The AFL, 'Vic bias' and the flawed logic behind Opening Round
ABCAt the AFL's preseason captain's day, the ABC Sport content creation team threw a curly one at the league's skippers: Is Vic bias real?. The view from Victoria seems to be that this act of generosity — allowing Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sydney and GWS to each play a home game against a traditionally powerful Victorian club a week before the rest of the league joins in — is a giant step towards putting Australian football on the map in those states. This abbreviated prologue to the season ensures there is one extra Thursday night and one extra Friday night in front of national eyeballs on prime-time television, without any team having to play an extra game. The postponement of two games this week due to Tropical Cyclone Alfred is unfortunate and clearly well beyond the AFL's control, but by rescheduling the Suns-Bombers game for the empty pre-finals bye week they are able to achieve the same effect — another Thursday or Friday night blockbuster added to the TV guide.
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