Opinion If you had control of the AFL, what would your key objectives be?

[HinkleysHeroes]

I'll just start a true national comp.

1. Revoke all Football club licences.

2. Start a new pure National Competition from the ground up.

3. Per state entry rules.

• Victoria to have a maximum of 7 clubs in the new ANFL
• Tasmania guaranteed 1 club entry
• QLD and NSW maximum of 2 clubs
• WA and SA guaranteed entry of 2 clubs, Max of 3 if other states fail their entry application.

4. List sizes to be up to 65 and have a maximum number of games played per player per season. (maybe 22, not including cup matches.)

5. All clubs play each other twice, this extends season hence the max no. games per player.

6. Premiership. - This is won by finishing top of the ladder, The best team over the year wins. Largest monetary reward for club and half dividend between players on list.

7. New FA cup style cup competition introduced. knockout comp to be played mid week throughout year. Finishes 1 month before Premiership season finish. Monetary reward to he 1/3 of premiership season reward.

8. Bonus attached if winning Premiership and cup in same season.

I'm half pissed, this is just ******* dribble.

 

[Doctor Feel]

Umpiring anyone?

 

[Cam1870]

I'd like to also add less match fixing to my earlier list

 

[Doctor Feel]

I'd like to also add less match fixing to my earlier list

Oh boy have we had some of the issues with the league on display this week.

Freo v North

 

[finbarr]

1) Shorten matches to 15 minute quarters plus time on.
2) Expand list sizes.
3) Baseball style road trips with midweek games like in 2020.
4) Every team plays each other twice, home and away. The above changes would allow this to happen with teams having to be more prudent with list management/rotations/resting of players. Until the fixture allows for proper home and away the competition is a laughable joke.

 

[Andre]

Get rid of 3 Vics sides and add a Tassie side.

Do that and everything else would be fixed. 16 teams, but only 7 in Vic would break it from being a VFL in all but name.

We could go to 30 rounds, play everyone home and away. With it back to the second half of the fixture is just the first at the other teams venue. The extra rounds could be handled by bigger team lists, as the talent is distributed around two less sides.

With it not the VFL the Marquee games, starting with Friday night games shared equally (or close to).

With it not the VFL we’d be able to get Prison Bars properly.

With 16 games they could afford to make umps professional.

With it not the VFL there’d be no double standards at the tribunal.

tl;dr - Everything wrong with the game stems from too many Vic clubs. Fix that and the world is good.

 

[Enviable Tradition]

What an indictment on Ken, Koch and the boys that we have off season threads starting in round 2.

We all know this year is just going through the motions.

On SM-G975F using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[JakeNeadeFan]

A few on field ones:

1. Clarify and fix the holding the ball rule. Reward players going for the ball, don't pay free kicks for instantaneous tackles. Equally, actually punish players who throw or drop the ball. Sick of seeing throws and drops.

2. Bring back the 'push in the back' rule. Sick of seeing Tom Hawkins

26

Tom Hawkins

Age

35

Ht

197cm

Wt

105kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.2

3star

K

7.9

3star

HB

4.4

3star

M

5.5

5star

T

1.9

4star

G

2.1

5star

D

12.7

3star

K

8.6

3star

HB

4.1

3star

M

5.1

5star

T

2.1

3star

G

1.6

5star

D

7.8

2star

K

5.6

3star

HB

2.2

2star

M

4.2

4star

T

1.0

3star

G

2.2

5star

and other fuxkers make a career out of pushing opponents squarely in the back. Reward players who get front position.

3. Suspend duckers and divers. It is a blight on the game. If you are a repeat offender you should be getting weeks off, and it should stack up. The ginnivans and shueys of the world should be looking at multiple week bans.

 

[Burningleviathan]

Like many, i would look at the removing the contract with the Vic gov/MCG in regards to xx amount of top rated games/AFL GF being held there. Not sure how that would be possible but something could be put in place the ensure it never happens again once the contract is finished.

Remove the AFL commission. They have way too much power with so little accountability.

AFL rule changes to be approved by clubs ala the NFL.

