you've only got 4 weeks of pre-season! Could you imagine having to watch 34 weeks worth of Port Adelaide or GWS games? No thanks!

17 week season for me. Play each other once.

Or as an alternative 17 weeks play each other once, then top 8 play each other once, and bottom 8 play each other once, decided after round 17 for a total of 24 weeks. It takes out any accusations of 'soft' draws.

[NorwoodDemon 20]

geez dont have to butcher my idea. anyway i like your alternative except its bottom 10 not 8 so it ends up being 26 weeks then finals.

[DemonDave 1,082]

geez dont have to butcher my idea. anyway i like your alternative except its bottom 10 not 8 so it ends up being 26 weeks then finals.

Err yeah there's 18 teams not 16 anymore, whoops!

I just think your concept makes the season way too long.

[NorwoodDemon 20]

i just love footy so much i want it longer. theres 38 weeks of premier league i wanted something closer to that.

[dee-luded 2,959]

I'd be Happy with that, 17 games playing one another once......

As long as we had one Split/Rnd, and 2 weekends off, covered by 2 State of Origin games on these weekends.

The Idea of a weeks break between the Prelim Final & the Grand Final is workable I think, possibly with a State of Origin game to be played.

[McQueen 17,864]

I could watch footy every weekend of the year if it was on. I enjoy it that much. However I also value my marriage so it's a good thing it only runs for 6 months.

I guess with an 18 team competition, it would be logical to play each other once with a bye thrown in.

I'm also a supporter of the State of Origin games returning. If this was to happen, it would make for a great season that isn't too long.

[az_tec 41]

What ever happened to playing each other twice(ie. 1 home 1 away)?

Dump the pre-season and extend to 34 rounds and bring in mid week night footy and split 3 rounds into 2 weeks a couple of times

also allow a list increase of 4 seinor and 4 rookies or extend the rookie list by 4 or so and allow all to play without being upgraded?

[BarnDee 287]

i spose softwick wanted to end the season when the toygers were in the 8 , yeah , get a hair straightener , , ( bit full here )

[Chook 15,001]

What ever happened to playing each other twice(ie. 1 home 1 away)?

Dump the pre-season and extend to 34 rounds and bring in mid week night footy and split 3 rounds into 2 weeks a couple of times

also allow a list increase of 4 seinor and 4 rookies or extend the rookie list by 4 or so and allow all to play without being upgraded?

Playing every team twice is the dream, but I just don't think it will ever happen.

[Brian Wilson 331]

Hardwick keeps saying that the season is too long and it reduces the quality of games. His opinion is that it teams should only play each other once making it 17 rounds long plus the finals.

Hird says that the season is fine as is and it needs to be hard to thin out the weaker teams.

I think teams should play each other twice with a month gap in between maybe even scrapping the pre season (which I don't like anyway the round robin thing is stupid).

So something like 17 matches then 4 weeks break then another 17 matches then finals.

What are your thoughts?

The AFL draw is one of the most corrupt institutions in sport (FIFA aside). The only solution that I can see is a 17 game season, which would be vastly superior. I think that 20 week regular season would be ideal, allowing teams plenty of chances for rests.

Never going to happen with the current tv deal...

[beelzebub 23,254]

what a load of crap...they play 22 games of footy...whats so #ucking new about that !!!

[Guest KingDingAling]

They play 23, they should only play 22.

[beelzebub 23,254]

They play 23, they should only play 22.

theres 23 rounds...they play 22 games.... get it right