AFL Introduces Wild Card Round

[Carn The Berries]

I just had The. Best. Idea. Ever.

If a team is down by less than 10 points at the end of Q4 there should be a wildcard extra time period.

I initially thought it was a bad idea, but then I put the term 'wildcard' in there and thought it looked really progressive after that.

You are a genius! Wildcards are the future (even if they bear no resemblance to actual wildcard games!)

 

[Carn The Berries]

Yes but it comes with one of these “*”.

In your case “**”.

The fact people feel the need to ask this question show how absurd it is to use "wildcard"

It's just a 5-week finals series, but clearly the AFL don't think that's cool enough.

 

[The Punter]

League makes big change to weighted rule ahead of fixture reveal

Teams can play up to four other teams in their ladder range, previously three, from next season

www.afl.com.au

 

[Leather Poisoning]

I would like to congratulate the AFL for not being stuck in the past, being innovative and most importantly, not listening to populist conservatives views.

The wildcard weekend is well overdue.

Why play meaningless home and away games late in the season when we can have teams battling to get a wild card berth. Or teams trying to secure a top 6 position.

Many home and away games that had very little consequence would now have real meaning.

As for “rewarding mediocrely”. In fact it’s punishing mediocrity. Because if your measure of success is making the 8, from now on only the top 6 have a guaranteed place in the final 8. How is that rewarding mediocrity?

You can even argue that the current system rewards mediocrity, because a team that finished 8th has equal mathematical change as a team that finished 5th.

“Cash grab” is another empty slogan that some are throwing around. This cash they’re taking about is what keeps the AFL, from the top tier down to the local clubs, going.

The VFL almost went broke in the 80s because they didn’t understand that they must grow the game if they wanted it to survive and thrive.

What about keeping the game’s traditions? I’m all for keeping traditions, but the current finals 8 has nothing to do with tradition. in fact the finals system had gone through so many changed in the last 150 years that we all lost count. And each time many people riled against it. Some things never change.

I'm normally anti-whinge and pro-progress and experimentation.
I just really disagree with this decision.

But I'll also add that the AFL has to be a populist organisation because there are literally thousands of people that are paying memberships to the league itself and the clubs. These are member-based organisations that need to listen to and represent their members. I don't think paying members have been consulted on the major important decisions of the league aside from whether or not they're absorbing advertising from the corporate sponsors.

 

[CCurnow3picks]

Every Carlton fan!

Actually, I’m coming to love the idea…

Mouldywood finishing 11th by 1% will make me happy .

 

[Partridge]

“Cash grab” is another empty slogan that some are throwing around. This cash they’re taking about is what keeps the AFL, from the top tier down to the local clubs, going.

The VFL almost went broke in the 80s because they didn’t understand that they must grow the game if they wanted it to survive and thrive.

What about keeping the game’s traditions? I’m all for keeping traditions, but the current finals 8 has nothing to do with tradition. in fact the finals system had gone through so many changed in the last 150 years that we all lost count. And each time many people riled against it. Some things never change.

That's way too simplistic. The VFL almost went broke because it was very badly run, with skeleton staff of mostly incompetent people, doing jobs they with rare exceptions weren't qualified to do. It also fully evolved from a weekend pastime with mostly volunteers to fully professional in a few decades. Looking at it 40 years later through a 2025 lens is both unfair and ridiculous.

 

[CCurnow3picks]

The fact people feel the need to ask this question show how absurd it is to use "wildcard"

It's just a 5-week finals series, but clearly the AFL don't think that's cool enough.

Yeah it’s terrible.

Such a dumbass move by an AFL wedded to change as their primary strategy.

Ok so what else can we take from the biggest sports in the world, to pretend we are…just… like…them…?

They’re spend all their time “fixing” something that ain’t broke.

 

[Corn Cobbers]

Does it really stuff it up much though to make it nearly impossible to win it from 7-10? It keeps crap team interested for longer and fills in the bye. It still give the top 6 massive advantage and those teams should be well placed to win the flag which seems right.

Sure, they could have waited till Tassie entered but the AFL likes money too much.

Yeah it does

We've finally reached the point where all finals are interesting and watchable... kiss that goodbye

Also, the pre finals bye was great for dream team and supercoach as it rescued the final round, can probably kiss that goodbye too

 

[Partridge]

What a joke.
Would like to know what fans they spoke to about it, more like friends and family.

So we basically bookend the season with 2 nothing rounds, great.

AFL just keeps doing AFL.

Absolutely it's that. The league executives want holidays like everyone else, preferably with their mates, and their wives and/or girlfriends want to holiday in Europe or North America, not Stawell or camping on the Murray. Someone has to pay for all their hardship.

 

[Carn The Berries]

Yeah it does

We've finally reached the point where all finals are interesting and watchable... kiss that goodbye

Also, the pre finals bye was great for dream team and supercoach as it rescued the final round, can probably kiss that goodbye too

I don't support this change, but using Super Coach as a justification for not doing it is ridiculous.

 

[Coolangatta]

What a dumb way to do a top 10.

Could have just done McIntyre five x2 with no repeat double ups, but instead of pairing odds and evens, 1 is paired with 4,6,8,10 because they should have the easier draw.

But no, that was all too hard for the AFL.

No week off for 7 and 8 anymore.

 

[Purple Suit]

Yeah it does

We've finally reached the point where all finals are interesting and watchable... kiss that goodbye

Also, the pre finals bye was great for dream team and supercoach as it rescued the final round, can probably kiss that goodbye too

It won't ruin finals, they will still be watchable and interesting.

I think your last point is one thing the AFL have completely forgotten about. The prefinals bye essentially stopped mass resting of players.

If the Saints are locked into a spot between 7-10 on the ladder heading into the last round, watch Ross Lyon do it again.

