AFL Introduces Wild Card Round

[GC2015]

There was nothing wrong with a top 8.

Most tend to agree that the top 8 was perfect in a 16 team competition. We expand to 18 teams and it's a little problematic, but still most tend to think it works. Now we're about to go to 19 teams with Tassie soon and a 20th team probably isn't far behind so it's probably at that tipping point where you do need to think about potentially changing it again.

Personally, I'm not a fan of the NFL model of only having 12 /32 teams (37.5%) competing in the post-season competition and I think NBA's model of 20 / 30 teams (66.6%) is a bit over the top for the post-season competition. I think we should be aiming for as close to 50% as we can and knowing that we're expanding to 19 teams very soon, with a 20th on the horizon as well, means this move make sense both now and in the near future IMO.

The AFL has two years of the 10 team finals series to iron out any kinks before Tasmania joins the AFL. Seems sensible to me.

 

[hawkman]

You are being slightly off with this - each conference has a top 10 with only 15 teams in each conference. So 20 out of 30 teams make playoffs (75%) not 10 out of 18 (55%) and shortly to be 10 out of 19 (52%).

20 out of 30 is 66.7%

 

[Blackhawk42]

I actually liked all the rule changes recently announced. First time ever.

Then they pull this shit.

An absolute joke

 

[LukeParkerno1]

How about just scrap the pre-finals bye? All it's done is stuffed up the incentive for finishing top 4 and winning the QF.

I agree with you but the AFL won’t get rid of it.

Should be moved to a pre GF bye.

 

[I Lost My Keays]

This is absolutely painful.

Andrew Dillon is an absolute flog

 

[kirky]

20 out of 30 is 66.7%

Apologies for the error.

 

[Blackhawk42]

I don't hate it. It's just another week of finals.

Top 6 just became a lot more important.

The 4th best team finished 8th this season. They would have been required tl win 3 games consecutively just to make a preliminary final though. Never would have stood a chance under this new model.

What is rewarding? What is it addressing?

It's absolutely pointless.

 

[I Lost My Keays]

What’s next? First to 100 point wins?

 

[HeadofSelectionCommittee]

AFL keeps changing and implementing rules and stupid rounds yet somehow keep breaking membership and attendance records

 

[Biggy_Boy]

The 4th best team finished 8th this season. They would have been required tl win 3 games consecutively just to make a preliminary final though. Never would have stood a chance under this new model.

What is rewarding? What is it addressing?

It's absolutely pointless.

That's a good thing. Should be rewarded for being good enough during the H&A.

 

[oak79]

That's not wildcard!!
That's a final 10

Wildcard is when you have divisions to account for a weaker / stonger division.

Ridiculous. All they've done is make it even harder for 7 and 8 so the AFL can make more $.

Joke league lost the plot.

 

[hawkman]

Great post.

Half the time the 10th placed team has a negative record/percentage over the last decade. Never gonna get close to a flag.

Compare to sports like NFL (worst record to win a Super Bowl is 9-7, a couple of negative records have made playoffs but done nothing), MLB (85-77 to win the World Series, although the Diamondbacks almost won it with 84-78 a few years back, 82-80 has made playoffs)

NHL has some fairly ordinary teams make playoffs.

Some poor NFL teams have hosted playoff matches due to division winners getting home playoffs. Both Seattle (2010) and Carolina (2014) hosted playoffs despite a losing record

 

[blackey]

There was nothing wrong with a top 8. This is just dumb $hit designed to line the pockets of the AFL fat cars.

There was nothing wrong with top 5.

 

[Borussia Teeth]

Was there ever any consultation or vote relating to this decision?
What about an explanation as to why it is happening?
I can’t recall anything to date…

 

[blackey]

Go back to the VFA where there was no grand final premiers.
Top team wins.
Geelong would be happy again .

 

[420]

You're 100% correct. It's almost as if the "leave the game alone" regressives are unaware that the AFL is a business.

You're rubbish dill, vacate your seat

 

[hawkman]

For all it merits and/or criticisms it is only being introduced so the NRL don't get a free week of exposure coming into finals

 

[NeutralFan]

The 4th best team finished 8th this season. They would have been required tl win 3 games consecutively just to make a preliminary final though. Never would have stood a chance under this new model.

What is rewarding? What is it addressing?

It's absolutely pointless.

Idk, play better and finish higher in the H&A?

 

[Blackhawk42]

Both the 2020 and 2021 Grand Finals were fantastic.

So you need to be sober for the first past of the day, you poor puppy.

Being in bed as the winning sides were presented premiership cups, and not being able to actually immerse yourself in the game because it might wake sleeping children is a fantastic way to celebrate the biggest game of the season is it?

 

[Shane Heard]

Because too much footy is never enough for the AFL commission.

Let’s completely run players into the ground from sheer exhaustion…great idea.

 

[Atomboy]

What’s next? First to 100 point wins?

Saints games will go for 3 days with Ross as coach.

Maybe it’s part of ensuring AFL runs 10 months a year ?.

 

[Blackhawk42]

Idk, play better and finish higher in the H&A?

The side that finished 8th this season won 15 games, spent the entirety of the year in the top 8 and only had a 10 point loss in the final game decide if they ended up 3rd or 8th.

The punishment for that 10 point loss is beyond unreasonable with this new rule introduction.

 

[Cleavy]

For all it merits and/or criticisms it is only being introduced so the NRL don't get a free week of exposure coming into finals

no, it isn't. they want to increase the value of the broadcast rights for the next contract.

 

[longsuffreosupp]

****ing incompetent dipshits. No one wants to see 10th place in finals.

Maybe Essendon fans if Essendon finish 10th

 

[quotemokc]

Get rid of the double chance for top 4