The Age has made a dramatic discovery: that the AFL fixture is unbalanced, and that the AFL "faces a revolt over its handling of the annual fixture." The story was plastered over page one.
This is hardly news. With 17 teams playing 22 games each in 2011 (extended to 18 teams in 2012), it is simply not possible to play every team once or every team twice; and it would be too financially costly to the AFL and all its clubs to abandon marquee games like Collingwood-Essendon on Anzac Day, Richmond-Carlton to open the season, the Showdowns, Derbies and now the QClashes.
When people complain about the draw, they should perhaps look at the mess that is the NRL draw.
There is no locked-in fixture with broadcasters determining the days of matches only five weeks out, ensuring long-term travel planning is impossible. Teams deal with five-day backups. Some teams like Cronulla and Canberra get virtually no free-to-air exposure while poor performing but popular clubs like Parramatta and the Sydney Roosters always find themselves on free-to-air television. Players back up one and two days later from rep duty while some clubs miss their rep players for three weeks during the State of Origin period. Teams must travel overseas. Clubs send submissions as to who they want to play. There seems to be little consideration given to tradition, blockbuster games or important matches.
While it is true that the fairness of the AFL fixture could be improved, it is not all doom and gloom with the fixture certainly fairer and less demanding than that with which NRL players and clubs must deal with.
At any rate, the AFL doesn't appear to be concerned enough to change the way it does its draw.
The fixture will be formulated "as it has been for a considerable period" next year, says media relations manager Patrick Keane.
A well-worn path
The maintenance men may soon be required to give the track between Skilled Stadium and Windy Hill a major upgrade given the recent heavy traffic between the two joints.
It started with two-time premiership winning coach Mark Thompson leaving in less than ideal circumstances, at least according to those who remain with the Cats. Thompson claimed burnout but soon turned up as James Hird's senior counsel at Essendon.
Following Thompson was highly rated assistant Brendan McCartney. McCartney, one of the few involved in coaching who never played the game at the highest level, arrived soon after Hird took over at Windy Hill. "I can't imagine there's a better coach in Australia in the way he develops players and teaches them to play football. I'm surprised someone like that hasn't had a chance at senior level, because in my time in footy I don't think I've met a better coach," Hird told The Age in May.
On the field, Brent Prismall transferred to Windy Hill in 2009 from Geelong after playing 25 games for the Cats including two finals.
The latest to move across is high performance manager Dean Robinson, who was signed by the Bombers on Friday. Robinson spent four years at the Cattery before moving to the Suns.
Such is the Geelong influence on Essendon, "hoops might have to be added to the Dons' red and black jumper" writes The Australian.
It is certainly a model that appears to be working with the Bombers poised to play in only their second final in the past six years, with a win over lowly Port Adelaide this weekend set to lock in a finals berth. Football is a results-based game and the performance of Essendon in James Hird's first year has surprised even the faithful.
Media Watch wouldn't be surprised if a few more Cats find themselves in black and red over the next few years. Learn from the best, as they say.
Dees disappointed
There is perhaps nobody in the AFL more disappointed with Alastair Clarkson's decision to re-sign with the Hawks than Garry Lyon, the man charged with leading Melbourne's search for a new coach.
Lyon was an unabashed fan of Clarkson, saying on Triple M Footy that Clarkson "would be a magnificent fit for the Melbourne footy club. He would be an outstanding fit. Alastair Clarkson is an attractive commodity because he gets his players to play a style of footy that is successful."
The Age reported on August 19 that Melbourne had offered Clarkson a five-year deal, such was its keenness on the Hawthorn boss.
Clarkson re-signing has put Melbourne in quite a spot, who have certainly made it clear they want an experienced coach. Clarkson is now off the market, Ross Lyon is still under contract at St Kilda, Mick Malthouse is highly unlikely to be available and there has been little interest in Rodney Eade.
The Australian reports that this has led to a change of thinking at Melbourne, with the club now prepared to consider "an Essendon-like arrangement - a young coach paired with an experienced former senior coach".
"The possibility is that someone like emerging Collingwood assistant Mark Neeld could have Neil Craig or Rodney Eade as his senior counsel," Stephen Reilly touted.
Football is a game of trends and the Demons may soon find themselves with a hip new coaching set-up.
In short
Brisbane Lions coach Michael Voss said "Brendan has a lot more to turn around than just his footy" when asked about the form of former Lions forward Brendan Fevola and a possible fairytale AFL return, reports the Herald Sun.
St Kilda will wait until the end of the season to discuss Ross Lyon's future with Saints president Greg Westaway saying "Ross Lyon is contracted for next year". We'll talk to him later in the year. He has got finals to contend with and I think it's unfair to talk about it any further," The Age reports.
Simon Black is on the verge of signing a new one-year deal with the Brisbane Lions, writes Steve Butler of The West Australian.
