AFL clubs consider wildcard finals round and US-style conference system Eliza Sewell
From: Herald Sun
May 18, 2013 A WILDCARD finals round and a conference system are just two of the fixturing options the AFL is presenting to clubs and players for consideration for future seasons.
The league met club chief executives this week and is seeking feedback on a number of alternatives.
It is understood a five-week finals series featuring a wildcard round in week one - involving the seventh to 10th-placed teams - has been mooted, but a league spokesman said it was unlikely the four-week finals format would change.
The AFL has not suggested how the conference system would work, but is seeking ideas.
Adelaide assistant coach Matthew Clarke outlined his plan for a conference system in the Herald Sun this week.
Under his model, the league would split into three geographic conferences - north, south and west - with each club to play a team from its conference twice and sides from other conferences once over 22 games.
The league will not schedule fewer than a 22-game season because of the current broadcast agreement, but there is some chance it could increase to 23 or 24 games next year or in 2015.
The AFL is set on the season ending on the last Saturday in September.
It is believed the league is seeking feedback from clubs and the AFL Players' Association on the possibility of:
THE pre-season competition being scrapped or reduced in length in favour of practice matches. A minimum of two and a maximum of four practice matches has been tabled.
A 22, 23 or 24-game season proper.
A CONFERENCE system.
A FIVE-WEEK finals series, with a wildcard round in week 1.
A ONE or two-bye season.
THE home-and-away season starting in early March.
A CHANGE to the split Round 1.
"The AFL competition is committed to a 22-round season for this current broadcasting rights agreement through to the end of the 2016 season, and it is not in our thinking at this time to be playing any less rounds over the course of a season into the future," AFL boss Andrew Demetriou said.
"We are seeking club and AFLPA feedback primarily around the number of matches that should be played in the pre-season, to prepare clubs for the premiership season, and what the format might look like in the pre-season, also whether we should consider some different fixture formats and models in the premiership season, along with consideration of an extra bye for the players."
http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/afl-clubs-consider-wildcard-finals-round-and-us-style-conference-system/story-fnelctok-1226645643978
