So if I'm understanding correctly, JPK, you're suggesting we play rounds 2, 3, 4 with two weeks for finals. Or possibly round 12 or 16 if want three weeks for finals choppers, you're suggesting we play rounds 2, 4, 13 instead, as round 13 has two teams with byes rather than round 3 that has four teams. I'll offer an alternative. Not saying it's a good one but maybe a fairer one. What if we skip all the early bye rounds and play all the mid-season byes rounds? So we play round 1 and then round 5 onwards. The benefit is all AFL clubs would miss one game, so all FU teams would be effected equally and we would have four weeks for finals. The downside is the mid-season trade period and draft would likely need to be held over the six days between rounds 15 and 16.
I was always looking for 3 weeks of finals, so your synopsis of my position is more one of options than suggestions. However, I do like the idea of ORFFU playing through the mid-season, as it does give every team an even loss of players (well, as best as we can with the terrible AFL fixturing). I'm thinking out loud here, so feel free to shoot it down - we'd need to be slick and get all our mid season shenanigans completed between lockouts (ie Monday to Thursday), so how about we split it up (yes, I know I advocated against this only last week....) Between say R13 and R14 we have a trade period, which could result in some uneven squad numbers come R14. Between R14 and R15 we have our draft (and any in-draft trading as required), squads would all be back to 28 by R15. Between R15 and R16 we have a final trade period, where trades would have to be even to ensure no squad ever exceeds 28 players.
I love all the ideas and activity, but honestly @JPK as the commish I think you just make a call. No decision is going to please 100% of people, so just pick one of em and call it gospel. You’re the head honcho for a reason mate, so back yourself on the best/fairest option and lock it in. Otherwise we’ll go round and round and nothing will get done
Thanks for the vote of confidence. The dictator will come out when needed, but for now its not urgent, so getting everyone's arsehole (errr, opinion) is fine...