18 teams neatly divides into two divisions of 9 teams

o One division would comprise of essentially interstate teams the other Victorian teams

o Each team plays every side once; and every side in their division twice

o Total of 25 games – perhaps eliminating the preseason competition

Advantages include all Victorian teams get to have home games against the big 4; The draw becomes even for all teams (on a divisional basis); Minimal effect on interstate clubs as their travel arrangements remain the same

The final series could remain as a top 8, but include the top 4 sides from each division

o The top 2 sides from each division could play in the qualifying final

o The 3rd & 4th from each division would play in the elimination finals

o The semi final would be between the losing top two side and winning (3rd/4th) side for each appropriate division

o The preliminary final would be between the qualifying winning side and the remaining side from the other division

Advantages include 4 Victorian sides always in the finals, and one preliminary final always at the MCG; whilst still allowing for the two best sides to play in the Grand Final.

Arguments for the 5th place side in one division not making the finals, when its clearly better than the top sides of the other division, is weak – if they deserved to be there then, they needed to finish fourth!

Arguments against a 25 game season can be countered, as the current season is currently 22 with a preseason comp of 4 games (for some players). Another option though, would be an initiative where no player can play more than 22 games for the season (excluding finals) with rookies allowed to replace players who have been “rested” – this would just mean greater player management by coaching staff whilst maintaining the current playing arrangement that the players association are happy with.

Another benefit of having no preseason comp could be that all sides would take every game seriously!

The greatest difficulty is which Victorian side is placed in the Interstate Division? Obivious candidates are Geelong, and Hawthorn:

o Geelong because they can be considered outside of Melbourne, but more importantly have their own home ground (perhaps allowing them home finals as a recompense)

o Hawthorn as they already partly interstate (TAS), 4 interstate games would fit nicely into the draw of the interstate division. Ensuring home games against the big 4 vic teams could be provided as a recompense

o Melbourne Demons, North Kangaroos and Western Bulldogs could also be slated for this division on the basis that this is their contribution for gaining financial assistance (whoever receives the greatest assistance for the year, plays in the interstate division).

o Consideration coulds also be given to a relegation system between the divisions for the bottom placed Victorian side.

Other considerations need to be given to rewarding the minor premiers of each division, & the order of the draft.

A thought for rewarding the minor premiers could be:

o Allowing all the rookies to be available for selection during the final series

o Letting them have an extra rookie pick for the following year

o Allowing them a free upgrade of a rookie during the following year

A thought on the draft under this system

As there is no clear cut last across all the sides (only a last in each division), the remaining teams should play for their position in the draft. This would take place concurrently with the finals. Each team would start with the number of draft points equivalent to their position within a division i.e the last placed side would start on 9 points. In the first week of the finals the sides would play their equivalent placed side form the other division i.e the two bottom placed sides would play each other. The winners would then gain more draft points. The following week the two lowest placed winners would play each other, the two lowest placed losers would play each other whilst the highest placed winners would play one of the two eliminated teams (from the top 8 final series) that have now just entered this draft comp (the eliminated teams would come in with the amount of draft points equivalent to their final position, in this case 4). The next week two more eliminated teams would enter the draft comp, and so on ….. . The draft order would then be determined by who has the most points – the more points the higher in the draft order

Advantages of this would include:

o Eliminating talk of tanking

o Creating a level playing field for the following year as all teams off season would begin at the same time

o Exposing younger players to the AFL, and

o Obliviously the cash and marketing opportunities generated by more games.

I hop to elaborate more on this when time permits, as consideration needs to also be given to how points should be awarded for a win; I’m toying with the idea of

o 1 point for beating a side lower than you (as of the end of the home and away),

o 2 points for beating a side equal to you (as of the end of the home and away),

o 3 points for beating a side above you (as of the end of the home and away)

Also toying with the idea, as to whether clubs in the draft comp be allowed to play scholarship players, AIS invitees, players from their reserves (affiliated comp) and/or retired players; with of course consideration given to contracts, insurance, injury, and existing clubs priorities (their own competition final’s)

Anyway just some thoughts that I hope will generate a new and healthy discussion

It'll never happen.

Interstate teams would have a distinct disadvantage in having to travel longer distances more often.

Not a bad idea, but it seems a little complex. Plus 9-9 doesn't work with 10 Victorian teams, unless Geelong gets the boot, which would be unfair for them.

Not a bad idea, but it seems a little complex. Plus 9-9 doesn't work with 10 Victorian teams, unless Geelong gets the boot, which would be unfair for them.

I have my doubts about whether the 18 team competition will happen within the time line envisaged by the AFL. I don't mind the idea of a two conference set up if we ever get to 20 teams. However, I don't think it should be organised along the lines of Victorians in one conference against the others.

