AFL relegation plan
FORMER Richmond vice-president Brendan Schwab believes there will be an increase in ''inconsequential'' matches in an expanded 18-team competition from next season and has devised an alternative two-division system that involves relegation.
Schwab, the brother of Melbourne chief executive Cameron Schwab, and the president of the Australian Professional Footballers Association, presented his plan to The Age after reading comments made by Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse flagging a reduction in the number of teams playing in the finals and the possibility of relegation.
The AFL last week said the final-eight system would remain in place at least until the end of the 2013 season.
Schwab said the AFL should use where teams finished that season to split the league into two divisions for season 2014, with the top nine in division one and teams 10 to 18 in division two.
The home-and-away season would comprise 25 matches, with each team playing those in its division twice and those in the other division once. Division one would return to the McIntyre final-five system, with the side finishing on top having a bye in the opening round of the finals.
Teams that finished sixth and seventh in division one would join teams finishing 12th, 13th and 14th - the latter three in division two - in playing off to avoid relegation.
Teams finishing eighth and ninth in division one would be relegated. In division two, the top two ranked teams would automatically be promoted.
Schwab, who sat on the Tigers' board from 1998 to 2004 and is one of the country's top sports administrators, said there was strong merit in a relegation system.
''I have been a great fan of the AFL's for many years and the AFL's right to expand but the real risk, and I know this from being a passionate Richmond supporter, is that expanding now results in an 18-team competition that can take away some of the genuine hope that is so important for fans and may result in there being too many inconsequential games,'' he said.
''If it is possible to schedule a 25-round home-and-away season in lieu of the NAB Cup, then here we have an opportunity that will achieve sporting balance to create a situation where nearly every game would be of monumental importance to the teams.
''It would also introduce something which I have seen firsthand in soccer, which is such a compelling part of the season, and that is the threat that if you don't perform to the necessary level, then you could find yourself relegated and out of contention for at least another season.''
One criticism of having two divisions is that there could be a reduction in traditional and lucrative blockbusters if, for instance, Carlton and Collingwood were not grouped together.
However, Schwab, who has worked on this proposal for a year and plans to seek AFL feedback, felt that wouldn't be too great an issue.
''Based on last year's results, Essendon, Carlton and Richmond would all be in division two this year so they would be playing each other twice and Collingwood once,'' Schwab said.
''Big rivals will play almost as much but for bigger stakes. But what I think will happen is, if there is a loss of artificially scheduling them to play each other twice a year, that will be replaced by a genuine contest. Some of the games between lesser-traditional rivalries will take on a much greater significance.''
Schwab said his plan would not alter the salary cap or national draft or the way clubs now build their playing list.
''You still have to take a long-term approach to building premierships. But it tempers that with the fact you can be either rewarded greatly or penalised greatly through success or failure in any given season,'' he said.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/afl-relegation-plan-20110607-1fr2x.html
