Two byes, conferences get support Jake Niall
The Age
May 31, 2013 Carlton has lent some support to the idea of dividing the competition into two conferences, while there is widespread backing for two byes and a shortened NAB Cup next season from most clubs.
Hawthorn has suggested that every team should play one another once before there are any return games, while Essendon has indicated it might be open to the radical idea of a ''reset'' after each team had played one another once, in which the final five or six games would not be determined until then.
St Kilda is believed to be receptive to the notion of having three tiers of six teams, and having teams play return games based on ladder positions to maintain interest late in the season.
The AFL will receive these ideas formally on Friday when the clubs hand in their submissions on the structure of the competition, which has canvassed many potential changes, including conferences, wildcards for the finals, and a ''rotational'' fixture in which teams play return games against sides they didn't play the previous year.
A near consensus has emerged on the idea of having two byes in a 24-round season, with players saying they would like two byes. There is also strong support for retaining the current finals system.
The AFL, which is mindful of revenue, is certain to retain twice-yearly clashes between arch rivals - such as Collingwood and Carlton - showdowns and derbies. But the league has indicated it might vary which big-drawing matches are played twice.
While conferences have long been discussed as a potential solution to unequal fixturing, Carlton chief executive Greg Swann said the Blues were open to the idea of conferences.
''We're happy to have a look at conferences,'' he said, favouring two conferences of nine teams, rather than three groups of six.
But the AFL is believed to be unlikely to introduce the reset of the fixture after round 17, if it involves handicapping teams based on ladder position.
Under one scenario put to the clubs, the ladder could be divided into thirds, with each team playing those from its group of six after the completion of round 17.
If the upside of this system is increased interest, the league is also mindful of the handicapping that would occur. The seventh-placed side, for instance, could benefit enormously compared with the top six since the seventh team would play those placed 8-12 in the last five rounds.
There has also been a view from the AFL that the fans want certainty in the fixture - to organise travel, book tickets and so forth.
There does not appear to be much interest in changing from the current finals system to a wildcard one, in which teams would compete for the lower spot or spots.
Hawthorn chief executive Stuart Fox said the Hawks favoured each team playing one another once before there were return games. Like most clubs canvassed by Fairfax Media, the Hawks also wanted two byes over a 24-round season.
As with other clubs, the Hawthorn players wanted the second bye.
The widespread view from clubs was that the NAB Cup would have to be shortened, to perhaps two or three weeks, in order to enable the two byes over 24 matches - a system that would require an earlier start to the season.
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http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/two-byes-conferences-get-support-20130530-2nf2w.html#ixzz2UnMdj6uq
