Forget the blockbusters AFL, just fix the fixture Mark Stevens
From: Herald Sun
May 03, 2012 ...
In a perfect world, we would play 17 games with an extended finals series. But with so much coin coming from the TV deal that is not going to happen.
Something has to give. Perhaps we go down the track of conferences.
Before you shoot down the idea, it might just work.
Let's start the push for change. Let's start it with a man called Jason Feldman, a keen student of the game.
The AFL may not have heard of him, but it should consider his model.
The model incorporates three conferences on a four-year rotating basis and can meet the aims of creating a more equitable competition whilst satisfying the commercial requirements of the AFL and the league's numerous partners.
It maintains the blockbuster, but offers a much fairer spread.
FELDMAN'S AFL TRI-CONFERENCE MODEL
KEY POINTS:- Three conferences of six teams. Play each team in your conference twice and teams outside your conference once (total 22 games)
- Top two teams from each conference make the finals with the remaining spots being granted to two wildcards (teams with the best record outside the top two of respective conferences)
- Final eight teams to be ranked by record over 22 games
- Current final eight system to be retained
- Conferences to consist of three non-Melbourne and three Melbourne teams (Geelong is considered a non-Melbourne team due to its unique home ground)
- Conferences to rotate over a four-year period to ensure seven local derbies for SA, WA, QLD and NSW teams over four seasons and the nine Melbourne teams play five times each over a four-year period.
- Draft picks 1-8 to be based on records of non-finalists
- Draft picks 9-16 based on positions after finals.
POTENTIAL CONFERENCE ROTATIONS:Year 1
Group A: Port Adelaide, Adelaide, Geelong, Essendon, Western Bulldogs, Carlton
Group B: Gold Coast, Brisbane Lions, Fremantle, Melbourne, Hawthorn, Richmond
Group C: Sydney, GWS, West Coast, St Kilda, North Melbourne, Collingwood
Year 2
Group A: West Coast, Fremantle, Geelong, Essendon, Melbourne, St Kilda
Group B: Gold Coast, Brisbane Lions, Adelaide, Western Bulldogs, Hawthorn, North Melbourne
Group C: Sydney, GWS, Port Adelaide, Carlton, Richmond, Collingwood
Year 3
Group A: West Coast, Fremantle, Brisbane Lions, Essendon, Hawthorn, Collingwood
Group B: Sydney, GWS, Geelong, Western Bulldogs, Richmond, St Kilda
Group C: Port Adelaide, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Carlton, Melbourne, North Melbourne
Year 4
Group A: West Coast, Fremantle, Sydney, Essendon, Richmond, North Melbourne
Group B: Gold Coast, Brisbane Lions, Geelong, Western Bulldogs, Melbourne, Collingwood
Group C: Port Adelaide, Adelaide, GWS, Carlton, Hawthorn, St Kilda
Full article here: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/expert-opinion/forget-the-blockbusters-afl-just-fix-the-fixture/story-fncqi979-1226344945306
