As the league considers its options for a new finals structure, they should look no further than the events of this season when making a decision. A final 7 and a wildcard playoff between eighth and ninth spot will not only help invigorate the build-up to September, but also give the regular season another dimension.
With the introduction of the Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney teams over the next two years, many alternatives have been floated, including a locked fixture over three years, a final twelve, a conference system and even a reset fixture at round 17.
But what we’ve seen in 2010 is a perfect example of just how beneficial a wildcard playoff for a spot in the finals would be, especially compared to the often anti-climatic end to the home and away season.
Instead of all these dead rubbers, with teams playing for nothing else but pride, a possible wildcard entry into September for the team that finishes ninth will create an added level of excitement that we’ve never had before.
In a sense it’s a mini grand final at the end of round 22, eighth versus ninth in a do or die clash for that last spot in the finals.
Last year we had this situation by virtue of the draw, and it was only a coincidence that Hawthorn and Essendon played off at the MCG for eighth spot.
The match was befitting a final.
It was high scoring and frenetic, and had just about everything, including a massive crowd, an all in brawl, and that now infamous shirt front from Matthew Lloyd on Brad Sewell.
Let this be a lesson for the AFL of just how good this wildcard concept has the potential to be.
The actual format of the final eight as we know it would remain the same, but it becomes a final 7 and at the end of the home and away season, the teams that finished eight and ninth effectively play for eighth spot.
If we consider that with 7 rounds still to go this season, and with the final 8 basically already locked in, crowd attendances, interest in games and general apathy towards matches involving the bottom 8 teams will really start to set in.
So why not give them something to play for? What if we had a wildcard entry in the finals?
Right now, as it stands, we have seven teams that would still be in the hunt for ninth spot on the ladder, North Melbourne on 28 points, Adelaide on 24, Melbourne on 22 and Brisbane, Essendon, Port Adelaide and Richmond all on 20 points.
Just imagine how excited Tiger fans would be? Six weeks ago, many thought they wouldn’t even win a game this season, let alone be a chance to play finals.
How ironic too for the Tigers faithful. Finally the club would rewarded for finishing ninth, not ridiculed.
It also allows forgiveness for some of the many variables that can affect a football club, whether it’s a team decimated by injury in the early rounds, or a run of close losses. Either way, this keeps the season alive for almost the whole competition right to the very end.
The ‘form ladder’ from the last couple of months shows Richmond and Adelaide are playing as well as anyone. So maybe they could end up being the sleeping giants that take advantage of the wildcard and do something special in September?
The other huge benefit is it will help to eliminate teams ‘tanking’ games in the latter part of the season. While it’s not an issue in the next few years due to the massive draft concessions going to the two new franchises, in 2013 the priority pick and tanking issue will be once again back on the agenda.
However, with this system, teams will be more interested in fighting for a chance to play-off in the wildcard game than throwing matches for future draft picks.
Exactly when the play-off would be though is problematic and requires more thought and consideration, could it be a stand alone game in between the last round of the season and the finals series?
Either way, it’s an attractive option with plenty of positives.
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