Sydney coach John Longmire has conceded that the AFL should look into changing the fixturing to prevent the current bye shambles that is plaguing the competition.
The introduction of Opening Round saw eight clubs enter the 2024 season with two byes within the first 15 weeks, whilst the remaining 10 would have to wait until the mid-point to get some time off.
The issue that has led to calls for the league to make changes in 2025 and beyond is that the Swans (and Lions) had their second break of the season (Round 12) before eight of the 10 clubs, who weren't involved in the new Opening Round initiative, had their first break.
And sitting two games clear on top of the ladder - with a game in hand - the Swans have made the most of their opportunities.
SEE MORE: Have Sydney's 2024 premiership chances been increased by the AFL's fixturing?
However, Longmire did acknowledge that it "wouldn't be ideal" for this oversight to occur again but declared the competition is filled with "disparities".
"I think the AFL will be looking at that for next year," Longmire told reporters on Wednesday.
"Everyone forgets we had two or three practice games and went straight into the season... we had a 9-week block there that was pretty solid.
"We didn't have the bye at the start of the season that other teams had but even that, next year, it wouldn't be ideal if teams had two byes and some didn't have one.
"In an uneven competition that has disparities everywhere with travel and home ground advantages... it's not an even competition and anyone who says it is is not talking sense."
The AFL has opened up its feedback box to all 18 clubs as it continues to strive toward a more equitable and fair competition.
| Bye Round |
Result following week
|
|
| Brisbane | Round 2 | Loss (to Coll) |
| Carlton | Round 2 |
Win (against NM)
|
| Gold Coast | Round 3 | Loss (to GWS) |
| GWS | Round 3 |
Win (against GC)
|
| Collingwood | Round 5 |
Win (against Port)
|
| Sydney | Round 5 |
Win (against GC)
|
| Richmond | Round 6 | Loss (to MELB) |
| Melbourne | Round 6 |
Win (against RICH)
|
| Brisbane^ | Round 12 |
Win (against WB)
|
| GWS^ | Round 12 | Loss (to HAW) |
| Sydney^ | Round 12 |
Win (against GEEL)
|
| North Melbourne | Round 12 |
Win (against WC)
|
| Port Adelaide | Round 13 | ?? |
| Fremantle | Round 13 | ?? |
| Gold Coast^ | Round 14 | ?? |
| Carlton^ | Round 14 | ?? |
| Geelong | Round 14 | ?? |
| Essendon | Round 14 | ?? |
| Melbourne ^ | Round 14 | ?? |
| West Coast | Round 14 | ?? |
| Adelaide | Round 15 | ?? |
| Collingwood^ | Round 15 | ?? |
| Western Bulldogs | Round 15 | ?? |
| Hawthorn | Round 15 | ?? |
| St Kilda | Round 15 | ?? |
| Richmond^ | Round 15 | ?? |
(^ denotes second bye)
Swans president Andrew Pridham said earlier in the week, according to theย Herald Sun, that there's no "correlation" between performance and bye rounds.
โI think the Opening round was a huge success. What I don't accept is how you can draw any correlation between performance and two byes. Brisbane has had two byes and they have gone from a Grand final to well out of the eight. Show me the correlation," Pridham said.
โThere is none. Collingwood plays seven of the last eight games of the season at the MCG."
As it stands, there have been 12 byes up until Round 13, with eight of those yielding wins.
