One-Eyed Richmond Forum
Football => Richmond Rant => Topic started by: one-eyed on May 01, 2012, 12:35:55 AM
-
Richmond discovers luck of the draw is not so lucky
Jesse Hogan
May 1, 2012
FOR the many priorities and compromises the AFL juggles annually with its fixture, giving teams a balanced run throughout is - as Richmond is discovering - a bridge too far.
The Tigers have only one win from five matches, mitigated by an anomaly that has resulted in being drawn almost exclusively against last year's finalists for the first half of the season.
Richmond's record of already playing three matches against reigning top-four teams is matched only by Hawthorn, which was a top-four club itself. But while the Hawks have only two more matches against reigning finalists before the half-way mark of the season the Tigers face another four, including a top-four clash in round nine (against the Hawks).
Most other Victorian clubs comparable to the Tigers - namely St Kilda, North Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs - have been drawn to play about 10 matches against reigning finalists, although their split between the first and second halves of the season is roughly even.
Sixteenth-placed Melbourne has, like the Tigers, been drawn to play reigning finalists in eight of its first 11 matches, but has only one additional clash in the second half compared to two for the Tigers. While the AFL generally attempts to give high- and low-ranked teams more matches against similarly ranked teams, the weighting of the draw is based on the overall allocation of matches rather than when they are scheduled during the season.
''We do not break down when clubs meet sides from their position on the ladder last year, as that would be a further complication that would be too big to overcome,'' an AFL spokesman said yesterday. ''Our [fixturing] priorities are stated clearly for the record in October every year, along with the acknowledgment we try to do the best job we can in the circumstances.''
When the fixture was released last October, Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale said the allocation of 13 matches at the MCG was ''a terrific result that I'm sure our supporters will appreciate''. ''Overall, we're content with the way the fixture has panned out for us, from both a football and commercial viewpoint,'' Gale said at the time.
Richmond's logjam of tougher matches in the first half of the season has the potential to curb its membership growth. The Tigers have already exceeded last year's season total of 47,655 - they were nudging 48,000 as of late yesterday - but the membership-buying window closes during round 14.
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/richmond-discovers-luck-of-the-draw-is-not-so-lucky-20120430-1xvcw.html
-
You would think the AFL would like the Tiger juggernaut to start at some stage yet every year they bury us with the fixture??
Imagine if we were 3-2 or 4-1. If we were going alright (and playing at the G) before the WC game last week we would have got over 50K easy yet only 28K turn up because it's at Etihad and were struggling.
I think in your hearts you know we can't make the 8 from here....I hope I'm wrong
Memo to AFL. Next year can we play GWS, GC & Melbourne in the first 4 rounds????
-
Memo to AFL. Next year can we play GWS, GC & Melbourne in the first 4 rounds????
Clubs make requests re the fixture, every club puts in thier "wish list"
Every year we request Carlton in round 1, we also request C'wood in the first month and we get it
We played Melb in round 3 so we got an easy one early
So outside of Geelong we got exactly what we requested so we cannot complain
-
Stop requesting teams that will beat us. Simple.
-
Lmfao that you can request games in a supposed pro level comp
-
Stop requesting teams that will beat us. Simple.
We need the money from membership sales and the gate. Thats all it comes down too.
-
Stop requesting teams that will beat us. Simple.
We need the money from membership sales and the gate. Thats all it comes down too.
Correct
-
Stop requesting teams that will beat us. Simple.
rather be in a position where it doesn't matter who we play because we are good enough to beat anyone.
-
I thought the AFL hated us, so why do they give us what we want? Shouldn't we be punished with games against GWS and Port in the opening 6 rounds? Giving those sides a whack would be terrible for our membership. ;D
Stop requesting teams that will beat us. Simple.
rather be in a position where it doesn't matter who we play because we are good enough to beat anyone.
Fair point, Gracie. Think we are starting to get to that position now too. We'll smash Port, IMO.
-
i dont reckon we're far away, then its payback time .. :lol
-
Our draw over the first five rounds has sure been tough and we have slumped to 1 and 4.
The silver lining could be in our final five rounds where we play
Brisbane (gabba)
Bulldogs (MCG)
Fremantle (Subi)
Essendon (MCG)
Port (MCG)
Not inconceivable that we could win 4 of those games.