Sydney coach John Longmire expects AFL to address bye disparity between teams in 2025

John Longmire expects the AFL’s bye disparity to be addressed next season amid suggestions the ladder-leading Swans have benefited from having two byes before other clubs have had one.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 09: Swans coach, John Longmire speaks to his players during the round 13 AFL match between Sydney Swans and Geelong Cats at SCG, on June 09, 2024, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

Sydney Swans coach John Longmire believes that the AFL should look at addressing the disparity in byes next season.

The Swans were one of three teams along with the Giants and Lions to have their second bye for the year in round 12. A week later in round 13, each of those teams played a side who had yet to have a bye this season.

The extra week off is certainly not the only reason for Sydney’s fast start to the year which sees them two games clear on top of the ladder with a game in hand.

The club’s chairman Andrew Pridham pointed to the example of Brisbane who have had the same number of weeks off and currently sit in 13th as a showcase of multiple factors being at play.

However, Longmire thinks that it is one area where the AFL could make a change to help the balance of the competition.

“I’m sure they’ll be looking at that for next year,” Longmire said.

“Everyone forgets that we went from two or three practice games straight into the season. We went straight in and we had a nine-week block there that was pretty solid. We didn’t have that bye at the start of the season that other teams had.

John Longmire says he expects the AFL to make changes to the bye structure. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

“But even that, I think next year it wouldn’t be ideal if teams had two byes and some hadn’t had one again. I think in an uneven competition that’s got disparities everywhere with travel and home ground advantages and all of that.

“It’s not an even competition. Anyone that says it is, is not talking sense. But that could be one thing that maybe we can control as a competition that might be worth thinking about next year.”

The Swans have been near perfect to start the year and will be looking to continue their winning-streak against the Crows in Adelaide on Saturday.

It will be the first meeting of the two teams since the infamous behind call last year that potentially cost the Crows a place in finals.

One area for concern for Longmire has been his side’s slow starts, with both Carlton and Geelong kicking multiple goals early at the SCG before Sydney reeled them back in.

Longmire said that while it’s something they are looking to work on, the statistics in first quarters suggest they’re not far off the mark.

“It’s probably a combination of a few things, it’s never one thing,” Longmire said.

“We actually had more inside 50s than the opposition on the weekend (in the first quarter). We just failed to convert those opportunities and the opposition kicked a couple of really good goals from the boundary line, so it probably made it look a little bit worse on the scoreboard.

“We’re in a position to be able to set ourselves and keep on improving and that’s one of the things we can improve.”

Robbie Fox could return to the Swans team in round 14. Picture: Matt King/AFL Photos/Getty Images

The Swans won’t be forced into any changes against the Crows, but Longmire confirmed that Robbie Fox could come into consideration after overcoming his shoulder injury. His return could see Braeden Campbell back in the VFL after only getting limited minutes against Geelong as the sub.

Now in the second half of the season, the Swans will have their sights set on locking up a top-two spot and a home qualifying final thanks to their gap on the rest of the competition.

However, Longmire believes it’s a sign of the growing maturity of his young group, led by superstars Errol Gulden and Chad Warner, that they can continue to perform week-to-week without getting too caught up in premiership speculation.

“We’re learning still, we’ve still got a large part of our team 24 and under,” Longmire said. “Sometimes those lessons can be hard lessons.

“But we are improving in that aspect and that’s where my confidence is. The longer the season goes, we’re going to keep learning and improving.

“Our younger players during the course of games at different times have been challenge many times and we’ve been able to steady and come back, that’s really pleasing.

“We’re not going to get it right all the time, there will be mistakes that we make and we’ll have to go back to the drawing board at times.

“But during games we’ve been able to do that. We’ve been able to have more flexibility and been able to adapt. That’s been a good sign.

“Hopefully, that progresses as the back end of the season goes on.”

Originally published as Sydney coach John Longmire expects AFL to address bye disparity between teams in 2025