AFL journalist, facts shoot down wild claim from Victorian clubs

The latest wild claim from precious Victorian clubs over AFL travel demands has been slapped down in some style.

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Some fresh claims from Victorian AFL clubs over travel demands have fired up Western Australia’s two sides and members of the parochial WA media.

There is little doubt the travel requirements of interstate footy teams are an added burden not faced by the vast majority of Victorian clubs.

Teams in Queensland, NSW, South Australia and particularly WA face travel virtually every second week, while the competition’s nine Victorian clubs often enjoy extended periods with little or no travel at all.

At least, that’s what most rational footy fans have acknowledged for decades of the national competition.

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Yet it emerged this week that a number of Victorian clubs dispute the disadvantage faced by the Sandgroper’s out west, using the somewhat bizarre justification that 12 members of each travelling squad are afforded a business class seat.

We’re reasonably confident even Vic-based clubs are aware 12 seats barely covers a basketball team on its travels, let alone a footy team, whose travelling party would typically feature many times that number.

West Coast and Fremantle footy players face travel just about every second week of an AFL season. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

But those 12 seats with a welcome drink and some extra leg room make all the difference, according to Victorian clubs.

“I can tell you that some clubs are arguing the WA clubs are not disadvantaged by the travel burdens they’ve taken on,” journalist Sam Landsberger told Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle.

“They believe that under the CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement), the WA clubs — they’re afforded 12 business class seats for every flight to and from the Eastern Seaboard — therefore (Victorian clubs are saying) they’re at no disadvantage for the travel burdens they take on each year.”

The issue has arisen as the AFL is currently reviewing its competitive balance set-up under first-year chief executive Andrew Dillon.

The reported take from competing AFL clubs was jumped on by Perth-based 7NEWS reporter Ryan Daniels, who didn’t hold back in his assessment of the situation, including some facts about actual kilometres travelled as you can see in the video player above.

“For the Vics, this is absurd, even for them,” Daniels said on 7NEWS. “It might sound a little bit like a joke, but unfortunately it is not.

Brad Scott and Ryan Daniels. Photos: Getty Images/Channel 7

“A number of Victorian clubs are claiming West Coast and Freo aren’t disadvantaged by their massive travel load because, get this, they’re allocated 12 business class seats per flight.

“Now those seats account for less than one-quarter of the travelling party (and) suggesting a few seats up the front makes up for the travel toll is just laughable.

“If we’re talking just basic distance covered, Carlton will travel just 13.5 thousand kilometres this season, West Coast fly more than 58,000.

“Last season the Dockers clocked more than 62,000km in the air … and a quick look at Essendon, in their next 13 games, they leave Melbourne once.

“I could roll out ridiculous travel stats like this all day, but really this is about quality and all teams having the same chance of winning premierships.”

In fact, taking in the Bombers’ victory over GWS at Marvel Stadium last week, they enjoy 13 out of 14 weeks comfortably in their Melbourne homes with their chosen bedsheets and familiar food, broken up by a round 12 visit to the Gold Coast.

They then face the Lions in Brisbane in round 24.

Some of the kilometres travelled by AFL clubs Carlton, West Coast and Fremantle. Photo: Channel 7

Carlton and Collingwood both enjoy two separate stints of five straight Melbourne matches across the season, with the Pies only daunted by two trips to Sydney, one to Brisbane, one to the Gold Coast and one to Perth all season long.

The Dockers meanwhile face 11 trips away from home, while the Eagles have 10.

News.com.au hasn’t verified the numbers, but an account on X called Miguel Sanchez states Scott Pendlebury will travel less kilometres in the air approaching game 400 than West Coast’s Tom Cole, who is yet to play 100.

Sanchez, aka Nguyen van Phoc according to his Simpsons-parodying account, says it’s 222,648kms for Pendles to 234,674 for 97-gamer Cole.

Eagles coach Adam Simpson, a Victorian who spent 19 years in the AFL system with North Melbourne and Hawthorn, had a measured take on the situation.

“If anyone’s got experience, it’s me,” he told 6PR radio.

“I played 15 years in Melbourne, coached four years in Melbourne and coached 11 years here.

“I’m pretty sure the business class seats don’t cover the balance of it all.”

West Coast has claimed four premierships in its time in the AFL, while the Dockers are yet to hold the cup aloft.

While there are a litany of reasons behind those numbers, the added travel surely doesn’t help.

We’re pretty sure, deep down, even Eddie McGuire would concede that.

Originally published as AFL journalist, facts shoot down wild claim from Victorian clubs