The AFL has launched its full fixture for 2023 and two groups who struggled in 2022 seem to have been dudded by a scheduling tweak.
Hawthorn and Adelaide will play an additional high six crew subsequent yr due to a change to the AFL’s weighted rule.
The AFL confirmed it had adjusted the weighted rule to accommodate the additional ‘Gather Round’, which implies every membership performs double up video games towards six groups (as a substitute of 5) in 2023.
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The league additionally confirmed there could be a pre-finals bye subsequent yr, regardless of opposition from top-four golf equipment that it benefits groups within the decrease a part of the eight.
The change to the weighted rule dealt an additional hurdle for backside six groups Hawks and Crows who must play two groups that completed 2022 within the high six on the ladder subsequent season.
The Crows and Hawks will face the identical variety of high six groups as Collingwood and Melbourne, who completed within the high six final season.
Previously, golf equipment who completed within the backside six performed both none or just one double-up recreation towards high six groups.
But the AFL has needed to modify the weighted rule to incorporate the additional ‘Gather Round’ in South Australia subsequent season.
Fixture boss Travis Auld mentioned there had been a low key change to how the weighted system would work in 2023.
“The weighted rule remains central to the fixture, however we had to make an adjustment for the 24th round and add a sixth double-up match up for each club,” Auld mentioned.
“You get a minimum of two and maximum of three double-up matches against teams in your bracket of six, and either one or two double-up games in each of the other two groups of six.”
The weighted rule, which divides the competitors right into a high six, center six and backside six primarily based on final yr’s ladder, has been closely supported by golf equipment and has been profitable for serving to create a extra truthful and attention-grabbing fixture because it was launched in 2013.
But it means the Hawks deal with premiership contenders Fremantle and Melbourne twice and the Crows will meet Brisbane and Collingwood twice.
That is in comparison with different years the place backside six golf equipment tried to keep away from any double up video games towards premiership heavyweights.
Carlton is one other membership with two video games towards high six groups as Michael Voss seems to be to steer the Blues again into finals for the primary time in a decade.
West Coast, North Melbourne, GWS Giants and St Kilda all play just one double up recreation towards the highest six groups.
The Hawks have been handed the annual Easter Monday blockbuster conflict towards Geelong on the MCG however have been in any other case locked out of the prime time spots.
The Magpies paid a small value for the Anzac Day recreation falling on a Tuesday subsequent yr, which means Collingwood solely performs a complete of three matches within the prime time Thursday and Friday evening slots regardless of an exhilarating 2022 season.
Essendon was additionally given double-up video games towards two high six groups however will tackle three groups under it on final season’s ladder from the underside six, in a lift for coach Brad Scott in his first yr in cost.
The Bombers’ fixture is taken into account one of many softer schedules, alongside the struggling North Melbourne and West Coast, who all have three double-up video games towards bottom-six sides.
Grand finalists Geelong and Sydney, and the Western Bulldogs and Fremantle face a lot harder runs.
Originally revealed as Two groups dudded by AFL fixture change
