18 hours ago, The heart beats true said:

Just watch. The 7th and 8th placed team will be unable to move up or down after Round 22, so they’ll just withdraw their 10 most important players for Round 23 in preparation for ‘Wildcard Weekend’ - wreaking utter havoc on betting markets and raising all sorts of questions about the game’s integrity.

I love how the AFL forgets its own recent history. Why did we have a bye again? Oh…

I'm sure they just get on the gas at a long lunch with the broadcast partners and make this [censored] up without any critical thought.

Same applies to the rules of the game.

They've just killed any chance for 7th and 8th pretty much.

The game will get harder to officiate and watch next year.

The murderers work continues

1 hour ago, Rab D Nesbitt said:

The optics on this would have looked slightly better if they had announced that they were REDUCING the finals to 6 automatic qualifying spots and that teams finishing 7-10 would play off to make up 2 additional spots. Additionally, these two games would NOT be considered as finals.

Exactly my 2 cents worth as well.

Although I seem to be in the minority and am actually excited to have a couple of high stakes games on the last weekend of August, as opposed to nothing. I guess I like watching football…

7 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Exactly my 2 cents worth as well.

Although I seem to be in the minority and am actually excited to have a couple of high stakes games on the last weekend of August, as opposed to nothing. I guess I like watching football…

I think most people will enjoy watching those games in August (when it comes to it I know I’ll appreciate no bye round as it does feel weird) but I think there’s a real prospect that in a few years from now, the discussion will be how 5 v 8 and 6 v 7 games are compromised because of this new round of finals.

I think the only upside to this is having footy on a bye round whereas the downside means 5&6 teams end up running over 7&8 year after year. It’s just increasing the likelihood that these finals games will be duds, which isn’t good for the game.

The AFL is so pathetically reactive. Maybe there is something that they've done in the last 20 years which is truly innovative, but if so, I can't think of anything.

If the AFL really believes the end-of-season bye is bad for football because there's a "dead" weekend, there are other ways of fixing that including:

• move the bye to the week after the Preliminary Final

• instead of playing 9 games each week (apart from the weeks of the bye rounds) as currently structured, play a mix of 8 and 9 games each week for the whole season including the last weekend which is currently without any AFL (men's) games. Sure, it means the ladder is uneven throughout the season...but does that really matter? (And that's what we had this year, anyway.)

• start the season one week later.

None of the above are perfect solutions, but all are better, in my view than a "wildcard round" which is effectively meaningless anyway as none of the teams playing in that round will have a realistic chance of contending for the flag anyway. Who's going to be interested in watching what will turn out to be two additional meaningless games?

1 hour ago, Demonland said:

48 minutes ago, YearOfTheDees said:

World cup had been 48 for a while just dropped back to 32 for Dubli

World cup had been 48 for a while just dropped back to 32 for Dubai.

That's actually not the case YOTD. 2026 will be the first one with 48 teams. Also, the last one was in Qatar, not Dubai but hey ho, it's all just one big hot desert built over by slave labour from the sub-continent.

1998 they decided to increase the WC to 32 which was OK but 24 is the best number imo to have a lot of high quality games

48 is a joke and there will be teams getting smashed. I'll tune out until the quarters

Correct me if I am wrong, I think I heard that the AFL -players agreement [CBA] I think it is called.

Dosnt it state that all players from all teams have a bye before the finals? If it does how does this align with the AFLs blockbuster 7-10 playoffs.

8 minutes ago, DubDee said:

1998 they decided to increase the WC to 32 which was OK but 24 is the best number imo to have a lot of high quality games

48 is a joke and there will be teams getting smashed. I'll tune out until the quarters

I'd be happy if it was 16 teams again. Four groups of four teams. No seedings in the qualifiers either. 1974 & 1978 were great without England.

34 minutes ago, DubDee said:

1998 they decided to increase the WC to 32 which was OK but 24 is the best number imo to have a lot of high quality games

48 is a joke and there will be teams getting smashed. I'll tune out until the quarters

I follow some travel sites etc for World Cups. Many of the big team supporters are saying they will give most of the round robin games a miss due to time and cost.

If the Dees finish tenth and play finals "even one" I be happy and most likely go along and watch, but still not agree with the wildcard round.

Edited 13 hours ago13 hr by YearOfTheDees

6 minutes ago, YearOfTheDees said:

A

I've actually been there. It's a tiny village on the Lofoten Islands in the far north of Norway but is spelt Å.

I don't see why everyone has such a big problem with this? I reckon it's great. More footy, more sudden death and more hope for fans.

The argument that its rewarding mediocrity is a bit weak IMO. The final 8 system is flawed too, in what world do we want a 15-8 team to miss finals like what nearly happened this year? The Dogs missed it with a % of 140! They definitely deserved to play finals.

