The launch of the 2024 AFL fixture has fallen flat with followers virtually instantly, with “round zero”, the floating fixture and extra Thursday evening video games closely criticised.
Following the Magpies’ thrilling four-point victory on this yr’s grand remaining, marking their sixteenth premiership, the AFL now strikes into unprecedented waters forward of the 2024 season.
Next yr’s season will mark a brand new period for the AFL below the management of newly appointed chief govt Andrew Dillon, who will try and fill the sneakers of the long-tenured Gillon McLachlan.
AFL Fans Association president Ron Issko has hit out at Dillon following the discharge of the unpopular 2024 draw, saying below new management, the AFL has been “disappointing” up to now.
“The AFL had a massive opportunity to show that under new leadership they will be listening to the fans; however, they ignored fans’ wishes which is disappointing,” Issko mentioned.
In an try and develop the sport alongside Australia’s east coast, significantly within the rugby league heartlands of Queensland and NSW, the AFL controversially launched spherical zero, which options the primary 4 video games of the season being performed outdoors Victoria.
Issko mentioned followers en masse weren’t in favour of an “opening round” earlier than spherical 1, pointing to a fan ballot carried out final week that confirmed 82 per cent of followers disagreed with the change.
“With the traditional round 1 being so successful for so many years, fans are scratching their heads saying ‘if it ain’t broke, why fix it?’” Issko mentioned.
“If you are going to have an opening round, why on earth is it a split round?”
He mentioned followers took situation with the continued use of a floating fixture that left the scheduling of video games but to be confirmed between spherical 16 and spherical 24.
“Fans don’t want a floating fixture, it was introduced for Covid but still remains,” Issko mentioned.
He added that the AFL was instructed the floating fixture was unpopular withg followers, however their considerations had been seemingly ignored.
“They have had plenty of opportunity to review it but are siding with the broadcasters by maintaining it,” Issko mentioned.
The AFL additionally introduced there can be 14 Thursday evening video games scheduled for 2024, a transfer that has additionally caught the ire of followers, who, as Issko defined, had been largely not in favour of attending video games with work and college the subsequent day.
Originally revealed as AFL has left footy followers disillusioned following launch of 2024 fixture
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
