The AFL's scheduling has come under fire for its arrogance and disregard for fans, particularly during the World Cup period. Rohan Connolly argues that the league's fixture management consistently prioritises broadcasters over the football public, resulting in overlapping games, uneven byes, and a lack of respect for traditional timeslots.
Opening Round and Bye Rounds: A Flawed Start
The 2026 season began with the ill-fated Opening Round concept, which was scrapped after just two seasons due to lopsided ladders and uneven team preparations. The bye rounds, which have just concluded, further exacerbated issues, especially with the World Cup underway. Despite only seven games per week during the byes, matches consistently overlapped, and Sunday afternoon slots were neglected.
World Cup Clash and Missed Opportunities
Connolly highlights the AFL's failure to adjust the St Kilda-GWS game when it clashed directly with the Socceroos' opening World Cup match against Turkey. This decision, he says, reflects a degree of arrogance. Now, with the full round of nine games, overlaps persist. This week, all nine games are at different venues across six states, yet the fixture remains compacted. On Friday, Sydney and the Western Bulldogs will have played only a quarter before West Coast-Adelaide begins. On Saturday, four games include two afternoon starts just 20 minutes apart.
Uneven Opponent Scheduling
The unevenness extends to opponent scheduling. Hawthorn plays Melbourne on Saturday, just seven weeks after their Round 10 clash. By the final round, Hawthorn will have played six teams twice but five others not at all. Similarly, Geelong and Brisbane meet again less than two months after their first clash, despite being last year's grand finalists. Connolly questions why the league doesn't take more care with such matchups.
Broadcaster Influence Over Fan Experience
Connolly argues that the fixture's ledger has swung too heavily in favour of broadcasters at the expense of fans. Traditional Saturday and Sunday afternoon slots are increasingly replaced by Thursday night games and barren Sundays with only two matches. Free-to-air coverage has diminished, and TV networks dictate start times for lead-ins to evening news. This contrasts sharply with SBS's World Cup coverage, which is free, plentiful, and viewer-friendly.
A Call for Change
Connolly concludes that the AFL appears indifferent to the fans whose passion built the competition. He urges the league to reconsider its scheduling priorities, especially during global events like the World Cup, to better serve both stadium attendees and television audiences.
