What I found interesting was the software is used by the EPL, MLB, NHL, NFL to name a few and it seems to work without the apparent bias that we get in the AFL.
That to me points to the HQ putting in the scenarios they want and getting the rest of the draw spat out by the software around it; while adhering to the CBA player requirements
It's comical
EPL - everyone plays each other twice (home & away) and each club has its own home ground. What the old VFL was like before ground rationalisation and nationalisation of the competition itself. No finals/play-offs either by the way in European soccer leagues.
American comps - teams are placed in conferences and divisions. So, the rival match-ups in each division are already set in place rather than having to fudge the fixture as the AFL does. IIRC, in the NFL, divisional rivals play each other twice (home & away) while the remaining 11 regular season games are played against teams outside your division once. So, you don't play against every franchise each year, and divisional rivals are competing directly against each other for top divisional spot which qualifies you for the play-offs rather than having one big ladder of 32 NFL teams.
I know many footy fans would hate adopting another Americanism, but if you wanted a fairer fixture, then with a Tassie team plus eventually a 20th side coming into the comp, you could split the league into four 5-club divisions where you play each divisional rival twice and the rest once (23 games).
Vic MCG: Rich, Carl, Coll, Ess, Melb .... Season opener, Anzac Eve/Day, Dreamtime, King's Birthday, Old school Big 4 rivalries.
Vic Docklands: Geel, Haw, WB, StK, Norf
North-East Aus: Bris, GC, Syd, GWS, Tassie.
South-West Aus: Adel, Port, WCE, Freo, 3rd WA side.
