AFL 2009

[maccatak11]

Why farce? If you're getting at why only 'woods and 'dons play in it every year, that would be because they decided, of their own initiative, to come up with the concept and promote it at their own expense. Nothing stopping other clubs doing something similar

Are you foregtting failed ventures by the western bulldogs and fremantle to get 'stand alone' games that were rejected by the AFL.

Now its widely accepted that North Mebourne initiated and drove the concept of friday night football among other clubs - but they don't attempt to play every one of theri matches on a friday night do they? I can imagine many other clubs complaining "why should they get to do that, they haven't earnt the right to play every friday night".

ANZAC day matches should be a grand final rematch between the number one and two sides from the previous year. And i don't think that the "poor crowds" excuse is a valid one.

A geelong v hawthorn GF rematch would attract 80,000+ to the MCG. And before people say "what if the grand final was contested by two interstate (i too hate that word) teams" think of it this way.

The SANFL gets one of its biggest minor round crowds for its grand final rematch on ANZAC day, regardless of who's playing. Its become a tradition to go and watch the SANFL on the afternoon of ANZAC day. An example was in recent matches between Centrals and the Eagles, two teams with small/ish supporter bases that still drew crowds of over 7000. There were thousands of neutral supporters attending those games, and i think the melbourne public would support those games as well.



Ok on a different matter of draw equity. The most equitable draw system that i have seen (and the only one that will be feasible in an 18 team compeition) goes as follows.

- The 18 teams in the AFL are split to form 2 conferences, 9 teams in each
- Each team would play the other teams in theri conference twice, home and away (2 x 8 = 16 games). They play the teams in the other conference once each (1 x 9) alternating betweeh home and away each year.
- This would mean a 25 (instead of a 22) game season, but the abolition of the NAB cup would allow for these extra games.
- the hardest part would be splitting the teams into the different groups, but i would suggest a even smattering of vic and non-vic teams to even out travel arrangements.
- Blockbuster games would still be catered for by having essendon/collingwood, crows/port etc in the same conference so that they play each other twice a year.
-finals would be based on the top 4 of each conference. This is clearly the most fair way as each team that makes the finals will have played against exactly the same teams to get there.

My proposal for the different conferences would be:
A: Adel, Port, W/C, Freo, Ess, Coll, NM, Haw, Melb
B: Bris, Gold Coast, Syd, West Syd, Carl, Rich, St.K, WB. Geel

What to people think of this idea??

EDIT: wow longest post ever.

[gundog]

See mac you have fallen into the trap of accepting biased SA media's view of the ANZAC day game.

Fact,
It was Kevin Sheedy's idea he took it to the AFL, Collingwood and The Victorian RSL, it was all set in concrete and at the time the other clubs wanted nothing to do with it.

Forget the BS that KG & Cornsey and the Adelaide media present, its Victoria's version of a Showdown, to make the showdowns even bigger the local clubs should approach the AFL to program only one showdown per year. Grahams problem is that the ANZAC day medal is only presented to the BOG of that game, but remember it is presented by the Victorian RSL.

Melbourne and Sydney have a showdown like game on the Queens Birthday Monday in honor of Ronald Dale Jnr/Snr.

Like a Man said build abridge and get over it.

[Chelsea4thewin]

sheeds and collingwood came up with the idea so they are the only ones who should be able to remember the ANZACs and those who died serving for our country, that seems fair

the ANZAC day game is more about making money then anything else these days

[maccatak11]

sheeds and collingwood came up with the idea so they are the only ones who should be able to remember the ANZACs and those who died serving for our country, that seems fair

the ANZAC day game is more about making money then anything else these days

Great post. They didnt invent the ANZAC tradition.

[Conspiracy Theorist]

ANZAC day match between Collingwood and Essendon has become tradition.

You can complain all you like but the fact is, no other match up could guarantee the crowds.

Its a business. Its not gonna run at a loss. No matter how much moaning you do.

CT

[Bacon]

If the AFL was concerned about not running at a loss, they would give the struggling clubs better access to games where they would draw bigger clubs, and they would stop propping up clubs for the sake of it.

