TOPIC:

Just wondering why 6 teams have a bye this weekend? It seems a bit crazy to be having a bye at this early stage of the season, especially as the year has started well in terms of the crowds and competitiveness of games, also with the emergence of Perth as a harder team to beat, I think the public interest is at a high level and its a shame to lose the momentum somewhat. Totally understand that players need breaks during the season but I reckon these byes would be better later in the year when bodies start to get sore.

Yes I thought it strange when the twenty 24 fixtures were released. Having the bye in the 4th round seems odd. There is also a general bye when the state game is held in May. That means there is only 1 meaningful game this week between Claremont and Subi. Having a bye this early in the season is unhelpful.

mikeh wrote:

Just wondering why 6 teams have a bye this weekend? It seems a bit crazy to be having a bye at this early stage of the season, especially as the year has started well in terms of the crowds and competitiveness of games, also with the emergence of Perth as a harder team to beat, I think the public interest is at a high level and its a shame to lose the momentum somewhat. Totally understand that players need breaks during the season but I reckon these byes would be better later in the year when bodies start to get sore.

Totally agree Mike not too mention the amazing weather we have in Perth in April (and most of May now).
I would have thought these byes would be better off in the dead of Winter (Late June, July).
Also you have the situation this week that the only 4 teams playing are those with the lowest supporter base by far!

Yes agree too. Subi has one in round 5 then round 12 and another in round 15. 2 games in 5 weeks doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me either.

Got a feeling we started a week earlier this year and so needed an extra bye to make it to 3rd week of September for the gf. Swings and roundabouts, i reckon.

Could be they don’t want to go up against the Derby.

Mr AFL wrote:

Could be they don’t want to go up against the Derby.

Yeah I think you are pretty close to the mark there Mr AFL. The only thing is that the Derby is an evening game and will commence after the WAFL games would have finished anyway?

mikeh wrote:

Mr AFL wrote:

Could be they don’t want to go up against the Derby.

Yeah I think you are pretty close to the mark there Mr AFL. The only thing is that the Derby is an evening game and will commence after the WAFL games would have finished anyway?

That is true but there are people that wouldn't go to both games.  And there have been some twilight games this year which would still be happening this weekend so they would overlap with the derby.