360 View: Why heat is on AFL over 2019 fixture

A STRING of dud Friday nights and other unforced errors turned last year’s fixture into the worst in a decade. Next year the AFL is relying on a team that finished 11th to rescue TV ratings.

It’s the Dons or bust for the AFL in 2019. Picture: AFL Media/Getty Images

THE AFL’s decision to hand Carlton a large slice of prime-time action was the symbol of a 2018 fixture gone badly wrong.

In truth the Blues didn’t destroy the draw.

Instead, a string of dud Friday nights and other unforced errors turned it into the worst fixture in a decade or more.

It means the fixture the AFL hands down today is more important than ever.

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Last year’s fixture debacle wasn’t ALL the Blues’ fault, right? Picture: AFL Media/Getty Images

AFL House’s stated ambition has always been to maximise attendances but this fixture will help broadcasters at every turn.

More Thursday night games, the Good Friday double-header, blockbuster Friday nights — it’s what happens when ratings are so modest in the preceding year.

The AFL will do everything to remind broadcasters two seasons into a six-season deal why they paid $2.5 billion for the privilege.

And for much of this fixture, the buck stops with Essendon.

Never before has a season had so much depend on a team that finished 11th in the previous year.

For the AFL’s sake, it just can’t afford the Bombers to start the season 2-6 again.

You can’t blame the AFL given Essendon’s talent, but the club is being rewarded for potential rather than performance.

It’s the Dons or bust for the AFL in 2019. Picture: AFL Media/Getty Images

They will feature in nine Thursday and Friday night games, as well as playing Good Friday, Anzac Day, the Dreamtime at the ‘G clash and the Country game against Geelong.

Time for the Bombers to deliver on that hype for all concerned — the AFL, its own fanbase, the strength of the competition.

Rival fans will complain that Essendon has been gift-wrapped a blockbuster fixture for no reason, and yet Kevin Sheedy was the one who kickstarted “Dreamtime” and Anzac Day.

The Good Friday concept desperately needed some much-needed glitz and glamour after two poor games and a desperate lack of hype.

Packing out Marvel Stadium and pitting two teams together, who played in one of the most entertaining games of 2018, is an obvious remedy.

The Bombers put up new recruit Dylan Shiel to speak at the MCG on Tuesday night and it was apparent how stacked their list was: the midfield reads Shiel, Dyson Heppell, Zach Merrett, Devon Smith, Kyle Langford, Darcy Parish, David Zaharakis, Andy McGrath and Jake Stringer.

More forward help for Jake Stringer could make the Dons one of the best teams in the competition. Picture: Getty Images

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The forward line gets back Joe Daniher (seven games), Orazio Fantasia (13 games), can throw Cale Hooker and Stringer around and had 11 players with double-figure goals last year.

Goddard departs the backline, yet Champion Data already ranks Aaron Francis as elite alongside and embarrassment of riches and All Australian Michael Hurley.

Adam Saad’s back half of the year, as the Dons won 10 of 14 games, was a portent of things to come.

The game plan is bedded down, the long surgery list of last summer has abated, but the number of years since a winning final has hit 14.

John Worsfold has never been one for excuses but they have definitely dried up at Essendon.

The AFL certainly believes so with its fixture after last year’s annus horribilis.

If Travis Auld turns up wearing an Essendon jumper at the release of the 2019 fixture today no one would begrudge him given what is at stake next year.