"AFL Considering September Shake-Up For 2026"

[canny30]

What are you talking about? That's not how it is at ALL. Read the system. Jesus Christ I'm sick of these people that can't read. I'm gonna lose it soon.

Yeah I got it wrong and deleted the post.

Your system is even worse though.....

 

[Hoops]

Our current final 8 is the best system I would rather a 16 team knockout series then some wildcard bs

 

[kid_a]

This is what they should do and what I predict will happen.

KNOCKOUT FINAL 10

WEEK 1 (winners to week 2, losers out)
1st elimination final: 7 v 10
2nd elimination Final: 8 v 9

WEEK 2 (winners to week 3, losers out)
1st Semi Final: 1st vs lowest ranked Elimination final winner (1 v 8)
2nd Semi Final: 2nd vs highest ranked Elimination final winner (2 v 7)
3rd Semi Final : 3 v 6
4th Semi Final : 4 v 5

WEEK 3 (winners to Grand Final, losers out)
1st Preliminary Final: highest ranked team vs lowest ranked team (1 v 4)
2nd Preliminary Final: 2nd-highest ranked team vs 2nd lowest ranked team (2 v 3)

WEEK 4
Bye (ensuring 14 day break for Grand Final)

WEEK 5
Grand Final (1 v 2)

• The earliest exit point for the top-seeded teams remains the same as the current final 8 (week 2 being the earliest exit point)

• The pre-finals bye stays (for the top 6)

• There is a bye before the Grand Final, without extending the finals series any longer than what it is now. So, you get the best of both worlds (pre finals bye for top 6 and a bye before the Grand Final)

• Finals series stays at 9 finals over 5 weeks as it is now (4 weeks plus the bye)

THIS is the final-10 that needs to come in. If you are after a final-10 and the AFL is going to introduce one regardless, THIS is the one to use.

I don't like it, because part of the reward for finishing top 4 is you get a 2nd chance...this is just straight knock out

 

[Dan26]

I don't like it, because part of the reward for finishing top 4 is you get a 2nd chance...this is just straight knock out

All finals should be knockout. We have had a knockout Grand Final for 100 years and two knockout Preliminary Finals since 1994.

Sydney finished top of the ladder last year and played 3 finals. TWO them, they faced elimination after one loss. Double chances are not needed. The NFL structure their knockout playoffs around the top-seeded teams getting a week off (ensuring that the earliest exit point is week two, not week one). We should do the same. It doesn't change the fact that the earliest exit point for the top teams remains week 2. That's exactly the same exit point under the current final-8

 

[Forever North]

Sport is big business nowdays, not a competition. Just look at the World Cup, 48 countries!!! Harder to miss out than actually qualify. More 'content' to sell and consume. Fairness and achievement mean nothing. TV dollars, rip off ticket pricing and gambling advertising rule.

 

[Rob R]

What's next participation trophies for all clubs so the poor players don't feel sad after missing finals? Top 8 is fine even if we get to 18 teams.

 

[canny30]

So if they play 1v8 on Friday night, and 2 v 7 on Saturday afternoon, and 1st and 2nd win, 3rd v 6th and 4th v 5th are playing for nothing so they rest their entire teams and get another bye. Its the exact same problem which was a major reason they abandoned the Mcintire system.

It's such a sh*t system that old mate is flapping his gums about.

Imagine Geelong qualify first and Collingwood eighth and have to play a knock out final at Collingwood's home ground in front of a majority Collingwood crowd.

Ludicrous.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Still haven't figured out what kind of tism causes you to tag me every other day about random s***.

I'm just interested in the wildcard chances of Few Tweaks FC.
Might need to extend it out to a top 14...

I know we've flogged you the last couple times we've played but surely you're over it by now?

Just have to weep into my finals tickets I guess.
Surely you'll be releasing a DVD in the blues shop to mark that monumental 2 game winning streak.

You've become St.k.
Commemorating streaks... Oh wait, the rats are fleeing the IKON park ship for the Saints.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

I'm just interested in the wildcard chances of Few Tweaks FC.
Might need to extend it out to a top 14...

Just have to weep into my finals tickets I guess.
Surely you'll be releasing a DVD in the blues shop to mark that monumental 2 game winning streak.