Speaking of which, a review of every rule change post 2004 to see which ones have actually achieved their aim and improved the game.

Review the revenue split to ensure more goes to the clubs.

Fix the draw

Remove restriction on who can be an umpire to increase talent pool. Umpire crews rather than mix and match to get consistancy on the ground at the very least.

I don't think you can do anything about broadcast crews but you can at least advise that they cannot advocate for or against a suspension during a broadcast.

Advise teams they must have home/away jumpers. Possible 3rd jumper for merch sales/special occasions. Other teams have no say on what other teams can wear.

 

[Jonts]

Good thread, a few of these opinions I've posted already


1. Let the GF be bid for by state governements on a year by year basis. The corrupt Vic government got an absolute bargain for the GF when you look at the going rate that Gabba and Perth Stadium paid for a one off, let alone what SA paid for an extra round.

2. Increased exposure for the Draft. Televised U18's. Introduce a "FA Cup" style U18 competition - including WAFL,SANFL, NEAFL + Elite football schools. Have this on stand alone Wednesday Night. Wednesday night is then the best U18 game of the week, whether that be Nab Competition in Victoria, a State v state game or one the of "FA cup knock out games. The draft is huge in the NBA/NFL as they already know the talent. This is the way to introduce it. Make it a mandatory part of having the coverage rights. 2 nights to review the week that was, then footy from Wed-Sunday.

3 Simplify the rules.
Add in a time allotment for "prior opportunity. Make it 3 seconds rather than a perceived "prior"
If it hits the goal post and goes in for a goal, its a goal. None of this looking at grainy footage to see if the ball has skimmed the post. Speed up the review process.
Introduce last touch. Look at local footy and the SANFL.
Take the review process out of the umpires hands. Sick of goal umpires not being sure and double checking bad stuff. Each team has 3 reviews, any player can use the review. You have 5 seconds after the goal umpire has made his goal to use your review.

4
Change rookie contracts to a 2+2 team option.

After these 4 years than you're a free agent. If you use your rights as a free agent, you're than available to be traded against your will. So loyalty is rewarded with knowing you can't be traded against your will.


5. Player wages public, with full transparency of salary dumps. The game is fuelled by the media, this allows for more things to talk about. Don't give me the they don't earn enough BS. They're in the top 5% of salary earners for their age.

7National Reverse comp

WA 3 to make it 20 sides.

Look at merging a Vic club with GC. Saints or North.

8

Full Guernsey autonomy within the league. Teams also to introduce a Soccer/basketball 3rd kit that isn't locked into their clubs colours to allow for all types of clashes.

9
Stop calling the code itself AFL, make it either known as Aussie Rules, Footy or footyball.

10

Make the rights to cover the game include better options. No bias on the commentary (roo on crows, bucks on coll, Lyon on Melb ect ect)

Also allow for the game to move away from Triple M and into actual game dissection. I mean FFS the other night on the couch they paid bucks out for talking like a coach. Thats the premier football review show on the network. What the * is going on?

11

AFLW to include somewhat of the winter season. Just doesn't work long term being a summer game imo.


12 (least likely of all imo)

Seperate the running of the league AFL commercial arm and the running of the code. They have two very different agendas long term and having it under one roof is rife with bias that is bad for the sport long term.

13. Make the bench 4 as normal but increase the sub to any one of the 4 emergencies'. Its daft that there will be 4 extra footballers there ready to go but only one is able to be subbed in.



14
Take the MRO away from a table and do it on a case by case basis. Allow for precedent to matter. It makes no ******* sense that they pretend they're arguing the death penalty with lawyers galore but don't allow precedent to be a factor.

 

[Schulzenfest]

"
3 Simplify the rules.
Add in a time allotment for "prior opportunity. Make it 3 seconds rather than a perceived "prior""

Mate, think about how long three seconds actually is in the context of a game as fast as AFL. You'd be lucky to get one holding the ball a week.

 

[Jonts]

"
3 Simplify the rules.
Add in a time allotment for "prior opportunity. Make it 3 seconds rather than a perceived "prior""

Mate, think about how long three seconds actually is in the context of a game as fast as AFL. You'd be lucky to get one holding the ball a week.

