Hey guys

In the HUN today-

AFL looking for new Draw

I dont know about anyone else but I HATE this proposed idea from Vlad and the AFL.

I was bored this morning and came up with another idea....some may hate it and thats ok i just wanted to come up with something different.

Find below a post i want to put on bigfooty too, because i want to see and hear a broad opinion on my idea.

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In light of the article in the HUN today about the possible change to the fixture when the new two clubs come in, I decided to spend the morning coming up with an alternative because I think the proposed idea in the article is wrong.

Its very plain to see that the AFL does not want less than 22 rounds of footy played for broadcast reasons. I thought if they are full serious about this what are some alternatives.

I think it would be good to add another piece of wanted silverware to our great game. Kind of like a champions league type of ordeal. So why not play a tournament for the first 4 weeks of the new footy year in preparation for the premiership season, and make it something people would WANT to go watch and teams would want to go win.

Of course there would be matters that would be tinkered with but I believe would be a better idea than the proposed one in the HUN today and I only spent an hour or two coming up with the idea.

Here are some notes first followed by an example of how it could work.

The NAB Rival Cup- 4 rounds- Aussie Wide conference-8 teams, Vic Conference- 10 teams

Aim-

* To start the football season off with a bang with Rivals pitted against Rivals and the grand final to be seen as a bit of a state vs state of sorts.

• Teams who are knocked out of the cup, play games organised around the country against other losing teams in preparation for the premiership season.

• Premiership season is at 17 games, 4 rounds of Rival Cup gives 21 rounds of first class football, A week rest for all clubs is after the Rival Cup before the premiership season starts. So it gives 22 weeks of regular season footy.

• Incentives-If you win a round in the Rival Cup you get 2 premiership points to count towards the premiership season. Winner of each conference gets 4 premiership points for start of season, and Winner of the full Rival Cup gets an extra 2 points! Also the silverware for the Rival Cup winner and prize money.

• Grand Final (4th Round) will be played at whoever scores the most points throughout the first 3 rounds.

Notes-

Vic Conference- Because there is 10 teams, 5 teams will have been winners in first round, because we only need 4 teams, the two vic sides that finish the lowest in the previous premiership season is not entitled to go further than the first round of the Rival Cup and will play each other in round 1. It will once again be a dreaded thing getting the wooden spoon and be the chosen punishment for coming last. ( kind of like an alternative and less harsh punishment of relegation that the soccer leagues in england have)

Here is a mock example of how the tournament would look at beginning of next season , under the illusion that the new teams start next year.

Please dont flame me with results because its just an example----

Not a bad idea, thou its a HUGE change and Vlad would never go for it. I would send it to them thou.

Edited August 27, 200916 yr by AzzKikA

The reason the AFL will never go for it is because all of the interstate teams will be forced to travel long distances every week whilst the Vic teams will have to go an hour down the road to Geelong at the absolute furthest.

Inequality.

And what happens when an interstate team gets the wooden spoon?

Good in concept but too radical for Vlad and co. All they want is $$$ anyway...

I think 3 conferences of 6 could work.

Each team plays each other team once = 17

Each team plays the other 5 teams in their conference for second time = 5

Rotation year on year of home ground.

Total = 22

Top 8 based on ladder finish not conference finish.

Conferences:

1. Blockbuster (+ promote game in Sydney):

Collingwood, Carlton, Essendon, Richmond, Western Sydney, Sydney

(5 interstate trips per year - one to each state and 2 to Sydney)

2. Derbies/Showdowns/Sunburns:

WC, Freo, Adelaide, Port, Brisbane, Gold Coast

(10 interstate trips per year - they get that now anyway)

3. Foundation teams:

Hawthorn, St.Kilda, Geelong, WB, Melbourne, North

(4 interstate trips per year - one to each state)