Plenty, if Collingwood’s record after a bye is anything to go by.
The bye explained
Once the AFL closed the book on State of Origin football in 1999, the league has looked for different ways to manage the loads of its players during the season.
Due to the Sydney Olympics, the 2000 season was brought forward to begin on 8 March and ended on 2 September, meaning that there was no time for State of Origin matches nor a weekend off.
In 2001, the league scheduled a split round which saw round 12 played across two weeks (four games per week). This concept continued until the end of the decade with only some minor tweaks by the AFL (at times, Collingwood played Sydney at Homebush as a standalone game during the split round, which was scheduled between rounds 12 and 14 during that period).
The only exception was in 2003 when the league gave all teams a week off between rounds 12 and 13. The decision drew criticism from supporters that bemoaned the opportunity to watch their favourite sport during its peak season. In the absence of any football, a rugby union match between Australia and England at Telstra Dome drew a crowd of 55,000.
When Gold Coast was introduced into the competition in 2011, the uneven number of teams (17) meant that the AFL scheduled all teams two byes each across a 24 round home and away season.
The arrival of the Greater Western Sydney Giants last year boosted the number of teams to 18. As a result, the league could again fixture one bye per team – this time over a three week period mid-season.
Collingwoodfc.com.au has taken a look at the club’s performances after the bye since 2001 and the results read favourably for the Magpie Army.
The Magpies won nine matches after its 13 byes or weeks off between 2001 and 2012 (not counting finals). Importantly, they have begun these matches full of energy and haven’t been slow out of the blocks on the scoreboard.
In fact, the Pies have kicked 91.88 (634) to their opposition’s 50.76 (376) in the first halves of the 13 matches it has played after a week off since 2001.
Hopefully it bodes well for a successful performance against Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Saturday week.
After the Bye
2012
Round 12
Before the bye: 9 wins, 2 losses (first on the ladder)
After the bye: Collingwood 12.13 (85) def. West Coast 12.10 (82).
The Magpies kicked 6.6 to 7.6 in the first half.
End of season: Lost the Preliminary Final to Sydney.
2011
Round 7
Before the bye: 6 wins, 0 losses
After the bye: Collingwood 9.8 (62) def. by Geelong 8.17 (65)
The Magpies kicked 5.3 to 2.10 in the first half.
End of season: Lost the Grand Final to Geelong.
Round 13
Before: 10 wins, 1 loss
After the bye: Collingwood 13.21 (99) def. Sydney 14.9 (93)
The Magpies kicked 7.10 to 5.5 in the first half.
End of season: Lost the Grand Final to Geelong.
2010
Round 13 (split round)
Before the bye: 8 wins, 3 losses, 1 draw
After the bye: Collingwood 13.18 (96) def. Sydney 10.11 (71).
The Magpies kicked 7.11 to 4.4 in the first half.
End of season: Won the premiership, defeating St Kilda in the Grand Final Replay.
2009
Round 12 (split round)
Before the bye: 6 wins, 4 losses
After the bye: Collingwood 13.11 (89) def. Sydney 9.12 (66).
The Magpies kicked 7.7 to 5.3 in the first half.
End of season: Lost the Preliminary Final to Geelong.
2008
Round 14 (split round)
Before the bye: 7 wins, 6 losses
After the bye: Collingwood 11.13 (79) def. Sydney 6.14 (50).
The Magpies kicked 5.7 to 1.5 in the first half.
End of season: Lost the Semi-Final to St Kilda.
2007
Round 12 (split round)
Before the bye: 7 wins, 4 losses
After the bye: Collingwood 10.16 (76) def. Sydney 8.9 (57).
The Magpies kicked 6.11 to 2.1 in the first half.
End of season: Lost the Preliminary Final to Geelong.
2006
Round 12 (split round)
Before the bye: 8 wins, 3 losses
After the bye: Collingwood 14.11 (95) def. Sydney 11.16 (82).
The Magpies kicked 6.7 to 2.10 in the first half.
End of season: Lost the Elimination Final to the Western Bulldogs.
2005
Round 13 (split round)
Before the bye: 4 wins, 8 losses
After the bye: Collingwood 10.16 (76) def. by Sydney 11.11 (77).
The Magpies kicked 4.7 to 5.6 in the first half.
End of season: Collingwood finished 15th.
2004
Round 13 (split round)
Before the bye: 4 wins, 8 losses
After the bye: Collingwood 11.13 (79) def. by Sydney 13.7 (85).
The Magpies kicked 7.2 to 6.3 in the first half.
End of season: Collingwood finished 13th.
2003
Bye (week off for all clubs between rounds 12 and round 13)
Before the bye: 6 wins, 6 losses
After the bye: Collingwood 18.20 (128) def. Western Bulldogs 12.13 (85).
The Magpies kicked 10.8 to 2.8 in the first half.
End of season: Lost the Grand Final to Brisbane.
2002
Round 12 (split round)
Before the bye: 8 wins, 3 losses
After the bye: Collingwood 12.7 (79) def. by Fremantle 12.18 (90).
The Magpies kicked 8.1 to 3.11 in the first half.
End of season: Lost the Grand Final to Brisbane.
2001
Round 12 (split round)
Before the bye: 6 wins, 5 losses
After the bye: Collingwood 26.17 (173) def. West Coast 14.8 (92).
The Magpies kicked 13.8 to 6.4 in the first half.
End of season: Collingwood finished 9th.
