AFL Introduces Wild Card Round

[Carringbush2010]

You could, but that doesn't make it correct. Or much of an argument if you bothered to look at what they did.

The Dogs looked a million dollars in murdering teams beneath them (except for GWS both times bizarrely) but otherwise, despite being competitive, lost pretty much every time they played a team inside the top 8 (i.e. actual finalist). Lost to Brisbane twice. Lost to Fremantle twice. Lost to Hawthorn, Geelong, Gold Coast, and Collingwood. They weren't worthy, they just weren't good enough. Bad luck.

I don't know what universe there is where the Swans were finals worthy. They won two games even less than the Dogs, and finished with a percentage of 97.0. That's not finals worthy, that's average to crap.

Like I said, the comp is pretty even, North drew with the premier, 1% off and that's what happens.

And didn't set in stone that those two were worthy, I did say it's arguable.

No they aren't. That's absolutely laughable.

You've conveniently left out the context in the post you replied to which was yes they are in any other level, less than the better players in the top competition? Sure but the term 'spud' isn't justified IMO.

The argument that the wildcard rewards mediocrity has merit and there's merit to counter argument.

It's all subject to opinion, and like I said IMO I'm not judging it yet and I also said that more than half the comp in finals reduces the merit.

 

[jdstorm]

Didn’t read other posts but what a terrible way to implement an expanded finals

Just go top 12 single elimination with top 4 getting a week 1 bye

 

[donkeypuncher69]

No more 9thmond jokes! I am fully on board.

your always 9nthmond hehe

 

[Clark G]

Well of course Essendon fans are happy with a final 10.

Name one.

 

[terrybull]

Maybe the AFL should also have a relegation round so teams at the bottom have something to fight for and bring in the crowds!

Agree

Winner gets first pick and so on.

Wooden spoon back to unwanted!

 

[Freomaniac]

No more 9thmond jokes! I am fully on board.

It would be the ultimate circle of life if Richmond managed to win a flag or even possibly their next premiership from 9th spot.

Grin , Tzatziki_Man ,Senor M, and smasha , after all those years of finishing 9th in 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2004 and 2008.

Richmond wins the 2026 flag finishing 9th and win 5 games in a row at the MCG lol

 

[glengowan]

What would that mean exactly? Only 1-5 can win the flag and 6-10 play finals that dont mean anything?

One group is 1st, 4th, 6th, 7th, 10th
Other group is 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 8th, 9th

Old Finals 5 format:

Week 1: Elimination (4th vs 5th) & Qualifying Finals (2nd vs 3rd)
Week 2: 1st Semi Final (Loser QF vs Winner EF) & 2nd Semi Final (1st vs Winner QF)
Week 3: Preliminary Finals (Loser 2nd Semi vs Winner 1st Semi)
Week 4: Grand Final (Winner 2nd Semi vs Winner Preliminary)

In this case, we'd double that up, so the winners of week 4, which would actually be the Preliminary Finals, would play a Grand Final in Week 5 of Finals.

Essentially it's adding an extra 2 finals games (in the 1st week) to what is going to happen in 2026 with the Wildcard Round.

• 1st & 2nd would be guaranteed at least 1 bye in the 1st week and could get another in week 3 if they win in the 2nd week.
• 3rd-6th could earn themselves a bye in week 3 if they win their first two finals

In the wildcard scenario for 2026

• 1st-6th are guaranteed a bye in the 1st week
• 1st-4th could earn themselves a 2nd bye in week 3 if they win their week 2 final

 

[terrybull]

Imagine the response if BigFooty was around in 1916?

 

[Colonel]

Imagine the response if BigFooty was around in 1916?

The governing body would have cared for the fans and game back then

 

[The Golden Glenferrie]

Imagine the response if BigFooty was around in 1916?

I doth protest your retort you vagabond cumberworld

 

[Truetiger]

Realistically, this has been on the cards for a while and was always going to happen. Ultimately, it’s a business, not a sport, and anything to make money is acceptable in there view.

 

[doppleganger]

Realistically, this has been on the cards for a while and was always going to happen. Ultimately, it’s a business, not a sport, and anything to make money is acceptable in there view.

Do people not understand that the actual origin of finals was all about money, interest and exposure for the new VFL competition.

VFA awarded the top team as premier, they only used a playoff (grand final) if teams were tied.

VFL immediately announced a finals series upon launch, it wasn't for "fairness" but to generate more $$ and buzz at the end of the season, which was distributed back to all clubs.

It is obviously fairer to have simply stuck with the approach that the best team at end of H&A season is the premier.

Adding more elimination finals games to finish the season is aligned to the original VFL principle when 50% of teams competed in finals back in the 1897...for no reason other than making more $$

 

[Daka]

Realistically, this has been on the cards for a while and was always going to happen. Ultimately, it’s a business, not a sport, and anything to make money is acceptable in there view.

That's why I am watching other sports and enjoying them more than the AFL lately.
AFL is my first love but the way they change the rules every few years, pisses me off no other world sport does that sure most sports are a business and are there to make money, but they don't change the rules of the sport like the AFL does.

