Rules in this version

60 rules checked against TV slots and 54 rules checked · Softer double-up preference

54 met · 0 not met · 2 switched off · 4 don't apply. Only "Not met" is a failure. Everything else in grey is a limit of the checking, or a rule that has nothing to act on.

Version

Each row is one rule's recorded verdictAn independent checker's result for one rule on one version: met, not met, switched off, or doesn't apply. in this version, grouped by what the rule is about. Open a rule for what it means, why it exists and how it played out across every version. The rule explorer covers all versions at once.

TV coverage · 8 rules

The TV deal: free-to-air and pay-TV promises, Saturday windows and state coverage.

Met, metAt least 81 games on free TVBC-01 · must-follow rule · Step 5: TV slotFlag an issue
Met, metThree live free-TV games a roundBC-02 · must-follow rule · Step 5: TV slotFlag an issue
Met, metEvery game live on pay TVBC-03 · must-follow rule · Step 5: TV slotFlag an issue
Met, metEarly Thursday nights on free TVBC-04 · must-follow rule · Step 5: TV slotFlag an issue
Met, metBig occasions live on free TVBC-05 · must-follow rule · Step 5: TV slotFlag an issue
Met, metPay-TV-only Saturdays early in the seasonBC-08 · must-follow rule · Step 5: TV slotFlag an issue
Switched off — season data not sourced, switched off, season data not sourcedWhen local games return to live TVBC-09 · must-follow rule · Step 5: TV slotWe don't have this season's figure yet, so the rule is switched off rather than guessed. Last year's number is never silently reused.Flag an issue
Met, metEvery local game on free TVBC-10 · must-follow rule · Step 5: TV slotFlag an issue

Season shape · 23 rules

The season’s shape: clubs, games, rounds, byes, double-ups and spacing between return games.

Met, metBye rounds still have seven gamesBY-01 · must-follow rule · Step 2: roundsFlag an issue
Met, metEighteen clubs in the competitionFS-01 · must-follow rule · Step 2: roundsFlag an issue
Met, metEveryone plays everyoneFS-02 · must-follow rule · Step 1: opponentsFlag an issue
Met, metSix double-ups eachFS-03 · must-follow rule · Step 1: opponentsFlag an issue
Met, metTwenty-three games eachFS-04 · must-follow rule · Step 1: opponentsFlag an issue
Met, metTwenty-four rounds in the seasonFS-05 · must-follow rule · Step 2: roundsFlag an issue
Met, metOne bye each, mid-seasonFS-06 · must-follow rule · Step 2: roundsFlag an issue
Met, metEvery game has one dateinternal:date.DATE-ASSIGN-01 · must-follow rule · Step 3: datesFlag an issue
Met, metGames per dayinternal:date.DATE-DAY-CAPACITY · must-follow rule · Step 3: datesFlag an issue
Met, metSame-state derbies per dayinternal:date.DATE-MARKET-CAPACITY · must-follow rule · Step 3: datesFlag an issue
Met, metEvery game has one roundinternal:round.ASSIGN-01 · must-follow rule · Step 2: roundsFlag an issue
Met, metOne game per club per roundinternal:round.ASSIGN-02 · must-follow rule · Step 2: roundsFlag an issue
Met, metBanned double-up pairsinternal:stage1.forbidden_pairs · must-follow rule · Step 1: opponentsFlag an issue
Met, metEvery game has one groundinternal:venue.OPT-01 · must-follow rule · Step 4: home club and groundFlag an issue
Met, metDerbies are played twiceOH-07 · must-follow rule · Step 1: opponentsFlag an issue
Doesn't apply here, doesn't apply hereOpening Round involves only some clubsOR-01 · must-follow rule · Step 2: roundsFlag an issue
Doesn't apply here, doesn't apply hereOpening Round clubs get an extra byeOR-02 · must-follow rule · Step 2: roundsFlag an issue
Doesn't apply here, doesn't apply hereOpening Round runs Thursday to SundayOR-03 · must-follow rule · Step 2: roundsFlag an issue
Met, metGames fixed in advance stay putRA-01 · must-follow rule · Step 2: roundsFlag an issue
Met, metSix rounds between the two meetingsRA-02 · must-follow rule · Step 2: roundsFlag an issue
Met, metNo return games before mid-seasonRA-05 · must-follow rule · Step 2: roundsFlag an issue
Met, metFinal round is for return games onlyRA-06 · must-follow rule · Step 2: roundsFlag an issue
Met, metDerbies are always double-upsWR-02 · must-follow rule · Step 1: opponentsFlag an issue

Fairness and balance · 3 rules

Draw fairness, home and away balance, and each club’s prime-time limits and weekday ranges.

Met, metDouble-ups: one home game eachinternal:venue.HA-ALTERNATION · must-follow rule · Step 4: home club and groundFlag an issue
Met, metEleven home, eleven awayinternal:venue.HA-BALANCE · must-follow rule · Step 4: home club and groundFlag an issue
Met, metThe weighted ruleWR-01 · must-follow rule · Step 1: opponentsFlag an issue

Rest and breaks · 9 rules

The players' rest-break rules from the 2023 to 2027 collective agreement.

