Adam Saad (left) and Zac Williams are shattered as Will Hoskin-Elliott and John Noble celebrate behind them after Collingwood beat Carlton in the final round last year. Photo: GETTY IMAGES
When the timeslots for the Round 24 fixture were finally unveiled by the AFL earlier this week, it was received with much fanfare.
In many quarters, the league was hailed, especially for its decision to space out the matches on the Sunday in 12:30, 3:20 and 6:10 bouncedowns (AEST) so none of the three contests overlap.
The rationale, apparently, was to maximise excitement and interest as one of the most extraordinary finals races in VFL/AFL history reaches its crescendo.
But to this writer, all the backslapping seemed rather odd and unwarranted.
Why would the AFL be congratulated for giving as many games in the final round “clear air” as possible? It’s completely counterintuitive. If anything, that course of action has the potential to kill a large part of the intrigue and tension surrounding the final make-up of the top eight.
What the league should have done is have all nine games in Round 24 starting at the exact same time. That’s what would have driven the drama and anxiety through the roof.
Now, obviously, that is unfortunately a pipe dream in this day and age, because the broadcasters have the AFL over a barrel regarding every decision made about the fixture (except for the start time of the grand final, thankfully – for now, anyway).
Money far too often trumps integrity in this competition so, yet again, the league has missed a golden opportunity to do something truly brilliant in the final round.
The fact that it took the AFL so long to decide which games would start when in Round 24 highlights just how awesome it would’ve been to have each game starting at the same time, like the English Premier League does with its final round of matches.
As previously mentioned, this year’s finals race is absolutely bonkers. It’s hard to recall a tighter competition this deep into a season, and as readers of Footyology’s weekly Run Home To The Finals column will know, there are 14 teams still alive with just three games to go.
Only two games separate fifth (Carlton) and 13th (Richmond), while Gold Coast is still hanging on by a thread, two wins outside the top eight in 14th spot.
Imagine the chaos and mayhem in Round 24 if games between Essendon (12th) and Collingwood (first), North Melbourne and Gold Coast (14th), Brisbane (third) and St Kilda (seventh), Geelong (ninth) and the Western Bulldogs (sixth), West Coast and Adelaide (11th), Port Adelaide (fourth) and Richmond (13th), Sydney (10th) and Melbourne (second), and Carlton (fifth) and GWS (eighth) were taking place simultaneously?
Yes, those ladder spots are as of Round 21, but if the vast majority of those 14 teams are still alive in three weeks’ time, it would make for a phenomenal occasion.
Fox Footy could revive the old ‘Viewer’s Choice’ that was used when Fox Sports had the rights to the EPL, the live ladder would be going into overdrive and radio stations could bring back legitimate old-school around-the-grounds correspondents to relay what is going on at stadiums across the country.
The Record could even resurrect its long-forgotten collaboration with scoreboards at each ground that saw a letter of the alphabet correspond to each team (ie. AvB, CvD, EvF, etc.) to keep patrons attending matches abreast of what’s going on.
It would ensure a finale to the premiership season not seen probably since 1987, when all spots in the top five were still up for grabs heading into the final round and each team still alive in the finals race played at the same time of 2:10pm on the Saturday.
PLEASE HELP US CONTINUE TO THRIVE BY BECOMING AN OFFICIAL FOOTYOLOGY PATRON. JUST CLICK THIS LINK.
On that occasion, top-placed Carlton squeezed past fourth-placed North Melbourne by four points thanks to a goal after the siren from Stephen Kernahan, which meant the Blues clung on to top spot as they were only a game clear of Hawthorn (second) who had a better percentage, and pipped Geelong (fifth) by three points after fighting back from three goals down at three-quarter time.
The Swans (third) came back from nine points down at the final change to beat Fitzroy by eight, and the Cats’ final-term capitulation would prove costly because they were replaced in the top five by Melbourne (seventh) after the Demons also overturned a three-quarter time deficit to defeat Footscray at the Western Oval.
Last year’s finish was also absolutely extraordinary as Carlton squandered a four-goal lead heading into the final quarter to lose to arch rival Collingwood by a point, which meant the Blues missed out on the finals by 0.6 per cent as they were replaced in the top eight by the Bulldogs, who had beaten Hawthorn by 23 points earlier in the day.
All Carlton needed was one extra point, because a draw would’ve been enough for them to make it, but instead it became the first team in 45 years to slip out of the top eight/six/five/four in the final round after occupying a spot every other week of the season.
Some people will point to that and say that an EPL-style finish to the year isn’t needed as that was probably the most incredible end to a home-and-away season since the legendary 1987 climax.
But the kind of final-day drama that 2022 produced was very much a one-off, and in many ways lucky because, as is customary in the modern age, only six teams featured. Those fireworks could be increased 10-fold on a regular basis if each team headed into their final game not knowing what they needed to do to grab a top-two, top-four or top-eight spot. They would all just have to go out and play and hope for the best by the time the final siren sounds.
And the old excuse of there being not enough grounds to facilitate such a scenario is now baloney. This year alone, 17 different venues have been used to host AFL games.
Scheduling the Swans and Tigers for the final day of the season this year is very risky. Both teams are currently outside the top eight and could easily be out of the finals race by then. And the final match between the Blues and Giants could also be a dead rubber as both teams are strong chances of already being qualified by then.
Everyone understands money is an important part of the game, and that without it, the AFL wouldn’t be the thriving code that it currently is.
But come on. The AFL is a multi-billion-dollar organisation now. Surely every now and then integrity can take precedence. Majority of fans would love it. After all, that’s who the league is beholden too, right?
ROUND 24
Friday, August 25
Essendon v Collingwood, MCG, 7:50pm local time
Saturday, August 26
North Melbourne v Gold Coast, BA, 1:45pm local time
Hawthorn v Fremantle, MCG, 1:45pm local time
Brisbane v St Kilda, G, 4:35pm local time
Geelong v Western Bulldogs, KP, 7:25pm local time
West Coast v Adelaide, OS, 6:10pm local time
Sunday, August 27
Port Adelaide v Richmond, AO, 12pm local time
Sydney v Melbourne, SCG, 3:20pm local time
Carlton v GWS, MS, 6:10pm local time
Legend: AO – Adelaide Oval, BA – Blundstone Arena, G – Gabba, KP – Kardinia Park, MS – Marvel Stadium, OS – Optus Stadium
