Fixture fuss panned
Club CEO dismisses significance of AFL season schedule
A CLUB chief executive yesterday described the AFL fixture as “overrated’’.
It’s important, but in early November, he can’t understand why there’s so much conjecture about who’s playing who in Round 15, how many six-day breaks there are, who’s travelling and where, who plays the 2019 finalists once and who plays the Gold Coast twice. At least that last one is a point of discussion.
In an increasingly level playing field, the one main advantage is playing the Suns twice.
Gold Coast will improve but Melbourne, Fremantle, Sydney, Brisbane and Port Adelaide, who play the Suns twice next year, will be enthusiastic about their opportunity.
Not that anything is a given. Remember, the Suns beat the Bulldogs in Round 3 this year. The point is the fixture is dissected — as it is every year — to within an inch of its life when no one really knows how much the fixture will impact.
Geelong coach Chris Scott this year said that, of course, it mattered who you played, but equally as important, if not more, was when you played them. Like playing an injurybeset Richmond in rounds 11-13 this year — when the Tigers lost to North Melbourne, Geelong and Adelaide.
When the injured players returned, the Tigers went on a 12-game winning streak.
Injuries. Momentum. Form. Suspensions. Confidence. Attitude. Internal bickering.
They all play a role in the formation of and mindset of a team, no matter if you’re in the top four or scavenging for a win in 12th spot. In essence, there’s simply too much to consider what could possibly happen then to determine who’s got the advantage now.
Looking ahead is unhealthy and foolhardy.
The chief executive mentioned above says he took the first fixture draft from the AFL to his senior coach so “they could go through it’’.
“He didn’t care at all,’’ the CEO said. “He said, we have to play everyone and we’ll try to beat them as they come, so no point looking at it now. It really is overrated.
“Anything can happen in the future.’’