Met, metSix days between gamesCBA-01 · must-follow rule · Step 3: datesFlag an issue
Met, metAt most three short breaks a seasonCBA-02 · must-follow rule · Step 3: datesFlag an issue
Doesn't apply here, doesn't apply hereShort breaks only in the home-and-away seasonCBA-03 · must-follow ruleFlag an issue
Met, metExtra rest beside a short breakCBA-04 · must-follow rule · Step 3: datesFlag an issue
Met, metThe opponent has at most six days’ restCBA-05 · must-follow rule · Step 3: datesFlag an issue
Met, metThree rounds between a club's short breaksCBA-06 · must-follow rule · Step 3: datesFlag an issue
Met, metOnly one interstate trip around a short breakCBA-07 · must-follow rule · Step 3: datesFlag an issue
Met, metNo short break after a Perth tripCBA-08 · must-follow rule · Step 3: datesFlag an issue
Met, metPerth clubs: no short break then travelCBA-09 · must-follow rule · Step 3: datesFlag an issue

Big occasions and event rounds · 3 rules

Fixed occasions and event rounds: Anzac, King's Birthday Eve, tribute matches, Gather Round.

Met, metGather Round in one cityGR-01 · must-follow rule · Step 2: roundsFlag an issue
Met, metGather Round: four days, three groundsGR-02 · must-follow rule · Step 4: home club and groundFlag an issue
Met, metEveryone travels to Gather RoundGR-03 · must-follow rule · Step 4: home club and groundFlag an issue

Travel · 2 rules

Where clubs travel, how often, and whether trips come in consecutive rounds.

Met, metVictorian clubs travel at least five timesOH-02 · must-follow rule · Step 4: home club and groundFlag an issue
Met, metEveryone visits Western AustraliaOH-04 · must-follow rule · Step 4: home club and groundFlag an issue

Grounds and venues · 11 rules

Ground choices, contracts, home-game limits, known bookings and ground-specific rules.

Met, metTen Geelong home games at Kardinia Parkinternal:venue.GEELONG-KARDINIA-COUNT · must-follow rule · Step 4: home club and groundFlag an issue
Met, metVenue caps for interstate visitorsinternal:venue.SM-CLUB-INTERSTATE-VENUE-MAX · must-follow rule · Step 4: home club and groundFlag an issue
Met, metVictorian venue capsinternal:venue.SM-CLUB-VENUE-MAX · must-follow rule · Step 4: home club and groundFlag an issue
Met, metSold home games: the exact countSM-01 · must-follow rule · Step 4: home club and groundFlag an issue
Met, metDarwin games are night games (venue deal)SM-03 · must-follow rule · Step 4: home club and groundFlag an issue
Met, metThree Giants home games in CanberraSM-05 · must-follow rule · Step 4: home club and groundFlag an issue
Switched off — season data not verified, switched off, season data not sourcedThe ground must be free that dayVA-01 · must-follow rule · Step 4: home club and groundWe have a season figure but could not verify its source. The rule stays switched off until we can check that figure.Flag an issue or email us
Met, metEveryone plays at the MCGVT-03 · must-follow rule · Step 4: home club and groundFlag an issue
Met, metAt least 45 games at the MCGVT-04 · must-follow rule · Step 4: home club and groundFlag an issue
Met, metAt least 40 games at DocklandsVT-05 · must-follow rule · Step 4: home club and groundFlag an issue
Met, metDarwin games are night gamesVT-08 · must-follow rule · Step 4: home club and groundFlag an issue

Not in force for 2027, or not carried by this version

1 analyst-level or retired rule this version still records

Met, metNo rested club against an unrested one BY-02 · analyst level

22 rules the site knows that this version carries no verdict for

This version has no recorded result for this rule. Usually the rule was added to the model after this version was published.

Same-state clubs never clash on TV BC-11 · TV coverage
King's Birthday Eve MQ-09 · Big occasions and event rounds
Port Adelaide's Anzac tribute game MQ-10 · Big occasions and event rounds
Fremantle's Len Hall Tribute MQ-11 · Big occasions and event rounds
Five games in Victoria for every club OH-01 · Travel
Perth clubs never travel two weeks running RA-10 · Travel
No club travels three weeks running RA-11 · Travel
Darwin in May, Alice Springs in winter SM-04 · Grounds and venues
Same-state clubs in different slots VT-02 · TV coverage
No lights, no night games VT-12 · Grounds and venues
One game per ground per day VT-13 · Grounds and venues
Grand Final rematch is a double-up WR-04 · Season shape
Big Victorian games on separate days internal:date.DATE-BIG-CLUB-SAME-DATE · Grounds and venues
Thursday and Friday caps per club internal:date.DATE-PRIMETIME-CLUB-CAP · Fairness and balance
Thursdays spread across the season internal:date.DATE-PRIMETIME-THIRD-SPREAD · Fairness and balance
At least six Saturdays, three to twelve Sundays internal:date.DATE-PRIMETIME-WEEKEND-BAND · Fairness and balance
Each club's own weekday range internal:date.DATE-WEEKDAY-ENVELOPE · Fairness and balance
Big Victorian games at the MCG internal:venue.BIG-CLUB-MCG · Grounds and venues
Gold Coast's Darwin games back to back internal:venue.GC-DARWIN-BLOCK · Grounds and venues
At most three rounds without a home game internal:venue.HA-AWAY-RUN-CAP · Fairness and balance
Melbourne's Alice Springs game internal:venue.MEL-TRAEGER-GAME · Grounds and venues
Every state gets footy most weeks internal:venue.STATE-ROUND-PRESENCE · Travel