Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir's plea to the AFL to change the format of Opening Round may have merit.
Longmuir said clubs that participate in Opening Round have a "competitive advantage" for the earlier run, especially when they face sides who kick off their campaigns in Round 1.
Geelong lost to Gold Coast by 56 points in Opening Round, and trailed by 33 points at the first break. But the Cats, facing a 0-2 start, trimmed the deficit and jumped in front for the first time midway through the final quarter, before running away with the victory.
Longmuir's emotions came to the boil in his post-match press conference.
"Anyone who's been around football would realise it's an advantage," he said.
"We should all start the season the same way; there should be no competitive advantage for any team playing a game before they play another team.
"It just makes so much sense to people in the industry, and we've just got it wrong."
But what do the records say?
Following the third iteration of Opening Round, clubs that feature in Andrew Dillon's innovative idea tend to win much more than they lose.
Across 14 games, 10 of those returned victorious the following week after starting their year along the eastern coast.
Ironically, Melbourne coach Steven King supported Longmuir's contention despite the Demons attempting to balance the ledger with a win over St Kilda.
The Saints failed to overturn their Opening Round loss to Collingwood, with Melbourne taking home the four points. But King thought all clubs should start at the same time.
"I agree with JL," King said after his first win as Melbourne's senior coach.
"In an era, and a game, we're trying to get equality, it's something you're thrown up with.
"Having coached in the northern states, I completely understand the importance of growth of the game, but we were sitting around last week having to devise a Saturday training session, an intra-club waiting to play, and I would have been happy to get on the road and start last week.
"Whether we can take Opening Round across Australia, I'd be happy to be part of that."
2024
Melbourne - win
Brisbane - loss
Gold Coast - win
GWS - win
2025
Sydney - loss
Hawthorn - win
GWS - win
Collingwood - win
2026
Carlton - win
Geelong - win
Hawthorn - win
Collingwood - loss
St Kilda - loss
Gold Coast - win
