Rules in this version
61 rules checked against Two opening dates
19 met · 0 not met · 38 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
- 2025 demo: season as played
- 2025 demo: before the tweak
- 2025 demo: opening game pinned
- Realism: prime time spread fairly — 30 Sep
- Realism: prime time spread fairly · Thursday-start calendar — 30 Sep
- Victorian games and ground minimums — 19 Sep
- Victorian games and ground minimums · Wednesday-start calendar — 19 Sep
- TV slots and 54 rules checked — 18 Sep
- TV slots and 54 rules checked · Softer double-up preference — 18 Sep
- TV slots and 54 rules checked · Wednesday-start calendar — 18 Sep
- TV slots and 54 rules checked · Wednesday-start calendar, softer double-up preference — 18 Sep
- Two opening dates — 15 Sep
- New rules in force — 14 Sep
- Corrected: Geelong goes home — 14 Sep
- Repeat meetings checked — 14 Sep
- Audited re-run — 13 Sep
- First preview — 13 Sep
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.
- Switched off — no checker yet, switched off by these settingsAt least 81 games on free TVThe independent checker for this rule had not been built when this version was published. The fixture may well obey the rule; nobody could confirm it.Flag an issue
- Switched off — no checker yet, switched off by these settingsThree live free-TV games a roundThe independent checker for this rule had not been built when this version was published. The fixture may well obey the rule; nobody could confirm it.Flag an issue
- Switched off — no checker yet, switched off by these settingsEvery game live on pay TVThe independent checker for this rule had not been built when this version was published. The fixture may well obey the rule; nobody could confirm it.Flag an issue
- Switched off — no checker yet, switched off by these settingsEarly Thursday nights on free TVThe independent checker for this rule had not been built when this version was published. The fixture may well obey the rule; nobody could confirm it.Flag an issue
- Switched off — no checker yet, switched off by these settingsBig occasions live on free TVThe independent checker for this rule had not been built when this version was published. The fixture may well obey the rule; nobody could confirm it.Flag an issue
- Switched off — no checker yet, switched off by these settingsPay-TV-only Saturdays early in the seasonThe independent checker for this rule had not been built when this version was published. The fixture may well obey the rule; nobody could confirm it.Flag an issue
- Switched off — no checker yet, switched off by these settingsWhen local games return to live TVThe independent checker for this rule had not been built when this version was published. The fixture may well obey the rule; nobody could confirm it.Flag an issue
- Switched off — no checker yet, switched off by these settingsEvery local game on free TVThe independent checker for this rule had not been built when this version was published. The fixture may well obey the rule; nobody could confirm it.Flag an issue
Season shape · 23 rules
The season’s shape: clubs, games, rounds, byes, double-ups and spacing between return games.
- Switched off — no checker yet, switched off by these settingsBye rounds still have seven gamesThe independent checker for this rule had not been built when this version was published. The fixture may well obey the rule; nobody could confirm it.Flag an issue
- Met, metEighteen clubs in the competitionFlag an issue
- Met, metEveryone plays everyoneFlag an issue
- Met, metSix double-ups eachFlag an issue
- Met, metTwenty-three games eachFlag an issue
- Met, metTwenty-four rounds in the seasonFlag an issue
- Met, metOne bye each, mid-seasonFlag an issue
- Switched off — no checker yet, switched off by these settingsEvery game has one dateThe independent checker for this rule had not been built when this version was published. The fixture may well obey the rule; nobody could confirm it.Flag an issue
- Switched off — no checker yet, switched off by these settingsGames per dayThe independent checker for this rule had not been built when this version was published. The fixture may well obey the rule; nobody could confirm it.Flag an issue
- Switched off — no checker yet, switched off by these settingsSame-state derbies per dayThe independent checker for this rule had not been built when this version was published. The fixture may well obey the rule; nobody could confirm it.Flag an issue
- Met, metEvery game has one roundFlag an issue
- Switched off — no checker yet, switched off by these settingsOne game per club per roundThe independent checker for this rule had not been built when this version was published. The fixture may well obey the rule; nobody could confirm it.Flag an issue
- Switched off — no checker yet, switched off by these settingsBanned double-up pairsThe independent checker for this rule had not been built when this version was published. The fixture may well obey the rule; nobody could confirm it.Flag an issue
- Switched off — no checker yet, switched off by these settingsEvery game has one groundThe independent checker for this rule had not been built when this version was published. The fixture may well obey the rule; nobody could confirm it.Flag an issue
- Switched off — no checker yet, switched off by these settingsDerbies are played twiceThe independent checker for this rule had not been built when this version was published. The fixture may well obey the rule; nobody could confirm it.Flag an issue
- Doesn't apply here, doesn't apply hereOpening Round involves only some clubsFlag an issue
- Doesn't apply here, doesn't apply hereOpening Round clubs get an extra byeFlag an issue
- Doesn't apply here, doesn't apply hereOpening Round runs Thursday to SundayFlag an issue
- Switched off — no checker yet, switched off by these settingsGames fixed in advance stay putThe independent checker for this rule had not been built when this version was published. The fixture may well obey the rule; nobody could confirm it.Flag an issue
- Met, metSix rounds between the two meetingsFlag an issue
- Met, metNo return games before mid-seasonFlag an issue
- Switched off — no checker yet, switched off by these settingsFinal round is for return games onlyThe independent checker for this rule had not been built when this version was published. The fixture may well obey the rule; nobody could confirm it.Flag an issue
- Switched off — no checker yet, switched off by these settingsDerbies are always double-upsThe independent checker for this rule had not been built when this version was published. The fixture may well obey the rule; nobody could confirm it.Flag an issue
Fairness and balance · 3 rules
Draw fairness, home and away balance, and each club’s prime-time limits and weekday ranges.
