2015 AFL Fixture: Fan-friendly draw also suits coaches, writes Mark Robinson
IT’S possible — fingers crossed — that coaches might whinge less than other seasons, because the fan-friendly fixture is also coach-friendly.
AFL
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
ONLY the coaches will whinge about the 2015 AFL fixture.
They whinge every year, usually between Rounds 5-13, when their seasons are being decided.
Their whingeing is mostly always around their six-day breaks, but it’s possible — fingers crossed — they might whinge less than other seasons because the AFL’s fan-friendly fixture is also coach-friendly.
Indeed, the fixture is loaded with positives, so much so it is arguably the most accommodating and practical of recent years and, at this stage anyway, has a really good feel about it.
TICKS AND CROSSES: HOW EVERY CLUB FARED
FIXTURE: SEE THE FULL 23 ROUNDS AND CLUB-BY-CLUB BREAKDOWN
The experimenting AFL, in trying new timeslots to further value the next media rights, has been replaced by an understanding AFL.
They went too far with Sunday nights and Monday nights.
The game and its scattergun weekend schedule had alienated the fans and upset footy clubs and upset Eddie McGuire.
“We are listening,’’ AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said.
And they did.
You can’t whinge about 7.20pm starts on Saturday nights, although Friday nights stay at 7.50pm.
Nine games in Round 1 over the Easter Weekend replace nine games over seven different days in Round 1 this year.
Saturday afternoon blockbusters at the MCG have increased from 14 to 20 and Sunday day games at the G from 20 to 27.
Just think about that. The blockbusters are back in daylight hours and, best of all, the TV networks agreed.
The RSL also agreed to accommodate five matches on Anzac Day.
SWANS EYE REVENGE AGAINST HAWKS
Initially surprised they had not been consulted by the AFL, it would appear the Diggers are understanding of how football will enhance the day and not hijack it.
In fact, the AFL said all of its stakeholders were satisfied with the fixture.
“We’re lovers, not fighters in here,’’ McLachlan said.
He deserves credit, as does his fixtures general Simon Lethlean.
McLachlan promised plenty on the day of his inauguration and the fixture is a wonderful start.
Next will come ticketing and after that, hopefully, the price of food and drink, which is also being encapsulated under the umbrella of fan-day experience.
Of course, the AFL fixture is never without its oddities.
Essendon and North Melbourne, both finalists this year, play only two Friday night games — against each other — while Richmond plays seven.
The Tigers can be flaky and with five of their Friday night games coming in the second half of the season, let’s hope they don’t have a repeat of their first half of 2013.
The Bombers situation is curious.
Maybe the AFL doesn’t want to risk the Bombers in prime-time on Fridays if the players are suspended because of the ASADA investigation. Just maybe.
CLARK: ESSENDON COPS ROUGH FIXTURE
Port Adelaide, arguably the most exciting team in the competition, plays only two Friday night, but has 11 night and twilight games, which is exactly what the club wanted.
Carlton gets six Friday matches, including Mick Malthouse's record-breaker, which is damned lucky.
The AFL says the clubs have to earn the Friday night slot. The Blues finished 13th with seven wins in 2014.
The Dogs finished 14th with seven wins and arguably will be more watchable than the Blues, what with Boyd and Bontempelli.
Don’t say it’s about earning spot when we all know it’s about audience.
Collingwood has six Friday nights, for God’s sake.
That’s not a whinge, that’s a fact.
The fixture itself is always curious, probably more so this year and last because of the weighted system, where the ladder is broken into top six, middle six and bottom six teams, which determines which teams play each other twice.
The fact is the fixture will always be compromised.
Another fact is that, under the weighted system last year, most people would argue the best two teams made it to the Grand Final and the best team coming, Port Adelaide, was a kick off the Grand Final.
All in all, another fixture is out, the stakeholders are satisfied, the fans should be mostly satisfied and the players have to be satisfied, although they have little to whinge about.
And the coaches?
That will depend on how their teams are faring.
Originally published as 2015 AFL Fixture: Fan-friendly draw also suits coaches, writes Mark Robinson
Hall’s long-distance Gallen plan
Barry Hall has revealed how he plans to beat his shorter but more experienced opponent in their much-anticipated bout.
Hall gets kick from little masters
Andrew Moloney is the hot favourite to become Australia’s only current world boxing champion when he battles Brooklyn’s Elton Dharry on the same night that his mate Barry Hall fights Paul Gallen.