TOPIC:

Subiaco seem to have an even spread of byes in rounds 6, 10 and 17.
Swans first bye is round 3, then not until round 16 and another in round 23.
East Fremantle have byes in rounds 7, 15 and 18.
West Perth do a bye in round 5, then 2 close together in rounds 12 and 15.
Perth seem to have an even platform.
Claremont's first bye is round 2, and then round 11. 4 rounds later, a bye in round 15.
South Fremantle seem fairly even.

If the team finishes on top, how do they get a proper reward?? if you finish on top with a Top 4 = second semi, top in a top 5 = second semi.
Where do they get a genuine reward?

Finish on top get a weeks rest ( can be pretty valuable that time of year ) win one game ( a home game)and you're into a grand final with another weeks rest. Finish second and you have to have two wins in two weeks ( the second one in an away game) to make the grandy. thats my logic, some will disagree with it but most wouldn't.
Under the old system of top four before home finals there was absolutely no difference between finishing one or two. Irrelevant now of course.
I would probably rather a top four in a 9 team comp but the wafl has got such a battle on its hands in terms of its survival that I think introducing a top five is worth a shot, what have we got to lose really.

Jimmy Boag wrote:

Tiger of old wrote:

westaussieguy wrote: And East Fremantle have 2 byes close together. One in R15 and another in round 18.
West Perth have byes in rounds 12 and 15 which is close together.
Claremont has a bye in R11 and in round 15.
Each team having 3 byes and playing 20 qualifying games.

The byes seem awfully out of whack, we've got three in the first 15 rounds and then none.
Don't mind the top 5, if a team can make the grand final from fifth spot good on them. And it gives the team finishing on top a proper reward rather than just a home final. Anything to create a bit more interest in the competition.

Tiger of old think you'll find we have 3 where they are due to not having access to the show grounds, as per last year it's being used by others.

Doesn't matter j b they should fixture us for away games during those weeks. Byes are a valuable coaching tool they should be spread out evenly amongst the competition, each club should have one spaced equally apart over the three full rounds - one every seven weeks or thereabouts. There will always be a bit of a lucky draw involved as to when you get your first bye, for instance it's pretty fucked to get one in an early round but that's the roll of the dice. Oh for an eight team competition again.

I've had a good look at this years fixtures and you will never make everyone happy but i am happy for the various reasons.

1. A proper start to the season with two full rounds before the afl starts.
2. No afl derby's on saturday or foundation day
3. No muliple byes except round 15 with five teams having the bye

If i had one wish i would swap round 12 with the state game as the eagles are having a saturday game in round 12