It’s July 2023, and the AFL have brought together the 18 CEOs to Werribee Mansion in Melbourne’s west to thrash out many items on the agenda. These include Tasmania, AFLW and a wildcard game, with a shake up of the unfair fixture.
In 2010 (or was it 2011) I was sitting in a room with three AFL officials, one of them Saints CEO Simon Lethlean. I presented them with an exciting and fair concept called the ’17-5′.
They were open to the idea but in my opinion the stumbling block came when there was a chance the big rivalries like Collingwood and Essendon may only play each other once in the year. It was all about the money!
However, 12 or 13 years later, we have the concept on the table again. Now called the ’17-6′, due to the AFL wanting some sort of ‘wildcard’ game.
This is how the 18 team competition future fixture may operate – I don’t believe a one-off wildcard game will work or be trialled.
How it works
Every team plays each other once, meaning 17 games. If you played a particular team at home, you’ll play that team away next year. (Gather Round is included)
Then we have a bye, which gives the AFL some time to workout the last 5 games.
The ladder is split into thirds. Remember, the finals will be a ‘Top 8’.
TOP 6 – The Contenders
Middle 6 – The Wildcards
Bottom 6 – The Ron Barassi Cup
In the last 5 rounds, The Contenders are now cemented into the top 6 and are playing for Top 4.
The Wildcards are now cemented into the middle 6 and are playing for 7th and 8th.
The Bottom 6 play for the Ron Barassi Cup but more importantly, extra draft picks.
It will be more important than ever to get off to a good start and get into the top 6 before round 18.
We can look at history and even this year at results, but we must take into account just how compromised the fixture is, and has been. This new system gives us no excuses.
(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Let’s talk about ‘The Ron Barassi Cup’ (13th to 18th)
Once the last 5 rounds are complete, the rewards filter through to the draft.
Winner/13th: Club receives Pick 10
Second/14th: Club receives Pick 13
Third/15th: Club receives Pick 16
Fourth/16th: Club receives Pick 18
Fifth/17th: Club receives Pick 19
Last/18th: Club receives Pick 20 but keeps Pick 1.
AFL DRAFT ORDER 1 to 24
PICK 1 – 18th (Last after the completed season)
PICK 2 – 17th
PICK 3 – 16th
PICK 4 – 15th
PICK 5 – 14th
PICK 6 – 13th
PICK 7 – 12th
PICK 8 – 11th
PICK 9 – 10th
PICK 10 – 13th – Winner of ‘The Ron Barassi Cup’
PICK 11 – 9th
PICK 12 – 8th
PICK 13 – 14th – 2nd place in ‘The Ron Barassi Cup’
PICK 14 – 7th
PICK 15 – 6th
PICK 16 – 15th – 3rd place in ‘The Ron Barassi Cup’
PICK 17 – 5th
PICK 18 – 16th – 4th place in ‘The Ron Barassi Cup’
PICK 19 – 17th – 5th place in ‘The Ron Barassi Cup’
PICK 20 – 18th – Last place in ‘The Ron Barassi Cup’
PICK 21 – 4th
PICK 22 – 3rd
PICK 23 – 2nd
PICK 24 – 1st – AFL Premiers
The winner of ‘The Ron Barassi Cup’ (13th placed) will receive picks 6 & 10.
You finish 16th and you’ll receive picks 3 & 18
You finish last (18th), you’ll receive picks 1 & 20
If you win the premiership, your first pick will be pick 24. I’ve always wondered why the premiers get a first round pick (normally pick 18) in this socialist system.
(Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Other factors with splitting the ladder into thirds:
With all the above said, interest in the latter part of the season will stretch out longer because fans see an opportunity on all levels.
The Wildcard Six will be fascinating. In that mix, there’ll be two or three teams who started the season poorly and should be in the top 6, but, because of injury or poor form, or flag hangover, find themselves in a wildcard. We could find another flag winner outside the top 6.
The last five rounds promises games played against teams of similar ability and you hope that translates to close games – not blowouts.
The beauty about this system is; in the last last five rounds, we’re keeping the top 6 away from the bottom 6, much to the delight of all broadcasters.
Suddenly, we have integrity in the AFL fixture.
“I’d Like To See That!!”
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