AFL Fixturing Under Fire as Experts and Fans Decry 'Debacle'
The AFL is facing intense scrutiny and backlash from experts and fans alike over what many are calling a fixturing debacle. The league's Opening Round concept, originally designed to promote Australian Rules football in the northern states, has this year included a game in Victoria, leading to early-season chaos. This move has resulted in not all teams participating, forcing the AFL to hastily insert rolling byes to achieve game parity across clubs.
Dale Thomas Slams Fixture as 'A Mess'
Collingwood premiership hero Dale Thomas has been vocal in his criticism, stating he has had "an absolute gutful" of the current fixture. On Channel 7's The Agenda Setters, Thomas highlighted numerous inequities, pointing to teams like the Brisbane Lions as prime examples. The Lions face a challenging schedule, coming off a bye in Round 2 only to play at Marvel Stadium in an early afternoon game, followed by a mere four-day break before their next match against Collingwood at the Gabba on a Thursday.
Thomas also cited the Adelaide Crows, who played three games in 13 days, including a trip to Geelong's home ground, the Cattery, on a Thursday night after a Friday game, then returning to Adelaide for a Good Friday clash with Fremantle. In stark contrast, Geelong enjoyed a bye before facing the Crows and is now on a luxurious 10-day break ahead of their game against Hawthorn.
Widespread Fixturing Issues and Fan Outrage
The problems extend beyond individual teams. West Coast Eagles, for instance, played in Adelaide at an unusual early time and now face Sydney on a short break, while the Swans come in fresh off their bye. Hawthorn, when it plays on Easter Monday, is coming off an 18-day break, further highlighting the schedule's inconsistencies.
Thomas criticized the Round 3 fixture, noting that the MCG was left vacant on Thursday night, Friday, and Saturday, with Marvel Stadium hosting two games on Saturday after a Friday night clash. He also pointed out that all top-four teams ahead of that round were not playing due to byes, questioning the logic behind such decisions.
Fans have echoed Thomas's sentiments, taking to social media to express their frustration. One fan fumed, "The fixture is horrendous. Like seriously, how can they f*** it up so badly," while another added, "Crows had their 3rd game in 13 days while Geelong had a 12 day break. It was round THREE ... absolutely nailed it." Others described the situation as "an absolute disaster" and expressed confusion over the scheduling.
Calls for Immediate Action
Thomas has called for swift resolution, joking that he could "sort it out in 15 minutes" if given the chance at Gather Round in the Barossa. His criticism underscores a broader concern that the AFL's fixturing decisions are "almost trying to wreck the product," especially with no games at the MCG, which he called "the best stadium in the world," during a key weekend.
As the season progresses, the AFL faces mounting pressure to address these fixturing issues to ensure fairness and maintain fan engagement. The ongoing debate highlights the complexities of scheduling in a national competition and the need for greater transparency and equity in future fixtures.
