The Art and Algorithm Behind the AFL Fixture
Every season, the release of the AFL fixture sparks excitement across Australia. Australian Rules Football fans mark their calendars, clubs analyze match-ups and broadcasters prepare for months of action. But behind that polished league schedule is one of the most complex puzzles in sport.
According to Josh Bowler, Head of Strategy and Scheduling at the AFL, creating the fixture each year is a months-long process of analysis, collaboration and refinement. “My role is to build a fixture that maximizes interest in our game,” he explains. “Whether that’s people going to games or watching on TV, we want to maximize engagement across the board.”
Why the AFL Fixture Is So Complex
With 18 teams, each playing 23 games across home, away, and the special “Gather Round,” the AFL fixture involves trillions of possible combinations. Each adjustment, like changing a venue, a date, or a broadcast slot, triggers a ripple effect that can shift dozens of other games.
Every time we make one change, everything else needs to be reassessed. It’s about balance and fairness for all.
Laura Kane, Executive General Manager of Football, AFL
That fairness is guided by what the AFL calls the Weighted Rule: a system that determines which teams play each other twice based on their finishing positions from the previous season. The final ladder is divided into thirds, ensuring competitive balance across the top, middle, and bottom six clubs.
The Math Behind the Matchups
The AFL’s partnership with Fastbreak AI has turned what was once a manual task into a data-driven science. The Fastbreak Pro Schedule platform is powered by advanced algorithms designed to process every variable, from venue availability and team travel to broadcast preferences and rivalry matchups.
“The AFL scheduling problem is almost infinite in size,” Stone says. “Our software can look at every one of the trillions of combinations and find the version that best meets the AFL’s priorities.”
The AFL and Fastbreak AI work around the clock, literally. With the AFL based in Melbourne and the software team in the US and Canada, their time zones create a 24-hour development cycle. When one team rests, the other picks up where they left off.
From Algorithms to Atmosphere
Even with technology driving the process, human input remains essential. Bowler reviews 40 to 50 different versions of the fixture before signing off on the final one. “We’re looking at competitive balance, travel fairness, marquee matchups, and crowd appeal,” he says. “It usually comes down to the final day before the release.”
And for all its complexity, the end goal is simple: create a season that excites fans and keeps every club in the competition feeling they have a fair chance to win.
As Bowler puts it, “It’s a massive relief to finally get it in the hands of the fans. Their feedback, their passion—it reminds us why we do it.”
From algorithms to on-field action, the fixture is where data meets drama, and where the countdown to another unforgettable Australian Rules Football season begins.
Explore how Fastbreak Pro brings clarity, structure, and efficiency to complex league schedules here.
