I was about to start the FIXture for 2024 and have looked at the AFL fixture and have noticed that there are rolling byes throughout the year. There are number of rounds where only 2 teams have the bye and 4 rounds where there are either 4, 6 or 10 teams with byes. Obviously these 4 rounds we will not be able to stage matches Round 0 Round 12 Round 14 Round 15 Recommendation is that we play through the rounds that only have 2 teams with byes. I was going to put this just to the FIXture committee but thought it might be worth putting here for discussion if we need. In addition, we need to decide whether we are staging ORFFA finals across AFL Rounds 20 to 23 so we avoid the last round and likely resting of players. Recommendation is that we do. Last one - we have a 16 team fixture this season, meaning 15 games for everyone. If we avoid playing Round 24, and don't play Round 0, 12, 14 and 15, that leaves us with 16 rounds for the ORFFA fixture. To avoid an unbalanced fixture, we could look to not have ORFFA matches for AFL Round 13. This gives us a 4 week midseason break, and also allow time for the mid-season draft and for State of Origin. Other option is to run a 16 game ORFFA fixture and just roll with it. Thoughts? Do we need a vote? What do we think @Bandit ? Jen and Chris - your resident ORFFA FIXture nerds.
One other thing to think of that is related to these fixture issues is one that has been raised in the ORFFL - do we need an extra spot on the list of each team to top up and avoid issues with byes and missing players. Given the ORFFA is in a situation where we have contracted back to 16 teams and we are having a dispersal draft, we may have to look at things from that, slightly different, standpoint.
@chris88 the mooted (and it only has been mooted) extra player in ORFFL needs to be seen in the context of a comp that has 26 man squads. Our 28 man squads provide a little more cover. Note that as I get older I find myself going with the flow more frequently..
Hi folks, thanks for your good work on this Jen and Chris. I think our season needs to be 15 rounds so we play each other once each. That should be non-negotiable in my opinion. I agree we should have all four rounds off from 12-15 for our mid season break. That’s logical. I agree we should start at round 1 (skipping round 0). I personally think our finals series should be 4 weeks. Assuming the above points are uncontroversial (which they might not be?), the main point of discussion would be around us having 20 rounds remaining for a 19-round season (15+4). We could avoid one of the rounds 2 3 5 or 6, which each have two teams on a bye; or we could skip round 24, which we could guess that multiple players will be rested in. I personally think we should skip round 24 and have our grand final in round 23; but I also see a lot of merit in skipping one of the rounds where two teams have a bye, so I don’t mind either way we go. I am in favour of the extra player proposal too.
Thanks for this context Graeme - that makes a significant difference I reckon. Agree that 28 players should provide cover ... and if that's the context I'd probably be in favour of letting things remain as they are FWIW. My 2c on the other issue would be to skip Round 24.
Just realised the Commish had suggested some time ago in the calendar thread that we should start at round 2 this season.
@anthak ; perhaps that was before we found out there was a round 0, and the second weekend of matches is round 1? Not sure, just flagging the possibility.
Hmmm, yes, that March 1 date is two weeks out from AFL Round 1 rather than Round 2. Hey @Bandit - what do you reckon? Do we go with a start two weeks after March 1 draft date (which appears to be the original intent, but would now have things starting at AFL Round 1 rather than Round 2)? Jen's gotten the fixture almost set to go - just need to decide on a start date/round and we can go from there.
We voted on most of this before we broke for season end 15 round season - voted and confirmed 4 round finals - voted and confirmed Lists to stay as they are, don't forget there is a dispersal draft, and we run 28 man squads! Season was going to open 17 March as per the post below, but I propose we open it 21st March Everything else I am ok with (byes etc)
OK, so just to confirm - Round 2 opening, which has byes for Carlton and Brisbane. Mid season break from Round 12-15 inclusive. 15 round season running from Rounds 2-11 inclusive and then 16-20. Four weeks for finals running from Round 21-24. If this is all good, we'll get the fixture in place ASAP.
can we make it work and avoid round 24 for the big dance? Does that mean we need to come back one week, or can we play in Round 13? Sorry not making this easy I know
Nah, all good Bandit. Worth figuring this stuff out now. There's 8 games fixtured in Round 13 (rounds 12, 14 and 15 only have 6 or 7 games fixtured). Freo and Port have byes. That would be the option if we were to go that way. It would allow us to skip Round 24.
I think that's the way we should go, rather than have the GF screwed up because of Ross Lyon shenanigans Happy to ask the general populous however...
Better to play round 2 than round 13 imo. Would be a pain for the Mid season break to be interrupted by playing a round (13)
We were already starting Round 2.... but we play Round 24 with this scenario So the real question is can we start round 1, which is March 14th. However I like the no round 13 option....I say we go for it... and am making the call. Watch for a new key dates thread, and I'll message everyone too