I like your thinking! But I dont think it would be a VIC division v an INTERSTATE division. But I could see it working if the top 8 or 9 of the previous years ladder are in a division and the bottom 8 or 9 are in a division. You need a system that will allow the two best teams of the season to play off in a grand final. Whether there from the same division or two VIC teams. I could'nt imagine a VIC and INTERSTATE grand final every year. Terrible!

I have my doubts about whether the 18 team competition will happen within the time line envisaged by the AFL. I don't mind the idea of a two conference set up if we ever get to 20 teams. However, I don't think it should be organised along the lines of Victorians in one conference against the others.

Yes, it wouldn't work well if it was all the Victorian teams in one conference. You'd maybe split the two WA and SA teams, and the two Sydney and Qld teams, and then fill the rest with Victorian teams. You'd have to split Rich, Coll, Carl and Ess into 2 groups of 2 as well I'd think.

The NFL's conference system is pretty complex. Just having 22 rounds where everyone plays everyone else at least once per year seems easier to me.

I think that if they do a two division or conference style set up in the future, then the conferences should be redivided by random chance each season before the draw.

draw 10 names out of a hat for one div and the left over teams in the other, make a fixture, then next year do it all over again.

A thought for rewarding the minor premiers could be:

o Allowing all the rookies to be available for selection during the final series

o Letting them have an extra rookie pick for the following year

o Allowing them a free upgrade of a rookie during the following year

I don't know why minor premiers aren't being rewarded now. There should really be some kind of trophy on offer.

At the moment, there's only one piece of silverware worth winning.

I don't know why minor premiers aren't being rewarded now. There should really be some kind of trophy on offer.

At the moment, there's only one piece of silverware worth winning.

I am pretty sure the minor premiers do recieve a trophy or silver plate!

And even if they did receive a trohpy, there'd still only be one worth winning

Of course, it would never come close to the status of the premiership, but I think it deserves more recognition than it gets.

I think there used to be a trophy for the combined winner of the Seniors, Reserves and under 19's leagues.

it would be better to kick out the interstate teams. bring back Sth Melb and Fitzroty, have a reserves and under 19 comp, and we all live happy ever after.

I wish

If your going to have a conference system the fairest would be

A: 1,3,5,7,9,etc

B:2,4,6,8,10, etc

with the top 4 from each playing off for the cup. But it'll never happen coz it would make too much sense for the AFL and would stop them manipulating the draw to bring in more money. Imagine if Colling@#$% was in one half of the draw away from the other big vic clubs. The Fat Controller would choke on his hot dog.

If your going to have a conference system the fairest would be

A: 1,3,5,7,9,etc

B:2,4,6,8,10, etc

with the top 4 from each playing off for the cup. But it'll never happen coz it would make too much sense for the AFL and would stop them manipulating the draw to bring in more money. Imagine if Colling@#$% was in one half of the draw away from the other big vic clubs. The Fat Controller would choke on his hot dog.

Exactly. The AFL is not looking at a fair competition-never has since 1987. The AFL wants to Maximize dividends QED. The weaker clubs are put on a drip feed so the the Core supporters don't get totally dissilusioned & go and do something else.

(with all these rule changes that is getting more relevent)

I really like it and had these similar thoughts before but..... Wont see it happen while there is a dictatorship.

With the global financial crisis worsening I don't believe the new clubs will come in on schedule if at all. West Sydney is years away from being a viable proposition. Would the clubs accept a bye? I think not - especially if some clubs end up with two byes in a season and others have one bye. It's messy enough as it is now.

Perhaps Vlad should bite the bullet and take another look at Tasmania's proposal. At least they have a state government and a major sponsor behind them!

With the global financial crisis worsening I don't believe the new clubs will come in on schedule if at all. West Sydney is years away from being a viable proposition. Would the clubs accept a bye? I think not - especially if some clubs end up with two byes in a season and others have one bye. It's messy enough as it is now.

Perhaps Vlad should bite the bullet and take another look at Tasmania's proposal. At least they have a state government and a major sponsor behind them!

Well. The AFL is ploughing onward with its plans to include Gold Coast and West Sydney on schedule despite the difficult economic times. How they're going to do that, particularly in Sydney is beyond me.

At least he "promised" to keep 10 teams in Melbourne

Perhaps Vlad should bite the bullet and take another look at Tasmania's proposal. At least they have a state government and a major sponsor behind them!

You never know, there might be 1 less SA side before long! Maybe the Port Auth____ Power (P.A FC)???

At least he "promised" to keep 10 teams in Melbourne

Vlad has said that a couple of times now. Did you hear that, Kennett?!!