New-look footy draw to fit in new clubs (Herald-Sun)

[one-eyed]

New-look footy draw to fit in new clubs
Damian Barrett and Mike Sheahan | August 27, 2009

THE AFL is considering a radical revamp of fixturing from 2012 to accommodate the inclusion the Gold Coast and Western Sydney teams.

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou yesterday revealed to the Herald Sun consideration was being given to many fixturing possibilities, including a nine, or even 10, team finals series.

Demetriou said the 2012 home-and-away fixture could be totally redrawn after Round 17 in a bid to increase broadcaster appeal and crowds.

Describing that proposal as adopting "season within a season" scheduling, Demetriou said the post-Round 17 fixture would be based on the ladder to that point.

The game's broadcasters have been made aware of the revamp, and are understood to have embraced its possibilities.

"You might have a scenario where you play each other once in the first 17 rounds, and you might then decide to re-set the next six weeks, or five weeks, and do a new fixture then, after Round 17, for the last few weeks," Demetriou said.

"The teams in the bottom eight might end up playing more teams in the bottom eight, teams in the top eight might play more teams in the top eight.

"It might help you maximise attendances, broadcast value. It might allow you, for example, to do all that, and still allow for Carlton and Collingwood to play a second time, and to still have the derbies and Showdowns."

Under the 2012 proposal, the weekend after Round 17 would be free of football. Clubs would also be given a weekend off earlier in the season. "There will be no less than 22 (matches for each club)," Demetriou said.

The AFL is hoping to reap $1 billion for the 2012-16 television contracts, up from the $780 million it is receiving for the 2007-11 deals.

Demetriou said as much consideration was being given to the possibilities with the 2012 finals series as the home-and-away competition.

"If there's a final nine, the top team might get a bye (in week one of the finals), you might get a five-week finals series," Demetriou said.

"At the moment, the top two teams get the same opportunity, there is no difference between finishing second or first."

The 2010 season will be fixtured as normal, with the possibility of a flexible Round 22, which would make finals scheduling less complicated.

In 2011, when Gold Coast enters, each team will have two byes.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,25986908-19742,00.html

[1965]

New-look footy draw to fit in new clubs
Damian Barrett and Mike Sheahan | August 27, 2009


"You might have a scenario where you play each other once in the first 17 rounds, and you might then decide to re-set the next six weeks, or five weeks, and do a new fixture then, after Round 17, for the last few weeks," Demetriou said.

"The teams in the bottom eight might end up playing more teams in the bottom eight, teams in the top eight might play more teams in the top eight."

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,25986908-19742,00.html

This would give tanking a whole new meaning.

Going into round 17 a team sitting eighth would face playing the top eight or if they tank the round 17 game they move down to ninth and have an easier run into the finals.

 

[mightytiges]

New-look footy draw to fit in new clubs
Damian Barrett and Mike Sheahan | August 27, 2009


"You might have a scenario where you play each other once in the first 17 rounds, and you might then decide to re-set the next six weeks, or five weeks, and do a new fixture then, after Round 17, for the last few weeks," Demetriou said.

"The teams in the bottom eight might end up playing more teams in the bottom eight, teams in the top eight might play more teams in the top eight."

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,25986908-19742,00.html

This would give tanking a whole new meaning.

Going into round 17 a team sitting eighth would face playing the top eight or if they tank the round 17 game they move down to ninth and have an easier run into the finals.

 

LOL. Go Ninth 

The Pies might have to earn their way into the finals for once if they have to play more top teams

[the_boy_jake]

New-look footy draw to fit in new clubs
Damian Barrett and Mike Sheahan | August 27, 2009


"You might have a scenario where you play each other once in the first 17 rounds, and you might then decide to re-set the next six weeks, or five weeks, and do a new fixture then, after Round 17, for the last few weeks," Demetriou said.

"The teams in the bottom eight might end up playing more teams in the bottom eight, teams in the top eight might play more teams in the top eight."

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,25986908-19742,00.html

This would give tanking a whole new meaning.

Going into round 17 a team sitting eighth would face playing the top eight or if they tank the round 17 game they move down to ninth and have an easier run into the finals.

 

Presumably you wouldn't be eligible for finals if you were in the bottom teams. There is no way they could let them for the reason you state. Would be quite dull for the bottom teams if they played meaningless games vs each other for the last 7-8 weeks.