Michael Voss, the coach of Carlton, has resisted the AFL’s Opening Round structure, claiming that games should begin in all states rather than simply New South Wales and Queensland.
The current Carlton captain, a former captain of the Brisbane Lions, proposed that the league play two games in each state to start the season in order to embrace its national character.
Voss thinks the league is losing out on a chance to demonstrate its reach throughout Australia; he suggested a more comprehensive strategy rather than focussing on games in the northern states.
Michael Voss calls for nationwide fixture to open the AFL season
“What makes us a little bit different is that we’ve got a national game, and I don’t see why we don’t advertise it … launch it in every single state,” Michael Voss stated on Thursday, according to the Herald Sun. Voss asks for a national match to kick off the AFL season.
“In addition to launching it in Victoria, we can play two games in WA, two in South Australia, and two in Queensland and New South Wales.”
Eight of our ten Victorian teams could visit each state, and we could play two games in each of them. The ability to launch the national game across Australia, in my opinion, makes it quite unique for us.
He made these remarks as Carlton gets ready for their season-opening matchup against Richmond on Thursday. Carlton played in the Opening Round last year, but this time they will play the old-fashioned match.
Although he agreed that the balance was debatable, Collingwood coach Craig McRae, who played with Voss during Brisbane’s premiership-winning heyday, supported the league’s strategy.
McRae remarked, “I love Vossy, but I don’t have to agree with him all the time.”
“I’m not sure how to strike the correct balance, but it’s a wonderful thing anytime we can advertise the game in the northern states.
“I’ll let others make that decision, whether it’s a few teams or all of them. Living here is considerably different from living in the northern states. Believe me, there are now more cameras here than up there. Given what’s happening up there right now, any promotion of the game in the northern states is beneficial.