You've become St.k.
Commemorating streaks... Oh wait, the rats are fleeing the IKON park ship for the Saints.

I would laugh , ecxept .......

 

[Dan26]

It's such a sh*t system that old mate is flapping his gums about.

Imagine Geelong qualify first and Collingwood eighth and have to play a knock out final at Collingwood's home ground in front of a majority Collingwood crowd.

Ludicrous.

1st doesn't play 8th in a knockout final-10 in the first final. First has a guaranteed week off, while 8th has to play a final the week before to even get to the next week. Sure they can meet in the second week, but so what? 1st is playing 8th this week in the final-8, and if Hawthorn were instead Port, then Adelaide would have no advantage. Thems the breaks. You perform on the day and win, you have no problems

 

[canny30]

1st doesn't play 8th in a knockout final-10 in the first final. First has a guaranteed week off, while 8th has to play a final the week before to even get to the next week. Sure they can meet in the second week, but so what? 1st is playing 8th this week in the final-8, and if Hawthorn were instead Port, then Adelaide would have no advantage. Thems the breaks. You perform on the day and win, you have

Regardless, it's complete arse piss

 

[Dan26]

Regardless, it's complete arse piss

It’s obviously not. The NFL have have a similarly structured knockout playoff series for decades and they are the biggest and most successful league in the world. We have had two knockout prelims for 31 years. Double chances are clearly not necessary.

The problem with advocating for change is the most of the football public, are, quite frankly, idiots. Have you ever listened to talk-back radio? That is a similar collective to the type of people in this thread. The “leave the game alone” types that have an allergic reaction to any proposed change.

Knockout football is better. Everyone knows that. It’s hardly controversial to say that everyone’s favourite games of the year are the GF and PF.

 

[canny30]

It’s obviously not. The NFL have have a similarly structured knockout playoff series for decades and they are the biggest and most successful league in the world. We have had two knockout prelims for 31 years. Double chances are clearly not necessary.

The problem with advocating for change is the most of the football public, are, quite frankly, idiots. Have you ever listened to talk-back radio? That is a similar collective to the type of people in this thread. The “leave the game alone” types that have an allergic reaction to any proposed change.

Knockout football is better. Everyone knows that. It’s hardly controversial to say that everyone’s favourite games of the year are the GF and PF.

Repeat: It's arse piss.

 

[kaiserchief13]

It’s obviously not. The NFL have have a similarly structured knockout playoff series for decades and they are the biggest and most successful league in the world. We have had two knockout prelims for 31 years. Double chances are clearly not necessary.

The problem with advocating for change is the most of the football public, are, quite frankly, idiots. Have you ever listened to talk-back radio? That is a similar collective to the type of people in this thread. The “leave the game alone” types that have an allergic reaction to any proposed change.

Knockout football is better. Everyone knows that. It’s hardly controversial to say that everyone’s favourite games of the year are the GF and PF.

Imagine an mcg tenant team finishes 1st with 18-5 record, then another mcg tenant finishes 10th with 9-14 record, but then 10th team defeats 7th seed to take 8th. Does it seem fair there is no home field advantage and 8 wins difference between the teams?

 

[Dan26]

Repeat: It's arse piss.

You don’t even know what you’re talking about. A knockout system that is structurally the same as the NFL is not “arse piss” you brain dead dimwit. It’s a normal seeding system used in playoffs and finals in dozens of leagues around the world in all sorts of sports. 9 finals, 4 weeks (5 with the pre GF bye), prelims as normal, GF as normal, pre-finals bye for the top-6 and an exit point for the top teams no earlier than week 2.

It’s hardly revolutionary. That structure is done all over the world. You’re just totally resistant to change, even if that change is rational. Piss off if you can’t offer a constructive argument.

 

[Dan26]

Imagine an mcg tenant team finishes 1st with 18-5 record, then another mcg tenant finishes 10th with 9-14 record, but then 10th team defeats 7th seed to take 8th. Does it seem fair there is no home field advantage and 8 wins difference between the teams?