Make it 2 seconds then, the time isnt the important part rarher than holding the ball at the moment is broken. Need to fix it

 

[Progressive Aggresion]

To hell with any and all gambling ads. TV adverts are bad enough as it is, but Sportsbet bring in a whole new level of cringe.

 

[Peninsula Boy]

No more drawn games.

If we get to full time and scores are level, first team to kick a goal wins.
If you kick 1 point or 6 points in a row, you don't win.
Only a goal wins.

It would make for some exciting ending of games.

 

[NoddyHolder]

No more drawn games.

If we get to full time and scores are level, first team to kick a goal wins.
If you kick 1 point or 6 points in a row, you don't win.
Only a goal wins.

It would make for some exciting ending of games.

Disagree with this. A draw is a legitimate sports result

 

[DaTBird187]

Administer a national professional sporting league as a national professional sporting league and not the moral compass of society.

 

[Duck Farmer]

Print the rule book in concrete.

 

[El_Scorcho]

1) Shorten matches to 15 minute quarters plus time on.
2) Expand list sizes.
3) Baseball style road trips with midweek games like in 2020.
4) Every team plays each other twice, home and away. The above changes would allow this to happen with teams having to be more prudent with list management/rotations/resting of players. Until the fixture allows for proper home and away the competition is a laughable joke.

Yep, this. Shorten matches and expand list sizes so you can have a full double round robin in the 23 odd weeks it takes to complete an AFL season. The current fixturing situation is insane.

On that theme, equalise everything. Full blown football socialism with proper revenue sharing. West Coast hoarding $100,000,000 is bad for the game when other clubs are struggling. This includes fixturing. Night games and FTA TV games should be evenly distributed.

Contracted players can be traded without their consent to balance out the Free Agency.

Grand Final to be at a neutral venue.

Tasmania in, probably with a 3rd WA side to make it 20.

 

[Tibbs]

I won't add a poll to this as I feel like that limits discussion.

If you had control of the AFL, what would your top 10 or so (doesnt need to be 10) things that you would want to address as a matter of urgency?
The aim is to discuss what you think are the primary areas of concern in the AFL, and what your solutions would be. As well as casting an eye over what you feel would radically improve the product.

Try list them in order of your preferred priority.

Try not to get bogged down in the whether something is watertight in terms of feasability, but more discuss the "what", "why" and "how".

Mine would be:

1) Grand Final at Neutral Venues, all grounds to have action plans for if they are selected to increase capacity etc, with agreements in place for suppliers etc. To execute temporary capacity increases etc.

2) Umpires become fulltime over the next 3 years or so, with salary compensation appropriate for a role that is so critical to the quality of the game. Structured training in place and very strict conflict of interest rules.

3) Wind up one of St. Kilda or North Melbourne. With a new team established in Tasmania as a completely new entity.

4) Drastically improve game coverage, providing home and away commentary teams. Choice to turn off/on commentary, umpires etc. Viewer interactivity for player/coach/assisant of the day etc. Strict training on play by play commentary, professionalism and knowledge of players names, backgrounds, training habits etc. Less what school they went to and who they might be porking, more what they do to train for their role.

5) Complete restructure of the AFL, trimming the fat and increasing the quality. Establishing AFL HQs in each state, representing the interests of the clubs. More focus on highly qualified people with football backgrounds rather than simply "he played footy once"

6) Establish national AFL Reserves competition.

7) Increase the bench to 10, with 5 active ay any one time, and 5 substitions to be used at any time for any reason.

8) Throw out a bunch of rule changes and return to a more core product with extensive publised input from fans and players.

9) Overhaul the points system to include 'game within a game' type things to improve spectacle and encourage scoring more than just percentage. Things such as points over X gets a point and, winning half gets a point or something. So games can be like 5 points to a winner and 2 to a loser because they gave it a good shake.

10) significantly reduce the leagues association with betting.

Honorable mentions i couldnt squeeze in to the 10:

Fixing the ******* guernsey clash issues,
MRO fixes, restructuring the brownlow to have an award for defender/mid/forward + league MVP or something along those lines, fixture balancing.

