2018 Fixture

[madbluboy]

AFL's fixture blue: Why Carlton shouldn't be playing too many Friday night games

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/af...zbvkg.html

  Carlton were one of the worst teams in the competition this year. They finished third-bottom, which was one place worse than last year. They have traded away Bryce Gibbs, one of their best players, and so will be more callow next year than this.

They have also played one of the least attractive brands of football, where scoring is secondary to not being scored against. There are justifications for that – whether you agree with them or not – about teaching a young team to defend and buttressing the back line against heavy losses, but regardless of that, Carlton's education is far from complete.

And yet, against all of this, the AFL reckons them ready to be thrust into more prime-time slots next year. Does no one remember the conga line of Friday night car crashes in 2015 when Carlton had nowhere to hide?
There are more teams with a more deserving argument to occupy these slots. Melbourne, anyone? Anyone? The Demons get one Friday night game and yes, they get Queen's Birthday, but so what? The fixture requires its architects speculate on a club like stockbrokers. Melbourne should be a buy, Carlton a hold. The AFL did the opposite.

There is no basis to argue it is a good idea to shove Carlton out on more Friday nights next year. It will be easier to sell sponsorships so that will help their bottom line and make things easier for their new CEO, but that is about it. Though that CEO is expected to be former AFL executive Simon Lethlean.

The desire for Carlton to follow Richmond as next year's awakened giant is understandable, but wishing it to be so does not make it so. Carlton is not there yet and at least on the field they seem to know it. Does the AFL?