Carlton Supporters Club

   
When is an 'opening' round not round 1 ?

Let's face it, this is probably about the AFL throwing rocks at the NRL and Soccer more than anything to do with crowds or members. More of a strategic move in response to potential threatening opponents than anything else.

Fans can speculate, but we only hear about this stuff after decisions are made, we aren't privy to the commercial / corporate intelligence or sponsor feedback that underwrites these decisions.

The more "out of the blue" an action is, the less it has to do with you!

There's absolutley no doubt that there is a little more to the reasoning behind these 'opening round' shenanigans.

https://www.nrl.com/tickets/vegas/

NRL starts with a gimic, so a few days later we try something different as well.

I give in 😵‍💫

Opening: coming at the beginning of something; initial.

More absolute amateur nonsensical garbage from an organisation that's lost.
Lost: unable to find one's way; not knowing one's whereabouts.
"Help! We're lost!"

Opens the door for more football to be played in future.

Players in Europe play 40 games per year and their off season is two months.
We have a 22 game competition with five month off season (too long off season shouldn't be longer than three months).

There is no doubt in my mind that if I was a broadcaster I would demand more content and bang for my buck.

I think the intensity of AFL football is a good deal higher than soccer. I think the season is too long, given the list sizes. I would be either increasing playing lists or cutting the number of games. Being on current list sizes, I would have teams play each other once only, then top four plays finals. Less injuries, less wear and tear, players are fresher for longer, they have longer careers, and the end result is better quality football IMO. I've floated this idea in the past, and it's been about as popular as a severe dose of the clap. Still, i remain undaunted.

I think the intensity of AFL football is a good deal higher than soccer. I think the season is too long, given the list sizes. I would be either increasing playing lists or cutting the number of games. Being on current list sizes, I would have teams play each other once only, then top four plays finals. Less injuries, less wear and tear, players are fresher for longer, they have longer careers, and the end result is better quality football IMO. I've floated this idea in the past, and it's been about as popular as a severe dose of the clap. Still, i remain undaunted.

My ideal is to play every other side twice.
That's not going to happen with 18-20 sides.
Playing every other side once isn't a bad option to my mind...but the fly in the ointment would be broadcasters and sponsors who wouldn't wear a reduced season

Explaining the move, new AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said the opening round fixture was introduced to help bolster the sport’s appeal in the northern markets.

“We were fortunate to be in a position where we were able to have access to our major venues in Queensland and NSW a weekend earlier than usual which gave us a unique opportunity to play these four games in key markets where footy continues to grow in popularity,” Dillon told AAP. “The four match-ups are big, with four of our biggest-supported Victorian clubs travelling north, and we look forward to starting our season with real momentum before we head into a blockbuster round of matches in round one.”