THE ROUND one lockout is edging closer. League commissioners have a big job in the lead up to the first bounce and then throughout the Fantasy season. The commissioner needs to be organised.
That’s why I have that particular job in our group of mates.
Start up a Classic league
We have been running the same Fantasy Classic league for 15 years and as soon as the game opens, I’ll get the league set up and shoot the code out via email and text. If someone drops out for whatever reason (too busy with work isn’t a good enough one), get prospective entrants to send in a CV with a one-page cover letter as an application to join.
When you create your league, you have plenty of flexibility in your settings. Come up with a witty league name – something that will stick or even let the winner from the previous season have naming rights. We roll with the default settings, including byes being switched off, following a league vote, but you can choose your settings to suit. Leagues can have as few as four coaches and up to 20 for head-to-head competitions, and the finals structure can be modified to suit.
Open leagues can feature an unlimited amount of coaches.
As the commissioner of a Classic league, you don’t have to worry about too much. Just make sure all league members are entered and most importantly, they have a team picked for round one. If they are newbies, send them in the direction of some of our content and they should be able to pick a competitive team.
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Set up your Draft league
The most engaging league format is undoubtedly Fantasy Draft. The Bacon Cup (see our video) has been running for a few years and requires a $50 entry, and having a thick skin is a prerequisite for being part of it when it comes to the banter.
Like Classic, the Draft league settings are flexible and the commissioner’s job is to get the structure set up in order to suit your constituents. We have 12 coaches and opt for the 3-4-1-3/4 (DEF-MID-RUC-FWD/BENCH) squad size which takes us to 180 selections on Draft Day.
We also switch captains off, as the coach with pick 12 will whinge all season about not having one of the big guns taken in the first handful of picks. This, however, is up for discussion already for the 2018 season.
Organise your draft party
The highlight of the year is the live draft.
As commissioner, you have the important job of organising your draft party. The best way to make this happen is to have all league members together in the one room. This makes for a fun time as insults thrown around as picks are taken – that we can’t publish here – makes you question why you are mates with these people. It does, however, make you stronger and beating your fellow league members all that sweeter.
Get your hands on the official AFL Fantasy Draft kit
On draft day/night, organise a venue that has good internet access and even have a backup plan in place to hotspot off your phone. A second device is recommended if your laptop is as reliable as your selections after drinking too many ales.
Skype or Facetime with coaches who are unable to attend so that they are part of it. We have league members from all over the country.
Once the draft is completed, there will be some trade offers put out there and accepted by obliging parties. We have turned on commissioner approved trades due to 'Armitage-gate' from a couple of seasons ago. Long story short, there was some collusion between two coaches that saw David Armitage traded for basically a bag of mixed lollies. There was uproar in the league and it’s safe to say that the said coaches are lucky to still have the honour of being members of The Bacon Cup.
The commissioner might have to step in and be a mediator if there are lopsided offers put on the table.
Get social with your league
Setting up a Facebook group/chat or a Whatsapp style text message group is the backbone of keeping league members engaged. I can’t publish half of the rubbish that is spoken here, but it definitely gets a few chuckles throughout the week and of course, when certain players are either a) dominating or b) spudding it up.
Send out a weekly newsletter featuring a review and/or preview of each round. Hold press conferences and make big announcements, such as trades, via a video. Call out your mates for their awful trade offers and embrace your role as the commissioner.
Remember, you are the most important member of your league!
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