I still don't believe that Sheedy "invented" the Anzac day game. You are just believing the Melbourne media hype-up about the game, Graham.

These two teams played on the Saturday before Anzac Day in 1994, had a huge crowd (me included), and it just grew from there.

[gundog]

sheeds and collingwood came up with the idea so they are the only ones who should be able to remember the ANZACs and those who died serving for our country, that seems fair

the ANZAC day game is more about making money then anything else these days

Great post. They didnt invent the ANZAC tradition.

Misinformation is a dangerous thing.

The Anzac traditions and protocals are played out at every game over the Anzac round.

Also remember the SANFL also honors a tradition the returnred serviceman gain free entry to the Grand Final replay played at Adelaide Oval Anzac Day, in the early days of Collingwood Essendon Anzac day clash the same tradition was offered to returned servicemen and women.

It was also the tradition of the old VFL for Anzac Day Games.

[BigPete33]

Sorry macca but splitting it into two divisions that have an uneven number of teams in them is just not good. A bye (if there was going to be one in your proposal) is RIDICULOUS.

I absolutely and wholeheartedly agree with every team playing each other twice. Yes, it's a long season. They also have large squads and unlimited interchanges during matches, maybe they should make better use of those squads. Maybe they should also lose the pre-season competition to assist in making room for those extra matches.

It also very much appears as a 'VFL teams + some others' league. I'm a Hawks supporter for those that didn't know and I'm agreeing it's a joke to call it a national competition. The inclusion of other clubs is a good thing but it's probably only going to further highlight how ridiculous the draw is.

As for ANZAC day crowds, I'm not convinced that something like freo vs port at the MCG would get nearly so many spectators. This of course won't happen in my lifetime, but you get the point

[David]

sheeds and collingwood came up with the idea so they are the only ones who should be able to remember the ANZACs and those who died serving for our country, that seems fair

the ANZAC day game is more about making money then anything else these days

Great post. They didnt invent the ANZAC tradition.

Misinformation is a dangerous thing.

The Anzac traditions and protocals are played out at every game over the Anzac round.

Also remember the SANFL also honors a tradition the returnred serviceman gain free entry to the Grand Final replay played at Adelaide Oval Anzac Day, in the early days of Collingwood Essendon Anzac day clash the same tradition was offered to returned servicemen and women.

It was also the tradition of the old VFL for Anzac Day Games.

It wasn't always that way gundog - Port and Norwood played every Anzac Day before that.

[Origami]

Why farce?


Ok on a different matter of draw equity. The most equitable draw system that i have seen (and the only one that will be feasible in an 18 team compeition) goes as follows.

- The 18 teams in the AFL are split to form 2 conferences, 9 teams in each
- Each team would play the other teams in theri conference twice, home and away (2 x 8 = 16 games). They play the teams in the other conference once each (1 x 9) alternating betweeh home and away each year.
- This would mean a 25 (instead of a 22) game season, but the abolition of the NAB cup would allow for these extra games.
- the hardest part would be splitting the teams into the different groups, but i would suggest a even smattering of vic and non-vic teams to even out travel arrangements.
- Blockbuster games would still be catered for by having essendon/collingwood, crows/port etc in the same conference so that they play each other twice a year.
-finals would be based on the top 4 of each conference. This is clearly the most fair way as each team that makes the finals will have played against exactly the same teams to get there.

My proposal for the different conferences would be:
A: Adel, Port, W/C, Freo, Ess, Coll, NM, Haw, Melb
B: Bris, Gold Coast, Syd, West Syd, Carl, Rich, St.K, WB. Geel

What to people think of this idea??

EDIT: wow longest post ever.

yes yes yes.

u have in the above ... put into script the exact concept and structure I think should be adopted..
A = Western F Conference
B = Eastern F Conference...

its basis is similar to what the Yankees use for Gridion and with the addition of the extra teams it could accomodate other teams being added or lost...

good work you should have a career in Sports Education give up Poker and take up Sports Journalism