Nothing wrong with selling a bit of hope to fans either. Our 2024 and 2025 campaigns would have been a lot more interesting than what actually transpired with dead rubbers in June this year. If we go 0-5 then 5-6 again next year and start shooting for a wildcard? That's way more exciting. There's always the hope a team will catch fire and win 5 in a row. Of course, it will never happen, or once in a blue moon, and the premiers will keep coming from the Top 6, as it should.

But overall, more footy is good! Just the way I see it.

9 minutes ago, YearOfTheDees said:

It is the case. It was dropped back because of concerns with playing to many game in the heat.

Not quite,,,,

The final tournament format since 1998 has had 32 national teams competing over the course of a month in the host nations. There are two stages: the group stage, followed by the knockout stage...

This tournament (2026) will be the first to include 48 teams, expanded from 32.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_FIFA_World_Cup

Edited 13 hours ago13 hr by Diamond_Jim

15 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Not quite,,,,

The final tournament format since 1998 has had 32 national teams competing over the course of a month in the host nations. There are two stages: the group stage, followed by the knockout stage...

This tournament (2026) will be the first to include 48 teams, expanded from 32.

Wikipedia

will italy finally make it again?

never been the same since they took a dive over a prone lucas neill...

2 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

The opening round, Gather Round and now the Wildcard round seem so far to have been given to the TV companies for nothing.

Next step is to monetise those games. Opening Round in Perth or Brisbane is an easy one if the WA or Qld governments are crazy enough to pay what SA does for Gather Round. If like Gather Round the participating clubs got $1M you'd see clubs queuing up to play in the rouThe opening round, Gather Round and now the Wildcard round seem so far to have been given to the TV companies for nothing.

Next step is to monetise those games. Opening Round in Perth or Brisbane is an easy one if the WA or Qld governments are crazy enough to pay what SA does for Gather Round. If like Gather Round the participating clubs got $1M you'd see clubs queuing up to play in the round.

Thanks for the tx re my view.

I'm so naive about the monetizing of the game.

When did it happen?

It doesn't seem that long ago or maybe it is when the bloke who would unblock your pishadoo on a Saturday morning would don a Guernsey ( probably a pies one...no I'm not classist...it's bloody honest work) and play at the big one.

And it was usually just a small supplement to his work as a plumber.

Now it's the other way around where they work part-time promoting energy drinks to new home developments. And these endorsements if smart can supercede their highly lucrative club renumeration.

But it's the company that makes the big bucks.

Was it all on the cusp of expansion? Or instead of one black and white one hour shorter replay of only one game a week to 24/7 on demand bliss? Or twenty big ones for a beer and pie. Or the ninety dollar AFL logo approved jumper for the grandson?Or Commissioners on commission? Yep that's the one. Got it.

Can't pinpoint the time but it's safe to say the trajectory has been exponential.

Gotta feel sorry for the 65 something year Olds hobbling on one leg living on one hundred a day, today.

Perhaps some reimbursement to players of ye days gone by would be a good thing do to

As much chance of Tassie team winning the flag next year.

I guess this is why I'm not wealthy. I never see the big picture.

I don't think many past players did either.

If you ever get a chance to watch the Cricket series Howzat it's a good analogy.

Anyway I've wondered off here. It's just hard to think this wild new idea about wildcard finals is not just all about money and doesn't give a rat's for the players well being

In a franchise where the seasons get longer, the travel more so, the heat it's played in and as a result the injuries increased..................Most probably to raise their ugly pain in the future it's pretty rough.

So I think the players need to push back against this money machine called the AFL and while many are greedy themselves re loyalty disappearing one could argue the are only following suit. And why shouldn't they? There the ones who pay with blood sweat and tears.

While the concept at primea facie looks exciting, if dissected without emotion despite the harm to players, I think it adds a significant level of undemocratic undulation.

A team seventh at times in close seasons can be only three or four wins from a minor premiership . And ninth can be there or four from a spoon. Who wants that?

There must be better ways to squeeze the lemon for the players sake and press the knife into us punters wallets a. bit more. Maybe just water down the beer a fraction more and a tad more gristle in the four n twenties is probably good for another four and twenty grand each weekend. That would probably match the wildcard.

Not that I'm a cynic mind you.

Probably just more jealous.

Cheers DJ.

See you in the funny papers. Aka our forward plan delivery playbook.

Just now, Previously known as LITD. said:

Thanks for the tx re my view.

I'm so naive about the monetizing of the game.

When did it happen?

It doesn't seem that long ago or maybe it is when the bloke who would unblock your pishadoo on a Saturday morning would don a Guernsey ( probably a pies one...no I'm not classist...it's bloody honest work) and play at the big one.

And it was usually just a small supplement to his work as a plumber.

Now it's the other way around where they work part-time promoting energy drinks to new home developments. And these endorsements if smart can supercede their highly lucrative club renumeration.

But it's the company that makes the big bucks.

Was it all on the cusp of expansion? Or instead of one black and white one hour shorter replay of only one game a week to 24/7 on demand bliss? Or twenty big ones for a beer and pie. Or the ninety dollar AFL logo approved jumper for the grandson?Or Commissioners on commission? Yep that's the one. Got it.

