Version · 18 Sep 2026

TV slots and 54 rules checked

Four seed-42 candidates with a modelled broadcast allocation, the weighted rule back as a preference, and independent checkers for the broadcast, bye, Gather Round, venue and opponent rules.

For analysts: recorded build note

The selected nominal-calendar candidate. WR-01 thirds weighting is enabled together with the tenancy caps; an explicit modelled broadcast allocation records a kickoff clock for every match. 54 rules evaluated, 2 disabled.

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Version

What it is: Generated A fixture the model built from scratch through all five steps.
When: Released 18 Sep 2026 in “TV slots and 54 rules checked”, its headline version. Also shipped unchanged in Victorian games and ground minimums.
Built from: Re-run after rule changes from Two opening dates. The model builds a fresh fixture after rules change. It links to the previous release’s headline version. Differences come from rule changes, rather than a human edit.
Calendar: Thursday opening (18 March) · Round 1 starts on Thursday night 18 March 2027. Everything but Round 1 is the same as the Wednesday calendar.
Recorded facts: 207 games · 5 bye rounds · dates recorded · slot bands recorded · kickoff times modelled assumptions, not facts

What changed from “Two opening dates”

WR-01 weighted rule enabled with tenancy caps; the double-up opponents change for every club.
Modelled kickoff clocks recorded per match.
35 further rules evaluated; BC-09 and VA-01 stay disabled for missing or unverified annual data.

Games moved

166

Added

Removed

Clubs affected

Counts from the prototype comparison between the two versions.

Everything that changed, game by game

What the rules say

54 met · 0 not met · 2 switched off · 4 don't apply

At least one rule rests on a labelled assumption or an unknown rather than a sourced fact for 2027. Every 2027 release so far is incomplete, and says so. It is not a failure.

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. The recorded counts include 1 analyst-level rule listed only on the rules page.

No checked rule is broken in this version.

53 met Rules an independent checker confirmed

Met, metAt least 81 games on free TV BC-01
Met, metThree live free-TV games a round BC-02
Met, metEvery game live on pay TV BC-03
Met, metEarly Thursday nights on free TV BC-04
Met, metBig occasions live on free TV BC-05
Met, metPay-TV-only Saturdays early in the season BC-08
Met, metEvery local game on free TV BC-10
Met, metBye rounds still have seven games BY-01
Met, metSix days between games CBA-01
Met, metAt most three short breaks a season CBA-02
Met, metExtra rest beside a short break CBA-04
Met, metThe opponent has at most six days’ rest CBA-05
Met, metThree rounds between a club's short breaks CBA-06
Met, metOnly one interstate trip around a short break CBA-07
Met, metNo short break after a Perth trip CBA-08
Met, metPerth clubs: no short break then travel CBA-09
Met, metEighteen clubs in the competition FS-01
Met, metEveryone plays everyone FS-02
Met, metSix double-ups each FS-03
Met, metTwenty-three games each FS-04
Met, metTwenty-four rounds in the season FS-05
Met, metOne bye each, mid-season FS-06
Met, metGather Round in one city GR-01
Met, metGather Round: four days, three grounds GR-02
Met, metEveryone travels to Gather Round GR-03
Met, metVictorian clubs travel at least five times OH-02
Met, metEveryone visits Western Australia OH-04
Met, metDerbies are played twice OH-07
Met, metGames fixed in advance stay put RA-01
Met, metSix rounds between the two meetings RA-02
Met, metNo return games before mid-season RA-05
Met, metFinal round is for return games only RA-06
Met, metSold home games: the exact count SM-01
Met, metDarwin games are night games (venue deal) SM-03
Met, metThree Giants home games in Canberra SM-05
Met, metEveryone plays at the MCG VT-03
Met, metAt least 45 games at the MCG VT-04
Met, metAt least 40 games at Docklands VT-05
Met, metDarwin games are night games VT-08
Met, metThe weighted rule WR-01
Met, metDerbies are always double-ups WR-02
Met, metEvery game has one date internal:date.DATE-ASSIGN-01
Met, metGames per day internal:date.DATE-DAY-CAPACITY
Met, metSame-state derbies per day internal:date.DATE-MARKET-CAPACITY
Met, metEvery game has one round internal:round.ASSIGN-01
Met, metOne game per club per round internal:round.ASSIGN-02
Met, metBanned double-up pairs internal:stage1.forbidden_pairs
Met, metTen Geelong home games at Kardinia Park internal:venue.GEELONG-KARDINIA-COUNT
Met, metDouble-ups: one home game each internal:venue.HA-ALTERNATION
Met, metEleven home, eleven away internal:venue.HA-BALANCE
Met, metEvery game has one ground internal:venue.OPT-01
Met, metVenue caps for interstate visitors internal:venue.SM-CLUB-INTERSTATE-VENUE-MAX
Met, metVictorian venue caps internal:venue.SM-CLUB-VENUE-MAX

1 switched off — season data not sourced We 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.

When local games return to live TV BC-09Flag an issue

1 switched off — season data not verified We have a season figure but could not verify its source. The rule stays switched off until we can check that figure.

The ground must be free that day VA-01Flag an issue

4 doesn't apply here The rule is about a part of the season this model does not cover. Finals are not modelled.

Short breaks only in the home-and-away season CBA-03Doesn't apply here
Opening Round involves only some clubs OR-01Doesn't apply here
Opening Round clubs get an extra bye OR-02Doesn't apply here
Opening Round runs Thursday to Sunday OR-03Doesn't apply here

Every rule in this version, by family

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Related versions

Same release

TV slots and 54 rules checked · Softer double-up preference Thursday opening (18 March)
TV slots and 54 rules checked · Wednesday-start calendar Wednesday opening (17 March)
TV slots and 54 rules checked · Wednesday-start calendar, softer double-up preference Wednesday opening (17 March)

Built from this version

TV slots and 54 rules checked · Softer double-up preference 18 Sep 2026
TV slots and 54 rules checked · Wednesday-start calendar 18 Sep 2026
TV slots and 54 rules checked · Wednesday-start calendar, softer double-up preference 18 Sep 2026
Victorian games and ground minimums 19 Sep 2026

What this version is

What changed from “Two opening dates”

What the rules say

Explore this version

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