Richmond Could Get an Easier 2027 Draw. How Will We Know If the Team Is Actually Better?
The AFL has changed its weighted fixture rule for 2027, giving clubs the possibility of playing up to four teams from their own previous ladder band twice. After a three-win season, Richmond is exactly the kind of rebuilding club that could benefit from that extra flexibility.
That sounds like good news. More games against clubs around Richmond’s level could mean more realistic chances to win, more close-game experience for the young list and a healthier ladder position.
But what happens if the win column improves faster than the football underneath it? If Richmond wins more because the draw is kinder, how do we separate fixture-assisted improvement from a team that is genuinely becoming harder to break, better coached and more capable against stronger opposition?
Do repeat games against bottom-six opponents become development tests? Does percentage tell us more than wins? What should performances against middle-six and top-six sides reveal? And could an easier draw create the wrong list-management conclusions if Richmond mistakes opportunity for structural progress?
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