The AFL’s Fixture Fiasco: Why Starting Unevenly Undermines the Game
There’s something deeply unsettling about the way the AFL season kicks off these days. Personally, I think it’s more than just a scheduling quirk—it’s a symptom of a league that’s lost sight of fairness in its pursuit of complexity. Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir’s recent frustration over his team’s uneven start isn’t just a post-match rant; it’s a spotlight on a systemic issue that’s been brewing for years.
The Uneven Playing Field
Longmuir’s call for a return to a traditional, unified start to the season isn’t just nostalgia. It’s a plea for equity. When teams begin their campaigns on different weekends, it creates an inherent advantage for those who play later. Think about it: a team that starts Round 1 has a week to analyze, adjust, and recover before their next game, while others are still finding their rhythm. What makes this particularly fascinating is how the AFL, a league obsessed with parity, seems blind to this glaring imbalance.
From my perspective, this isn’t just about Fremantle’s loss to Geelong. It’s about the broader implications for competition integrity. If you take a step back and think about it, the AFL’s staggered start feels like a relic of a bygone era, when the league was smaller and logistics were simpler. In 2026, with 18 teams and a global audience, it’s an anachronism.
The Geelong Game: A Case Study in Unfairness
Fremantle’s collapse against Geelong wasn’t just a tactical failure—it was a symptom of a team playing catch-up from the outset. Longmuir’s side came out firing, but by the second half, they looked like a team that had already played a full game while Geelong was just hitting their stride. One thing that immediately stands out is how the Cats, fresh off a loss to Gold Coast, had the luxury of a week to regroup and recalibrate. Fremantle? They were thrown into the deep end.
What many people don’t realize is that fatigue and momentum are invisible factors that can swing a game. Longmuir’s post-match comments about losing composure and succumbing to pressure aren’t just excuses—they’re a window into the psychological toll of an uneven start. This raises a deeper question: if the AFL is serious about fairness, why allow such a clear disadvantage to persist?
The Broader Implications: A League at a Crossroads
The AFL’s fixture chaos isn’t just a problem for coaches and players—it’s a disservice to fans. A detail that I find especially interesting is how the league’s scheduling reflects its priorities. By prioritizing TV deals and commercial interests over competitive balance, the AFL risks alienating the very people who keep the game alive: the supporters.
What this really suggests is that the league is struggling to balance tradition with modernity. On one hand, the AFL wants to be a global powerhouse; on the other, it clings to outdated practices that undermine its credibility. Personally, I think this is a pivotal moment for the league. Either it embraces a unified start and reaffirms its commitment to fairness, or it continues down a path that prioritizes profit over principle.
Looking Ahead: Can the AFL Fix Its Fixture?
Fremantle’s next game against Melbourne will be a test of their resilience, but the real challenge lies in the league’s boardrooms. Longmuir’s frustration isn’t an isolated incident—it’s a sentiment shared by many in the AFL community. What’s needed isn’t just a tweak to the schedule but a fundamental rethink of how the season begins.
In my opinion, the solution is simple: start all 18 teams on the same weekend. It’s fair, it’s logical, and it’s what fans deserve. But will the AFL listen? History suggests otherwise, but as Longmuir’s comments remind us, the conversation isn’t going away.
Final Thoughts
The AFL’s fixture fiasco is more than just a scheduling issue—it’s a reflection of the league’s values. Do we want a competition where every team starts on an even footing, or one where some are handed an advantage before the first ball is bounced? Personally, I’m tired of the latter. It’s time for the AFL to get it right—not just for Fremantle, but for the sake of the game itself.