Fire away. Keen to see where peoples key priorities sit.

Errr ... Sack Hinkley anyone?

 

[Wargreymon90]

Piss off the awful father son rule.

The manufactured “romanticism” is cringe and is embarrassing for a professional sport.

 

[Lefti93]

1) Shorten matches to 15 minute quarters plus time on.
2) Expand list sizes.
3) Baseball style road trips with midweek games like in 2020.
4) Every team plays each other twice, home and away. The above changes would allow this to happen with teams having to be more prudent with list management/rotations/resting of players. Until the fixture allows for proper home and away the competition is a laughable joke.

Yeah, the fact that a team can get a 'soft draw' is just pathetic.

 

[Andre]

Outside turning into an AFL, rather than VFL, one I'd like to see done, that there's no reason not to (except, surprise, surprise, not doing it advantages big Vic clubs more) is ditching draft picks.

By this I mean get rid of the 'half-pregnant' situation the AFL has of draft picks, but they are worth points for some things. Go completely to draft points.

Clubs would get the same number of points as the equivalent picks they get now. E.g. the club finishing last gets the 3000 currently first is worth, plus so on for the remaining rounds picks. Down to the premier getting much less points, as per current draft picks points values.

How it would then work, once points are assigned is as follows:

Trading - clubs can trade points. No more bullshit of a week wasted as a club has picks 10 and 30 and wants to trade for a player worth pick 20, as they argue back and forth going 10 no, 30 no, 10 no, 30 no, until other clubs have to be shoehorned in. They can just do the points trade. Additionally points can be traded for players or along with players, similar to have draft picks are now. Also as per draft picks now you'd be able to trade future points. It wouldn't be position dependent like now. If you trade 300 points from this year and 300 from next year for a player, you are paying those 300 points next year regardless of finishing first or last.

Free agency - upon a player saying they want to exercise their free agency rights, the AFL assigns them a points value. If a club picks them up as a free agent, points go from that club to the club left. No more sticking a pick in the draft to screw over all other clubs, by pushing their subsequent picks down by one, when they get no benefit.

Draft - These become a player auction. Clubs nominate a player (this could be in reverse club order). Any club can bid on the player. Obviously clubs finishing lower have more chance of getting the best players with more points. Once clubs have spent all their points they could still grab a player, but only if no other club bids points on them. Once a club has filled their roster, they'd be allowed to roll any left over points over to the next year.

F/S and Academy picks - These earn a 25% discount. E.g. if a club bids 2000 for a F/S pick and wins, only 1500 comes off their remaining points. All F/S and Academy picks for a club would get a 25% discount, but even with a discount you aren't going to outbid on multiple top shelf players.

This would fix pretty much all the issues around drafting, trading and free agency. If there's a top 1 or 2 players, those finishing bottom 1 or 2 would have to pay true value. Trades not held up. Free agency compensation paid by the beneficiary. The reason it wouldn't get done, besides the bogan supporter who can't do math, is free agency benefits the Big Vic clubs most of all. This would make it fairer by making them compensate the other club. Obviously the price would be lower than trading, since it is free agency after all, but they'd still block any attempt at evening the playing field against their entrenched advantages.

 

[Papa G]

Get rid of North. Closely followed by Melbourne.
Imprison Dan Andrews and Eddie McGuire.
Blow up Ch 7 Melbourne and Fox Footy.

 

[Progressive Aggresion]

Channel 10 era > Channel 7 era

 

[tribey]

Channel 10 era > Channel 7 era

The 9/OneHD/Fox Footy era wasn’t perfect (still way too many disorienting zoom-ins in open play), but maaaaaan, in terms of an overall leap forward from Seven’s fossilised stagnancy it was like World Series Cup ODI coverage versus ABC radio in the 30’s.

Fancy paying 9 figures for television rights but refusing to show the subsequent flagship product live in primetime, because Better Homes & Gardens has strong ratings that you aren’t sure will hold up if they move it to LITERALLY ANY OTHER WEEKNIGHT.