AFC
In the year 2000, the Australian Football Commission realised the power imbalance present within the game at a professional level. It was decided that a new, three tier competition, with promotion and relegation, including clubs from the SANFL, WAFL and beyond, was the answer.
The new competition would include 28 clubs, 10 in tiers 1 and 2, 8 in tier 3. As the TV and marketing profits would be influence by tier of competition, the 16 AFL clubs would be given a decade to essentially audition for the top tier. Ten would be accepted, the remaining 6 relegated to tier 2.
The criteria was based on a simple formula - from the year 2010, the clubs average ladder position, minus 1 for each premiership won in that decade, would equal the clubs 'Magic Number.' The clubs with the lowest numbers would be admitted to the top tier.
The clubs seeking promotion from the WAFL, SANFL and other state leagues were admitted on a similar system, however their number was based on the number of premierships won in their own competition. 4 would be admitted from the SANFL and WAFL each, 1 more from the NSW/Canberra region and Queensland respectively. The remaining spots were decided on an invitational bases, with clubs from the NT and Tasmania both encouraged to bid for the last two spots in the third tier.
Running along side the regular season would be a knock out cup competition played midweek from the end of May. The Toyota Australia Cup (in this universe the FFA hadn't taken the name yet) saw new jumper designs and the old AFL clubs battle it out at suburban grounds against former state league opponents.
The AFC would also place strict rules around branding, especially concerning cup competitions. In the year 2023, the same year the clubs all returned to their original tiers for the first time since inception (just go with it) the competition really pushed a diverse portfolio.
TLDR;
Three tier competition
'Magic Number' decides entry
Cup competition with quirky jumpers.
In the year 2000, the Australian Football Commission realised the power imbalance present within the game at a professional level. It was decided that a new, three tier competition, with promotion and relegation, including clubs from the SANFL, WAFL and beyond, was the answer.
The new competition would include 28 clubs, 10 in tiers 1 and 2, 8 in tier 3. As the TV and marketing profits would be influence by tier of competition, the 16 AFL clubs would be given a decade to essentially audition for the top tier. Ten would be accepted, the remaining 6 relegated to tier 2.
The criteria was based on a simple formula - from the year 2010, the clubs average ladder position, minus 1 for each premiership won in that decade, would equal the clubs 'Magic Number.' The clubs with the lowest numbers would be admitted to the top tier.
The clubs seeking promotion from the WAFL, SANFL and other state leagues were admitted on a similar system, however their number was based on the number of premierships won in their own competition. 4 would be admitted from the SANFL and WAFL each, 1 more from the NSW/Canberra region and Queensland respectively. The remaining spots were decided on an invitational bases, with clubs from the NT and Tasmania both encouraged to bid for the last two spots in the third tier.
Running along side the regular season would be a knock out cup competition played midweek from the end of May. The Toyota Australia Cup (in this universe the FFA hadn't taken the name yet) saw new jumper designs and the old AFL clubs battle it out at suburban grounds against former state league opponents.
The AFC would also place strict rules around branding, especially concerning cup competitions. In the year 2023, the same year the clubs all returned to their original tiers for the first time since inception (just go with it) the competition really pushed a diverse portfolio.
TLDR;
Three tier competition
'Magic Number' decides entry
Cup competition with quirky jumpers.
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