AFL Introduces Wild Card Round

[Leeda]

A little bit of tension around "what,where,how,why"
A Tesla moment brought to you by "X" Mark 13

 

[Borussia Teeth]

A little bit of tension around "what,where,how,why"
A Tesla moment brought to you by "X" Mark 13

Random word generator

 

[PerthBoy86]

I was shocked when I learned they'd actually done it.

Are most people missing the most obvious fact? That it just makes it less fair for 7-8?

Also those saying it theoretically gives more teams a chance at a flag - logically it does the opposite, imo. 7-8 have already only one 1 flag under the current system, now they'll be even more banged up playing another game. There'll be even less chance of them making it, where's the fun in that? Just so the AFL can cash in on 2 games? Ala opening round? Its gimmicky.

If you want a top 10 have a more fair and proper finals system, but given so few still come from 5-8, why?

If this continues the AFL will lose credibility, if it hasn't already. It's already made me less interested.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

I was shocked when I learned they'd actually done it.

Are most people missing the most obvious fact? That it just makes it less fair for 7-8?

Also those saying it theoretically gives more teams a chance at a flag - logically it does the opposite, imo. 7-8 have already only one 1 flag under the current system, now they'll be even more banged up playing another game. There'll be even less chance of them making it, where's the fun in that? Just so the AFL can cash in on 2 games? Ala opening round? Its gimmicky.

If you want a top 10 have a more fair and proper finals system, but given so few still come from 5-8, why?

If this continues the AFL will lose credibility, if it hasn't already. It's already made me less interested.

If you come 7th or 8th it SHOULD be hard to win it. Solution…don’t come there. It puts an emphasis on regular season. If you want to win come in the top 4, top 6 at worst otherwise don’t complain when it’s near impossible to win.

I hate the top 10 but we all know why it was done- money

 

[kickazz]

Are most people missing the most obvious fact? That it just makes it less fair for 7-8?

Yeah as has been said, I think this is one of the few redeeming qualities of it.

For too long I felt 5th and 6th were a bit dudded by the system. 5th in an 18 team comp ain't too shabby, but you were lumped in with 7 and 8.

Particularly gets exposed say if Saints finish 5 and Pies 8. Kind of unfair.

My main worry is the waste of time factor. I can't see 10th ever winning it; but I can see them getting over the line in a few finals only to be exhausted and completely stink up a Prelim. Don't want to see that.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

I was shocked when I learned they'd actually done it.

Are most people missing the most obvious fact? That it just makes it less fair for 7-8?

Also those saying it theoretically gives more teams a chance at a flag - logically it does the opposite, imo. 7-8 have already only one 1 flag under the current system, now they'll be even more banged up playing another game. There'll be even less chance of them making it, where's the fun in that? Just so the AFL can cash in on 2 games? Ala opening round? Its gimmicky.

If you want a top 10 have a more fair and proper finals system, but given so few still come from 5-8, why?

If this continues the AFL will lose credibility, if it hasn't already. It's already made me less interested.

The results show us that anything beyond a Top 4 is pretty much a waste of time in a sporting sense.

The Top 5, Top 6, Top 8 and now Top 10 are just all money-making ventures. It's not new.

 

[kickazz]

The results show us that anything beyond a Top 4 is pretty much a waste of time in a sporting sense.

The Top 5, Top 6, Top 8 and now Top 10 are just all money-making ventures. It's not new.

Yep.

And not so much just the money from the two finals, but longer interest in H&A seasons with more teams supposedly "still in it"

 

[threenewpadlocks]

If you want a top 10 have a more fair and proper finals system, but given so few still come from 5-8, why

Because it's entirely commercial. You slot the two wildcard games in at Thursday and Friday night to get huge TV ratings. Those timeslots are locked in.

If you have a "fairer" finals system, whatever variants that have been discussed that have 3-6th also play, those two games have to be played on a Saturday, less TV eyeballs, worth less.