 

[Toump Ass]

Name one.

Dan26

 

[Bjo187]

That's why I am watching other sports and enjoying them more than the AFL lately.
AFL is my first love but the way they change the rules every few years, pisses me off no other world sport does that sure most sports are a business and are there to make money, but they don't change the rules of the sport like the AFL does.

Actually most sports have rule change tweaks most years I've noticed.

 

[Purple Suit]

That's why I am watching other sports and enjoying them more than the AFL lately.
AFL is my first love but the way they change the rules every few years, pisses me off no other world sport does that sure most sports are a business and are there to make money, but they don't change the rules of the sport like the AFL does.

I recon Richmond being crap is probably the main reason AFL isn't as interesting as it use to be for you.

 

[WilloTree]

So, middle of the road teams playing a round of footy for no reason exept having another less exciting elimination final round.

Why play the 23 rounds at all? Just play a season of knockout matches like the tennis.

Sometimes I wonder if the AFL is actually run by a PnC.

 

[JoondalupJ]

We know why they're doing it. More money.
In the NBA, fans hate it. Players hate it.
But more broadcasting and advertising money.

How do they just introduce it without consultation of those who are spending the money on games, membership, club s' merchandise.
Are the AFL run by Putin?

For me the wild card is an unnecessary addition , it is tradition breaking.
It makes a farce out of the top 8 which is probably already farcical.

We have a very hard to adapt to game, with extra clubs the talent player pool for real elite footballers is losing player quality hence the game being fiddled by rules to ease up on players who would not get a game in 2000 . Too many clubs by a mile.
Wild card is the worst decision ever, along with the last touch out, a free kick.
The sport is now called The Australian Freekick League, ruled and scored mainly on free kicks the advantage started at any position on the field, when it is a mistake. And weekly by game there are many!

Nearly ready to dice my life long following.

I probably won't, because I love the sport all my life , but I am very very unhappy with how it has been corporatised and diluted and changed by this AFL money hungry organisation.
That feels like a dictatorship.
They actually break your heart, its all frees and stupid ones at that. Mistakes galore and under skilled runners everywhere, but umpire total control.
I have been saying what will happen for years, and here it comes basketball soon we'll be playing on a smaller field or a rectangle??????????

So the game is , believe it or not dying slowly. For money PENCIL PUSHERS, and the politically correct over kill.

And the AFL is not a football body, and those football people that play into the fakery should be ashamed, so we'll see?

 

[JoondalupJ]

I recon Richmond being crap is probably the main reason AFL isn't as interesting as it use to be for you.

Nah mate, its definitely the fiddling, and the corporatism and money hungry wreckers of what was once the best foot on field game on earth. Once! Slowly becoming a play-thing .

 

[Kickit2brown]

So a team in the bottom half of the comp now makes finals? Kind of diminishes the season when you start letting everyone in. You ****ing idiots afl.

 

[Daka]

I recon Richmond being crap is probably the main reason AFL isn't as interesting as it use to be for you.

Even when we won the Premierships, was not fan of the AFL during that time period but it's sad to say it's even in a worse state now.

 

[Purple Suit]

Even when we won the Premierships, was not fan of the AFL during that time period but it's sad to say it's even in a worse state now.

Richmond won their flags off the back of one rule change, a tap or paddle no longer being called a throw.

 

[doppleganger]

How do they just introduce it without consultation of those who are spending the money on games, membership, club s' merchandise.
Are the AFL run by Putin?

For me the wild card is an unnecessary addition , it is tradition breaking.
It makes a farce out of the top 8 which is probably already farcical.

We have a very hard to adapt to game, with extra clubs the talent player pool for real elite footballers is losing player quality hence the game being fiddled by rules to ease up on players who would not get a game in 2000 . Too many clubs by a mile.
Wild card is the worst decision ever, along with the last touch out, a free kick.
The sport is now called The Australian Freekick League, ruled and scored mainly on free kicks the advantage started at any position on the field, when it is a mistake. And weekly by game there are many!

Nearly ready to dice my life long following.

I probably won't, because I love the sport all my life , but I am very very unhappy with how it has been corporatised and diluted and changed by this AFL money hungry organisation.
That feels like a dictatorship.
They actually break your heart, its all frees and stupid ones at that. Mistakes galore and under skilled runners everywhere, but umpire total control.
I have been saying what will happen for years, and here it comes basketball soon we'll be playing on a smaller field or a rectangle??????????

So the game is , believe it or not dying slowly. For money PENCIL PUSHERS, and the politically correct over kill.

And the AFL is not a football body, and those football people that play into the fakery should be ashamed, so we'll see?

Nothing like a rant.

Do people realise that back in the 1970s that there were 80 free kicks per game?

There were less than 40 per game in 2025.

If people long for the glory days of 70s and 80s footy you fondly remember a time when the umpires awarded double the free kicks.

 

[bigleague]

A better wildcard game would be if teams outside the eight finish on the same number of points as those in the eight. But it doesn’t guarantee games every year and would be logistically harder if there were an odd number of teams finish the season on the same points.

 

[the_big_sav]

Do these games count towards the Gary Ayres medal?