When applying the fairer 17-5 model, third-placed Richmond would finish eighth on percentage, and would have missed the top group of six and the chance to compete for a top-four finish altogether.
The Tigers have roared in 2017 after being given little hope heading into the season. But Damien Hardwick’s side have also taken advantage of their easy draw after having to play only one finalist twice.
Richmond also doubled-up against bottom-five battlers Fremantle (14th), Carlton (16th) and Brisbane (18th). Of those six games, the Tigers won five and recorded a whopping percentage of 160.76.
2017 AFL LADDER UNDER THE 17-5 FIXTURE MODELOnly includes the first time each team met this season.P W L D F A % Pts
1 GWS 17 12 3 2 1708 1432 119.27 52
2 Adelaide 17 11 5 1 1873 1414 132.46 46
3 Geelong 17 11 5 1 1729 1452 119.08 46
4 Port Adelaide 17 10 7 - 1648 1281 128.65 40
5 Sydney 17 10 7 - 1604 1338 119.88 40
6 West Coast 17 10 7 - 1560 1430 109.09 40
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7 Melbourne 17 10 7 - 1624 1489 109.07 40
8 Richmond 17 10 7 - 1455 1368 106.36 40
9 Essendon 17 9 8 - 1665 1543 107.91 36
10 Western Bulldogs 17 9 8 - 1468 1438 102.09 36
11 St Kilda 17 9 8 - 1483 1494 99.26 36
12 Collingwood 17 8 8 1 1541 1477 104.33 34
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13 Hawthorn 17 7 9 1 1414 1630 86.75 28
14 Fremantle 17 7 10 - 1262 1668 75.66 28
15 North Melbourne 17 5 12 - 1542 1754 87.91 20
16 Carlton 17 5 12 - 1238 1569 78.90 20
17 Gold Coast 17 4 13 - 1366 1773 77.04 16
18 Brisbane 17 3 14 - 1394 2024 68.87 12
http://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/afl/what-a-175-afl-fixture-would-have-produced-in-season-2017/news-story/c66a418f83ba878ad86df6a5a68e8c44