It's unfair for a purely sporting sense yes, but AFL does a lot of things sacrificing a pure fair competition to make money - allowing SA and WA teams to pay money to have more games there an example of that.

 

[justlookingaround]

The results show us that anything beyond a Top 4 is pretty much a waste of time in a sporting sense.

I think this was true for a long time but the pre finals bye has flipped it on its head.
Teams outside the top 4 have made the Grand Final in 40% of the finals series played since the induction of the pre finals bye and won the premiership 20% of the time.
Not insignificant stats imo.

Imagine if a wild card team wins the flag in the next few years. Very unlikely, but just imagine...
You know what, thinking on it I don't think it's all that unlikely. I can see a scenario in which a team starts the season well, has injuries or a drop off around the bye, but finds form towards the end of the season, then wins their wild card and plays against a team coming off a bye in W1, a QF loser in W2 (at least one top 4 team has gone out in straight sets 80% of the time since pre finals bye) and a team thats played 1 game in 4 weeks in the PF....

 

[Bunk Moreland]

What shits me is there's nothing "wildcard" about it. It's just a bloody 10-team finals series. It's not a wildcard!

Here's a proper suggestion... For all clubs that miss the finals, the two with best record over the last six weeks get the wildcard spots. Rewarding their form.

 

[KanesBurner]

Because it's entirely commercial. You slot the two wildcard games in at Thursday and Friday night to get huge TV ratings. Those timeslots are locked in.

If you have a "fairer" finals system, whatever variants that have been discussed that have 3-6th also play, those two games have to be played on a Saturday, less TV eyeballs, worth less.

It's unfair for a purely sporting sense yes, but AFL does a lot of things sacrificing a pure fair competition to make money - allowing SA and WA teams to pay money to have more games there an example of that.

Yep, this is nothing more than another way to make money. It’s dumb, we’ll all hate it and complain about it. But once the games start we’ll all be glued to our TV’s watching and the AFL knows it.

 

[Gysberts2Bate]

What shits me is there's nothing "wildcard" about it. It's just a bloody 10-team finals series. It's not a wildcard!

Here's a proper suggestion... For all clubs that miss the finals, the two with best record over the last six weeks get the wildcard spots. Rewarding their form.

More like a top 6 where 7-10 have an infinitely tiny chance of ever making a prelim, even less than 7th and 8th did before, given the extra game they have to play now, simply for the sake of extra TV ratings for the two extra wildcard round games.

 

[PerthBoy86]

If you come 7th or 8th it SHOULD be hard to win it. Solution…don’t come there. It puts an emphasis on regular season. If you want to win come in the top 4, top 6 at worst otherwise don’t complain when it’s near impossible to win.

I hate the top 10 but we all know why it was done- money

Top 4 already gets a double chance. That's enough. I remember the 90s NBL finals system was 1v8, 2v7 in a best of 3, no double chances.

I personally prefer the possibility of 7th winning it like the Bulldogs.

 

[PerthBoy86]

Yeah as has been said, I think this is one of the few redeeming qualities of it.

For too long I felt 5th and 6th were a bit dudded by the system. 5th in an 18 team comp ain't too shabby, but you were lumped in with 7 and 8.

Particularly gets exposed say if Saints finish 5 and Pies 8. Kind of unfair.

My main worry is the waste of time factor. I can't see 10th ever winning it; but I can see them getting over the line in a few finals only to be exhausted and completely stink up a Prelim. Don't want to see that.

Seems like upside down thinking to me. Top 4 still have to win 3-4 games, 5 and 6 have to win 4 games and 7-10 have to win 5.

Its like, dont people want to see the fittest sides on the park come finals? Like we want to see the fittest boxers, fighters, tennis players etc in terms of a contest.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Top 4 already gets a double chance. That's enough. I remember the 90s NBL finals system was 1v8, 2v7 in a best of 3, no double chances.

I personally prefer the possibility of 7th winning it like the Bulldogs.

That’s ridiculous you should get the advantage in the top 5. Be better during the year. It should be practically impossible to win. Come 7th or 8th you don’t get a rest first up.