Can't pinpoint the time but it's safe to say the trajectory has been exponential.

Gotta feel sorry for the 65 something year Olds hobbling on one leg living on one hundred a day, today.

Perhaps some reimbursement to players of ye days gone by would be a good thing do to

As much chance of Tassie team winning the flag next year.

I guess this is why I'm not wealthy. I never see the big picture.

I don't think many past players did either.

If you ever get a chance to watch the Cricket series Howzat it's a good analogy.

Anyway I've wondered off here. It's just hard to think this wild new idea about wildcard finals is not just all about money and doesn't give a rat's for the players well being

In a franchise where the seasons get longer, the travel more so, the heat it's played in and as a result the injuries increased..................Most probably to raise their ugly pain in the future it's pretty rough.

So I think the players need to push back against this money machine called the AFL and while many are greedy themselves re loyalty disappearing one could argue the are only following suit. And why shouldn't they? There the ones who pay with blood sweat and tears.

While the concept at primea facie looks exciting, if dissected without emotion despite the harm to players, I think it adds a significant level of undemocratic undulation.

A team seventh at times in close seasons can be only three or four wins from a minor premiership . And ninth can be there or four from a spoon. Who wants that?

There must be better ways to squeeze the lemon for the players sake and press the knife into us punters wallets a. bit more. Maybe just water down the beer a fraction more and a tad more gristle in the four n twenties is probably good for another four and twenty grand each weekend. That would probably match the wildcard.

Not that I'm a cynic mind you.

Probably just more jealous.

Cheers DJ.

See you in the funny papers. Aka our forward plan delivery playbook.

As an addendum...I see us finishing ninth next year so then again, if the shoe fits😀

11th will be the new 9th.

18 minutes ago, whatwhat say what said:

will italy finally make it again?

never been the same since they took a dive over a prone lucas neill...

Hope so but that European group can be an absolute minefield

What do you think they need to do to bury the curse. A good Strega is needed perhaps

1 hour ago, Rab D Nesbitt said:

I'd be happy if it was 16 teams again. Four groups of four teams. No seedings in the qualifiers either. 1974 & 1978 were great without England.

The Socceroos in '74. It was grand!

(via satellite in grainy B&W!!) we were up against the might of both East & West Germany. We parked the bus before it was a saying

To qualify, the Aussies had to play a game in Vietnam and there was a strong belief that the pitch was mined

And England might have missed out in 1974 by not beating Poland in their final qualifying match. Think it was a draw with England peppering the goals

And you are right, the 2026 World Cup is the first time that 48 teams will compete

5 hours ago, Rab D Nesbitt said:

FIFA World Cup also due to expand to 48 countries soon as well. I remember when there were only 16 countries. Of course Scotland will miss out by finishing 49th in the qualifying rounds.

The Richmond of Association Football.

6 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

In NFL the wild card makes good sense as it rewards the highest third place getter across the various conferences who in some cases may have won more games than a second placed team in another conference who automatically qualifies.

Basketball seems to love multiple games as does baseball so why not another round. I wonder if we'll ever see baseball played in the snow given they finish their season so late.

The season is now around four weeks too long but what do I know

Yeah NFL is a different thing, because of Conference and Divisional grouping.

So it is not bad at all that they have wild cards.

AFL is a bit of both in the sense that the fixtures are compromised because every team gets a different level of difficult in their fixture.

Never will the AFL have a true "league" premiership where you get to play all teams H&A.

While were at we don't we just give everyone a medal for participating in the finals. This is mediocrity at its finest.

1 hour ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Hope so but that European group can be an absolute minefield

What do you think they need to do to bury the curse. A good Strega is needed perhaps

get john safran to conduct an exorcism

47 minutes ago, ElDiablo14 said:

Yeah NFL is a different thing, because of Conference and Divisional grouping.

So it is not bad at all that they have wild cards.

AFL is a bit of both in the sense that the fixtures are compromised because every team gets a different level of difficult in their fixture.

Never will the AFL have a true "league" premiership where you get to play all teams H&A.

We could copy the NBL and have an in-season comp. Wouldn't be hard to do with the 2 best performed teams playing off for the mid-season cup. No finals system, just one final

No seedings either, just pot luck on the 4 or 5 opponents that a club would be up against. The same games played in an in-season comp to also to be counted for the season proper

Think I'm right in saying that the English F.A Cup is still a random draw

The sticking point would be finding an appropriate date for the final (shuffle the bye's or play it midweek?)

I've long held the belief that the AFL needs to be more progressive than any other sport. The NRL are taking their sport to Las Vegas, what are we doing? We've copied the gather round concept from the NRL and that seems to work quite well

With regards to 10 teams now making the finals, the ladder will no longer be cumbersome viewing for the middling teams and their supporters

For instance, after round 17 of the 2024 season, only 1.5 wins separated 3rd & 13th

As for integrity and being authentic, it's the AFL and they'll do whatever they want to do. The whole fixture is compromised year in, year out anyway