Why the AFL must come up with a fairer Opening Round system

Changes are needed to fix the AFL’s unfair early season fixture, with Port Adelaide leading the charge, writes Andrew Capel.

The numbers are compelling.

Port Adelaide is now calling it “a trend”.

And the trend must be stopped before it unfairly costs more AFL clubs precious premiership points.

“Now that we are a couple of years in, there are some trends that you would have to look at,’’ Power chief executive Matthew Richardson said of the AFL’s controversial Opening Round.

“That’s in terms of just how well teams are prepared coming into their round ones and I’m sure the AFL will continue to look at that as the Opening Round format continues.’’

Two years into the AFL’s Opening Round northern states experiment, where games are only staged in Queensland and New South Wales, the trend is clear - teams that play in Opening Round have a big advantage over sides that don’t when they are paired in Round 1.

Last season - the first of the contentious Opening Round - teams that already had a game under their belt went 3-1 in Round 1.
This season - with only two games held in Opening Round because of the Queensland cyclone - the result was again 3-1 in Round 1.

That’s an overall win-loss advantage of 6-2 in week two of the competition to clubs who had the benefit of already playing a proper AFL game, rather than half-paced practice matches.

A disconsolate Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley after his side’s 91-point loss to Collingwood at the MCG in Round 1. Picture: Michael Klein

The clubs have taken note of the worrying trend and Richardson and Port have come up with a sensible solution.

“It makes sense to us that the teams that play in Opening Round then play each other again in Round 1,’’ Richardson told ABC Grandstand.

“That means the teams who are playing (for the first time) in Round 1, like us against Collingwood (which played in Opening Round), actually play teams that are in the same boat, that didn’t play in the first week.

“That makes some sense to me.’’

It makes perfect sense.

The Power is taking ownership of its insipid 91-point thrashing to the Magpies in Round 1 but it clearly was hampered by starting the season a week later than its Victorian rival.

The Crows faced the same fate last season when they lost their Round 1 clash against Gold Coast after the Suns had played in Opening Round, beating Richmond.

Fearing the negative impact a later start could have on the Port players, Power general manager football Chris Davies asked the AFL to push his team’s final trial game back a week but was denied because “the AFL wanted to give clean air to the northern states’’.

But Opening Round in its current form further compromises the competition, adding to what is already an unfair fixture.

Port Adelaide’s Aliir Aliir after the heavy Round 1 defeat to Collingwood. Picture: Michael Klein

However it is here to stay, with AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon declaring it had been a winner in the northern states and been justified by Round 1 in the past two seasons being the “two highest attended rounds we have ever had’’.

“So, objectively it’s been an absolute success and it absolutely shines a light on football in NSW and Queensland and we see increased interest in the game in those two states a lot earlier than what it would have been traditionally.’’ Dillon said.

“But that doesn’t mean it stays the way it is forever. We’re always reviewing and looking at what the best thing is and we’re not not deaf to feedback from the fans or others.

“It has been ticking all the boxes for us but we will have a look at Opening Round, and how we start the season, it will be part of the fixture process review.

“That (the exclusion of 10 clubs from Opening Round fixturing) is the conversation we have been having, and we are really cognisant of that, but it is really important to get the AFL conversation going early in NSW and Queensland.’’.

Collingwood’s Steele Sidebottom celebrates one of his side’s 21 goals against Port Adelaide in Round 1. Picture: Michael Klein

As for Port’s proposal, Richardson said the AFL is “always open to those types of conversations and I’m sure that will continue through this year’’.

While Richardson, whose side bounced back from its Round 1 setback to crush Richmond at Adelaide Oval in Round 2, has asked for a level playing field when it comes to the start of the season, Carlton coach Michael Voss has suggested that all 18 clubs should be a part of Opening Round.

He wants two games each in Queensland, NSW, South Australia and Western Australia and one in Victoria.

Both Richardson and Voss’s suggestions have merit.

One thing is certain, the current system, which can see teams play their opener in Round 1 against a side that made their season debut in Opening Round, leaving them at a significant disadvantage, is not fair and should not be put down to plain bad luck and be swept under the carpet.

It is time for change.

NUMBERS GAME

25

Crows’ goals against Essendon in Round 2 - their most since booting 27 against West Coast two years ago.

308

Games as teammates for Collingwood’s Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom - the most in VFL-AFL history.

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

“We found a way to take our game to another level, which is a good sign. Today was a step in the right direction.’’ - Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks after his side’s 61-point thumping of Essendon at the MCG.

“We were pretty ferocious with the way we went after the opposition. Our key was to make sure we could get great pressure on the game.’’ - Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley after the 72-point win against Richmond at Adelaide Oval.

Originally published as Why the AFL must come up with a fairer Opening Round system