Stuart Waitley

This is the genius.

Maximum dramatic effect.

The genius of the wildcard is precisely this, just no matter the sport.

So I know, as you touched on there, we are kindred spirits when it comes to the fixture.

Now, we take an interest in it, but why it is the way it is, and I don't pretend to understand a half of it, Gerard.

In fact, in many respects, there's a reason behind the way things are set.

But often when you have things explained to you by those who know, it makes a lot of sense.

And I actually think the league...

could do a lot better and would actually be best served doing a lot better when it comes to explaining the fixture at times because they don't.

The complexities behind it, the broadcast parameters and the desire to grow the game and find new audiences.

I think if they actually came out and explained the way certain things were, then a lot of us would probably maybe not necessarily agree with it, but at least understand it.

Case in point, starts this weekend, the first of the double up games in the middle of the five weeks of buys, eight weeks after we last had buys.

So we've got teams doubling up against each other this weekend on three occasions when they haven't played, you know, five teams once.

So Hawthorne are playing the Dogs eight weeks after they met in Gather Round.

Five teams are yet to play the Dogs.

But the Hawks are reunited with them here.

In fact, the Dogs, who missed finals last year, I might add, Gerard, have to play Hawthorne, Adelaide and Sydney.

Three pretty good teams.

Twice before they even play West Coast, Richmond or North Melbourne once.

Gee, so that's what Chris is getting at there.