So what you’re saying is, what if results in the first week of the finals are such that in the second week the highest plays the lowest? Thats happening this week. If Hawthorn were Port, then Port (8th) could have been 11-12 and the Crows 20-3 and they are playing in week 2 of the current final 8 with no advantage to the Crows.

You’re wrongly insinuating in your example that 1st are just scheduled to play 10th with no advantage. That’s not true. 1st has a week off while 7th-10th have to play an extra final. Of course higher seeded teams could be scheduled to play a team from their home state therefore not getting an home ground advantage at the time any final takes place. That happens NOW and has for decades.

 

[longsuffreosupp]

Imagine an mcg tenant team finishes 1st with 18-5 record, then another mcg tenant finishes 10th with 9-14 record, but then 10th team defeats 7th seed to take 8th. Does it seem fair there is no home field advantage and 8 wins difference between the teams?

The week off would be an advantage in both Dans and the AFLs proposals, but I guess with the 19th team though - at least one team might have benefit or be worse off with a general bye in the last round.

 

[GC2015]

So what would it look like if this had been in place for the last 5 years or so?

2021
GWS (7) v St Kilda (10) @ Sydney Showgrounds
Essendon (8) v West Coast (9) @ MCG

2022
Richmond (7) v St Kilda (10) @ MCG
Bulldogs (8) v Carlton (9) @ MCG

2023
GWS (7) v Adelaide (10) @ Sydney Showgrounds
Sydney (8) v Bulldogs (9) @ SCG

2024
Hawthorn (7) v Hawthorn @ MCG
Carlton (8) v Collingwood (9) @ MCG

2025
Gold Coast (7) v Sydney (10) @ Carrara Stadium
Hawthorn (8) v Bulldogs (9) @ MCG

Some interesting matchups there. Defending premiers Collingwood facing Carlton in a 2024 wildcard playoff would've been huge. The Victorian wildcard double in 2022/24 and NSW wildcard double in 2023 would have been interesting as well.

However, the real benefit of the 7-10 wildcard suggestion is that it keeps seasons alive for longer and that means more fan engagement in the latter parts of the season. For example, in 2024 we would've seen teams ranked as low as 14th still having a realistic chance to secure 10th position going into the second last round of the season.

 

[scotty13]

• Finals series stays at 9 finals over 5 weeks as it is now (4 weeks plus the bye)

This won't be the AFL option for this reason alone. The AFL are only entertaining the idea because it means MORE finals matches which equates to more $$$. And $$$ is all they care about.

Adding two teams to finals and still playing the same amount of games as we currently do, is not going to bring in more $$$.

 

[jdisc]

I have an idea

what if we had a 'wildcard' system where teams faced off against each other in 23 games, split among home games and away games

after which, the top 8 teams progress to a 'wildcard FINALS EDITION' type round

these teams then progress through a 'WILDCARD FINALS EDITION' system until we get down to only 2 teams, who would face off in the "WILD CARD ULTIMATE FINAL", which is like almost like a grand finale of sorts

thoughts?

 

[jdisc]

also this format would include 12 field umpires and every decision would be reviewed

any high contact would result in immediate execution

 

[Walshawk]

Are we seriously going to have a nothing weekend between the prelims and the GF just in case somebody gets a concussion? That makes absolutely no sense. What if somebody pulls a hamstring? Let’s have three weeks off.

If we think that the pre finals bye is lame, at least it serves a purposes - it allows the best fixture for the finals. A pre GF bye would kills all momentum going into the GF. If it comes in it will be reversed after one season. Rediculous.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

JUST LEAVE THE GAME ALONE ... FOR ONE SEASON, PLEASE!!!!

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

I'm just interested in the wildcard chances of Few Tweaks FC.
Might need to extend it out to a top 14...

Just have to weep into my finals tickets I guess.
Surely you'll be releasing a DVD in the blues shop to mark that monumental 2 game winning streak.

You've become St.k.
Commemorating streaks... Oh wait, the rats are fleeing the IKON park ship for the Saints.

 

[maskmcgee]

Are we seriously going to have a nothing weekend between the prelims and the GF just in case somebody gets a concussion?

And just wait a year or two for them to change the concussion protocols from 12 to 21 says making the week off totally pointless.