- Switched off — no checker yet, switched off by these settingsDouble-ups: one home game eachThe independent checker for this rule had not been built when this version was published. The fixture may well obey the rule; nobody could confirm it.Flag an issue
- Met, metEleven home, eleven awayFlag an issue
- Switched off — no checker yet, switched off by these settingsThe weighted ruleThe independent checker for this rule had not been built when this version was published. The fixture may well obey the rule; nobody could confirm it.Flag an issue
Rest and breaks · 9 rules
The players' rest-break rules from the 2023 to 2027 collective agreement.
- Met, metSix days between gamesFlag an issue
- Met, metAt most three short breaks a seasonFlag an issue
- Doesn't apply here, doesn't apply hereShort breaks only in the home-and-away seasonFlag an issue
- Met, metExtra rest beside a short breakFlag an issue
- Met, metThe opponent has at most six days’ restFlag an issue
- Met, metThree rounds between a club's short breaksFlag an issue
- Met, metOnly one interstate trip around a short breakFlag an issue
- Met, metNo short break after a Perth tripFlag an issue
- Met, metPerth clubs: no short break then travelFlag an issue
Big occasions and event rounds · 3 rules
Fixed occasions and event rounds: Anzac, King's Birthday Eve, tribute matches, Gather Round.
- Switched off — no checker yet, switched off by these settingsGather Round in one cityThe independent checker for this rule had not been built when this version was published. The fixture may well obey the rule; nobody could confirm it.Flag an issue
- Switched off — no checker yet, switched off by these settingsGather Round: four days, three groundsThe independent checker for this rule had not been built when this version was published. The fixture may well obey the rule; nobody could confirm it.Flag an issue
- Switched off — no checker yet, switched off by these settingsEveryone travels to Gather RoundThe independent checker for this rule had not been built when this version was published. The fixture may well obey the rule; nobody could confirm it.Flag an issue
Travel · 2 rules
Where clubs travel, how often, and whether trips come in consecutive rounds.
- Switched off — no checker yet, switched off by these settingsVictorian clubs travel at least five timesThe independent checker for this rule had not been built when this version was published. The fixture may well obey the rule; nobody could confirm it.Flag an issue
- Switched off — no checker yet, switched off by these settingsEveryone visits Western AustraliaThe independent checker for this rule had not been built when this version was published. The fixture may well obey the rule; nobody could confirm it.Flag 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 ParkFlag an issue
- Switched off — no checker yet, switched off by these settingsVenue caps for interstate visitorsThe independent checker for this rule had not been built when this version was published. The fixture may well obey the rule; nobody could confirm it.Flag an issue
- Switched off — no checker yet, switched off by these settingsVictorian venue capsThe independent checker for this rule had not been built when this version was published. The fixture may well obey the rule; nobody could confirm it.Flag an issue
- Switched off — no checker yet, switched off by these settingsSold home games: the exact countThe independent checker for this rule had not been built when this version was published. The fixture may well obey the rule; nobody could confirm it.Flag an issue
- Switched off — no checker yet, switched off by these settingsDarwin games are night games (venue deal)The independent checker for this rule had not been built when this version was published. The fixture may well obey the rule; nobody could confirm it.Flag an issue
- Switched off — no checker yet, switched off by these settingsThree Giants home games in CanberraThe independent checker for this rule had not been built when this version was published. The fixture may well obey the rule; nobody could confirm it.Flag an issue
- Switched off — no checker yet, switched off by these settingsThe ground must be free that dayThe independent checker for this rule had not been built when this version was published. The fixture may well obey the rule; nobody could confirm it.Flag an issueor email us
- Switched off — no checker yet, switched off by these settingsEveryone plays at the MCGThe independent checker for this rule had not been built when this version was published. The fixture may well obey the rule; nobody could confirm it.Flag an issue
- Switched off — no checker yet, switched off by these settingsAt least 45 games at the MCGThe independent checker for this rule had not been built when this version was published. The fixture may well obey the rule; nobody could confirm it.Flag an issue
- Switched off — no checker yet, switched off by these settingsAt least 40 games at DocklandsThe independent checker for this rule had not been built when this version was published. The fixture may well obey the rule; nobody could confirm it.Flag an issue
- Switched off — no checker yet, switched off by these settingsDarwin games are night gamesThe independent checker for this rule had not been built when this version was published. The fixture may well obey the rule; nobody could confirm it.Flag an issue
Not in force for 2027, or not carried by this version
2 analyst-level or retired rules this version still records
- Switched off — no checker yet, switched off by these settingsNo rested club against an unrested one
- Switched off — no checker yet, switched off by these settingsNo afternoon games at the old Perth ground
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
- King's Birthday Eve
- Port Adelaide's Anzac tribute game
- Fremantle's Len Hall Tribute
- Five games in Victoria for every club
- Perth clubs never travel two weeks running
- No club travels three weeks running
- Darwin in May, Alice Springs in winter
- Same-state clubs in different slots
- No lights, no night games
- One game per ground per day
- Grand Final rematch is a double-up
- Big Victorian games on separate days
- Thursday and Friday caps per club
- Thursdays spread across the season
- At least six Saturdays, three to twelve Sundays
- Each club's own weekday range
- Big Victorian games at the MCG
- Gold Coast's Darwin games back to back
- At most three rounds without a home game
- Melbourne's Alice Springs game
- Every state gets footy most weeks