Version · 18 Sep 2026

TV slots and 54 rules checked · Wednesday-start calendar, softer double-up preference

An alternative version in “TV slots and 54 rules checked”: wednesday-start calendar, softer double-up preference.

For analysts: recorded build note

Wednesday 17 March opening at WR-01 weight 0.05; not selected.

Version

What it is: Alternative A fixture built alongside another in the same release. One declared setting differs, such as the calendar or a preference strength.
When: Released 18 Sep 2026 in “TV slots and 54 rules checked”. Also shipped unchanged in Victorian games and ground minimums.
Built from: Alternative to TV slots and 54 rules checked, differing in one setting: wednesday-start calendar, softer double-up preference. Generated alongside the parent in the same release, differing in one declared setting.
Calendar: Wednesday opening (17 March) · Round 1 starts on Wednesday night 17 March 2027. A modelled assumption with no recent precedent.
Recorded facts: 207 games · 5 bye rounds · dates recorded · slot bands recorded · kickoff times modelled assumptions, not facts

What changed from “TV slots and 54 rules checked”

An alternative in the same release: the release notes record no separate change list for it; it differs in one setting (wednesday-start calendar, softer double-up preference).

Games moved

165

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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Same release

TV slots and 54 rules checked Thursday opening (18 March)
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)

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What changed from “TV slots and 54 rules checked”

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