the Schedule will never be "fair".
The only "fair" to do it is (17 teams)- 24 games
Play all other sides once (16 games)
Play 8 sides again (8 games)
the following year, the other 8 sides are face twice, so the schedule running over 2 seasons, has each team play each other 3 times.
Using Collingwood as an example, the non-travel issue (read: myth) is dispensed, but it also allows them to potentially play a bottom side twice in a year, but could cost the AFL lost revenue (boo-hoo) with less "blockbuster" games.
There is no solution with this that pleases all clubs, let alone their supporters.
Splitting the AFL into "conferences" (

) is not an option, as neither is a 32 game season.
For those who whinge about the scheduling- put forward a solution, or shut-up.