 

[PerthBoy86]

What shits me is there's nothing "wildcard" about it. It's just a bloody 10-team finals series. It's not a wildcard!

Here's a proper suggestion... For all clubs that miss the finals, the two with best record over the last six weeks get the wildcard spots. Rewarding their form.

I can think of a pretty obvious flaw to that suggestion...they'll take it easy until those late 6 weeks and go flat out just to get a spot...

 

[Dogs till i die]

Yeah as has been said, I think this is one of the few redeeming qualities of it.

For too long I felt 5th and 6th were a bit dudded by the system. 5th in an 18 team comp ain't too shabby, but you were lumped in with 7 and 8.

Particularly gets exposed say if Saints finish 5 and Pies 8. Kind of unfair.

My main worry is the waste of time factor. I can't see 10th ever winning it; but I can see them getting over the line in a few finals only to be exhausted and completely stink up a Prelim. Don't want to see that.

At least in the old system, if 7 or 8 win, they progress to a semi final. In the new system they just hold their spot, they don't improve their chances, and their semi final is still another win away.

The 10 has been in the VFL for 3-4 years now and no team 9 or 10 have progressed past week 2 as you'd expect. Waste of time.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

At least in the old system, if 7 or 8 win, they progress to a semi final. In the new system they just hold their spot, they don't improve their chances, and their semi final is still another win away.

The 10 has been in the VFL for 3-4 years now and no team 9 or 10 have progressed past week 2 as you'd expect. Waste of time.

That’s good in the new system you shouldn’t improve your position as a 7th or 8th side. Come there you have to come through every barrier.

 

[Crankyhawk]

What shits me is there's nothing "wildcard" about it. It's just a bloody 10-team finals series. It's not a wildcard!

Here's a proper suggestion... For all clubs that miss the finals, the two with best record over the last six weeks get the wildcard spots. Rewarding their form.

and that is also interesting as it will help kill the tank.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

and that is also interesting as it will help kill the tank.

I am far from convinced on that

I’m still a fan of bringing in a lottery system

 

[threenewpadlocks]

More like a top 6 where 7-10 have an infinitely tiny chance of ever making a prelim, even less than 7th and 8th did before, given the extra game they have to play now, simply for the sake of extra TV ratings for the two extra wildcard round games.

7th-8th already have only about a 3% chance of winning the flag, assuming a typical league home ground advantage as well as the fact that stronger teams usually are finishing higher on the ladder.

Wildcard round essentially splits that 3% to between 2% and 1% to 9th and 10th. It's fine.

 

[threenewpadlocks]

What shits me is there's nothing "wildcard" about it. It's just a bloody 10-team finals series. It's not a wildcard!

Here's a proper suggestion... For all clubs that miss the finals, the two with best record over the last six weeks get the wildcard spots. Rewarding their form.

Would love to somehow be the team that gets four or five bottom teams in the last 6 rounds by complete chance.

 

[btdg]

I was quite opposed to the idea, but now that it appears Carlton might actually improve enough this year to be bog average, being able to make the finals from 9th or 10th suddenly seems a lot more appealing.

Particularly when you remember we have the best record of any team in the competition, and are in fact unbeaten, when playing finals from 9th spot. Seems a great idea to me...

 

[Dan26]

I was shocked when I learned they'd actually done it.

Are most people missing the most obvious fact? That it just makes it less fair for 7-8?

Also those saying it theoretically gives more teams a chance at a flag - logically it does the opposite, imo. 7-8 have already only one 1 flag under the current system, now they'll be even more banged up playing another game. There'll be even less chance of them making it, where's the fun in that? Just so the AFL can cash in on 2 games? Ala opening round? Its gimmicky.

If you want a top 10 have a more fair and proper finals system, but given so few still come from 5-8, why?

If this continues the AFL will lose credibility, if it hasn't already. It's already made me less interested.

The final-10 is a great idea, but the system the AFL went for in 2026 is the wrong final-10.

