Derbies are always double-ups

WR-02Catalogue name: Local derbies are always double-ups

What it means

The Perth, Adelaide, Sydney and Queensland derbies are always among the games played twice.

Why it exists

The weighted ruleThe AFL's way of sharing out double-ups by ladder position, so strong clubs mostly play strong clubs twice.Read more in the glossary guarantees two derbies a season in each two-club state.

For example

Adelaide and Port Adelaide meet twice in 2027.

How strictly it applies

Must-follow The fixture must obey this rule. A separate checker tests the finished fixture afterwards.

Must-follow. The same fact is also stated as OH-07.

Where to see it

Teams played twice shows how this plays out across the season.

How it played out across versions

One cell per release, oldest first. Each shows the verdict that release recorded for this rule; a release with no row for the rule says so.

13 Sep13 Sep 2026Preview 13 September2027 · Generated
Off, switched off by these settings
no checker yet
13 Sep13 Sep 2026Preview 14 September (seed 42)2027 · Generated
Off, switched off by these settings
no checker yet
14 Sep14 Sep 2026Repeat-qualified (seed 42)2027 · Generated
Off, switched off by these settings
no checker yet
14 Sep14 Sep 2026Corrected (seed 43)2027 · Generated
Off, switched off by these settings
no checker yet
14 Sep14 Sep 2026Rules release (seed 43)2027 · Generated
Off, switched off by these settings
no checker yet
15 Sep15 Sep 2026B009 nominal (seed 43)2027 · Generated
Off, switched off by these settings
no checker yet
18 Sep18 Sep 2026B010 nominal (weight 0.10)2027 · Generated
Met, met
19 Sep19 Sep 2026B011 nominal2027 · Generated
Met, met
30 Sep30 Sep 2026B012 Wednesday opening2027 · Generated
Met, met
20252025 season as played2025 · As played
Off, switched off by these settings
rule source not recorded

First checked independently in TV slots added, 18 Sep 2026.

For analysts: catalogue text and codes

Rule id: WR-02
Catalogue text: Local derbies are always double-up matches.
Catalogue type: Hard
Catalogue family: Weighted Rule Constraints
Class: hard · The fixture must never break it.
Step: S1 · Step 1: opponents
Recorded status: met · source row evaluated
Catalogue reason: The AFL's weighted-rule system guarantees two derbies a season in each of the four two-club markets.