 

[mm23]

The fact people feel the need to ask this question show how absurd it is to use "wildcard"

It's just a 5-week finals series, but clearly the AFL don't think that's cool enough.

They don't want to admit top 10 now make finals instead of top 8. So it's still a top 8 with the "wildcard" weekend deciding 7 and 8. So I suppose a team finishing 8 and losing a wildcard game has not made finals under this new AFL interpretation.

 

[Coolangatta]

If the Saints are locked into a spot between 7-10 on the ladder heading into the last round, watch him do it again.

And so he should. It was right then and it’s right now, **** the AFL.

 

[Partridge]

Again, the AFL don’t care that you hate them, precisely because you care about your club, not the AFL.

Honest question, how many people would keep watching the AFL if their club folded tomorrow? Vs how many people would watch their team in a brand new competition that’s not the AFL?
wanna hurt the AFL? Boycott their sponsors, visibly.
If someone started a #boycottToyota campaign because of this idiotic idea, and it led to a demonstrated negative impact to Toyota, watch how quickly the AFL will “listen to its fans”.

I barely do now. Including Geelong games.

I certainly haven't lost any sleep in changing my financial output from the thousands to zero.

 

[Carn The Berries]

It won't ruin finals, they will still be watchable and interesting.

I think your last point is one thing the AFL have completely forgotten about. The prefinals bye essentially stopped mass resting of players.

If the Saints are locked into a spot between 7-10 on the ladder heading into the last round, watch him do it again.

I think it shows that the initial decision to bring it in had nothing to do with equity, it was based on pressure from the gambling industry because they got taken for a few bucks when teams rested players.

 

[kickthething]

Just waiting for participation ribbons…

 

[joe444]

The double bye will benefit the best performing teams of the season.

But I am happy to hear alternatives and why you believe them to be better. If you have already posted them, then let me know and I'll find the posts.

It will? It hasn't recently. It's not just a theory that the double-bye has distorted things. The numbers have literally changed.

With 18 teams, we need 3 conferences of 6, top 2 from each go through, plus 2 "wildcards" if you will. With 19/20 I'll get back to you.

But now, just get rid of the bloody bye. Or do nothing. But 10th has no right being given even a whooptydo chance, or the ability to influence the finals at all even by just being in them.

 

[Corn Cobbers]

I don't support this change, but using Super Coach as a justification for not doing it is ridiculous.

You enjoyed seeing Ross Lyon rest 11 players in the final round in 2013? Good for you

 

[The Punter]

You enjoyed seeing Ross Lyon rest 11 players in the final round in 2013? Good for you

I did, we flogged Freo and saw off three champions of the club. One of my favourite days at the footy ever.

 

[magpie_marty]

Utter silly change,
Get rid of round O would be better.
As mentioned teams will rest players..
But it's all about $$ and not the fan's

 

[Carn The Berries]

You enjoyed seeing Ross Lyon rest 11 players in the final round in 2013? Good for you

I have no issues whatsoever with him doing it and would encourage any coach in the same situation to do the same.

If a punter loses a few bucks, or a "Super" coach loses a virtual match, I'm not losing any sleep.

 

[PonsfordMagpie]

Ideal model is having 40-45% of teams qualifying for the finals. 50% should be the maximum.

10 teams qualifying for the finals only makes sense if we have 20 teams or more.

How I would classify the previous finals make up:


Final 2 of 8 teams (25.0%) = 1899

• TOO LOW, not enough teams.
• 1 season only.
• Range = < 33.3% qualify

Final 4 of 12 teams (33.3%) = 1925-1941; 1944-1971
Final 5 of 14 teams (35.7%) = 1987-1990
Final 4 of 11 teams (36.4%) = 1942-1943
Final 3 of 8 teams (37.5%) = 1898 and 1900

• ACCEPTABLE, but room to expand.
• 53 seasons
• Range = 33.3% - 39.9% qualify

Final 4 of 10 teams (40.0%) = 1908-1914
Final 6 of 15 teams (40.0%) = 1991-1993
Final 5 of 12 teams (41.7%) = 1972-1986
Final 4 of 9 teams (44.4%) = 1915; 1919-1924
Final 8 of 18 teams (44.4%) = 2012-2025

• IDEAL RANGE
• 46 seasons
• Range = 40.0% - 44.9% qualify

Final 8 of 17 teams (47.1%) = 2011
Final 4 of 8 teams (50%) = 1897; 1901-1907; 1918
Final 8 of 16 teams (50.0%) = 1995-2010

• ACCEPTABLE, but no more expansion of the finals.
• 26 seasons
• Range = 45.0% - 50.0% qualify

Final 8 of 15 teams (53.3%) = 1994
Final 10 of 18 teams (55.6%) = 2026-Present
Final 4 of 6 teams (66.7%) = 1917
Final 4 of 4 teams (100.0%) = 1916

• TOO MANY, oversupply of teams.
• 3 seasons, soon to be 4.
• Range = > 50.0% qualify

 

[joe444]

The prefinals bye essentially stopped mass resting of players.

Sydney couldn't move out of 10th for the final round this year. Reckon they'd have fielded a full list in the last round, knowing everyone in the top 6 would get a bye, and that whoever ended up 7th was fighting their guts out in the final game?

Could have just done McIntyre five x2 with no repeat double ups....

Could you model that one out for me?

 

[Corn Cobbers]

I have no issues whatsoever with him doing it and would encourage any coach in the same situation to do the same.

If a punter loses a few bucks, or a "Super" coach loses a virtual match, I'm not losing any sleep.

I would encourage the league to make sure it doesn't happen, it's an ugly and unnecessary spectacle and it does ruin fantasy football which has its grand finals that week

Might be "virtual matches" to you but there's $$$ at stake