You asked for a more fair and proper finals system. This is what should have happened:

Week 1
Ist Elimination Final: 7 v 10
2nd Elimination Final: 8 v 9

Week 2
1st Semi-Final: 4 v 5
2nd Semi-Final: 3 v 6
3rd Semi-Final: 2nd vs highest-placed week one winner (eg 7th)
4th Semi-Final: 1st vs lowest-placed week one winner (eg 8th)

Week 3
1st Prelim Final: highest remaining team vs lowest remaining team (eg 1 v 4)
2nd Prelim Final: 2nd-highest remaining team vs second-lowest remaining team (eg 2 v 3)

Week 4
BYE

Week 5
Grand Final


This is better than the current final-10 for SIX reasons

1st reason: It requires teams to win no more than 4 finals. Being asked to win 5 is too many. Under my system, the top teams are required to win 3, the lower teams 4. This is better.

2nd reason: It's simpler and easier to understand and less convoluted.

3rd reason: It's knockout, which is what finals should be (like the NFL). Pleasingly, the earliest exit point for the higher-placed teams remains at week 2, no different to the final-8 where if you went out in straight sets, your campaign ended in week 2.

4th reason: The path to the premiership is fairer for the top teams. Under the final-8 and the new final-10, the path to the premiership for the top-4 was: BYE-WIN-BYE-WIN-WIN. Two byes in three weeks, which meant, that entering a Preliminary Final one team had only played once in 21 days. Not ideal. Under my system, the path to the premiership for the top teams is: BYE-WIN-WIN-BYE-WIN, which is superior in every way.

5th-reason: The pre-finals bye (for the top-6) stays in addition to having a week off before the Grand Final, all without extending the finals any longer than they are now. Win-Win

6th-reason: The highest teams play the lowest, so the Prelim Finals could be 1v4 and 2v3 which can't happen under the current system. The seeding is fairer.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

The final-10 is a great idea, but the system the AFL went for in 2026 is the wrong final-10.

You asked for a more fair and proper finals system. This is what should have happened:

Week 1
Ist Elimination Final: 7 v 10
2nd Elimination Final: 8 v 9

Week 2
1st Semi-Final: 4 v 5
2nd Semi-Final: 3 v 6
3rd Semi-Final: 2nd vs highest-placed week one winner (eg 7th)
4th Semi-Final: 1st vs lowest-placed week one winner (eg 8th)

Week 3
1st Prelim Final: highest remaining team vs lowest remaining team (eg 1 v 4)
2nd Prelim Final: 2nd-highest remaining team vs second-lowest remaining team (eg 2 v 3)

Week 4
BYE

Week 5
Grand Final


This is better than the current final-10 for SIX reasons

1st reason: It requires teams to win no more than 4 finals. Being asked to win 5 is too many. Under my system, the top teams are required to win 3, the lower teams 4. This is better.

2nd reason: It's simpler and easier to understand and less convoluted.

3rd reason: It's knockout, which is what finals should be (like the NFL). Pleasingly, the earliest exit point for the higher-placed teams remains at week 2, no different to the final-8 where if you went out in straight sets, your campaign ended in week 2.

4th reason: The path to the premiership is fairer for the top teams. Under the final-8 and the new final-10, the path to the premiership for the top-4 was: BYE-WIN-BYE-WIN-WIN. Two byes in three weeks, which meant, that entering a Preliminary Final one team had only played once in 21 days. Not ideal. Under my system, the path to the premiership for the top teams is: BYE-WIN-WIN-BYE-WIN, which is superior in every way.

5th-reason: The pre-finals bye (for the top-6) stays in addition to having a week off before the Grand Final, all without extending the finals any longer than they are now. Win-Win

6th-reason: The highest teams play the lowest, so the Prelim Finals could be 1v4 and 2v3 which can't happen under the current system. The seeding is fairer.

Not enough of a reward for the top 4. Should get a double chance if you implement any system a double chance for the top 4 is easily the best one. If that means your 7-10 play an extra game so be it. Simple solution don’t come there