The AFL has suggested that in 2014 the much-maligned pre-season cup will be scrapped, and instead there will be just one long 24-round premiership season.
There is no doubt that the pre-season cup and the State of Origin concept have faults, yet with some tweaking both formats have merit as viable pre-season competitions.
But before one looks at any potential change to the AFL season the AFL management should research what occurs in other football competitions around the world.
There are far more opportunities for trophy-winning moments in the other codes than what there is in the AFL. This is the state of play with other competitions:
NFL (National Football League – USA)
Three trophies on offer, 32 teams.
EPL (English Premier League)
Four trophies on offer, 20 teams.
A-League
Two trophies on offer*, 10 teams.
NRL (including State of Origin)
Two trophies on offer, 16 teams.
*The A-League at present has just one trophy on offer per year, but they are introducing a second competition next year.
In contrast, the AFL is proposing to just have one trophy winner per year in a crowded 18 team competition.
If it was a 12-team competition (as it was back in the 1980s) and you had one winner each year then the concept is easy to sell, but it is difficult to justify it in an 18-team competition.
The central problem that no-one addresses is that there are way too many teams in the competition now to have just one team winning a trophy each year.
Sharing the joy of cup-winning moments should be a factor in the AFL’s deliberations over the fixture.
However, the future viability of the AFL’s pre-season cup is held back by the alarming drop-off in the prestige level of this trophy.
It seems that in recent years it is more prestigious not to win the pre-season cup than to make an attempt to win it.
Yet when Hawthorn and Essendon were sharing the pre-season/night trophies back in the late 1980s and 1990s it translated into being a prestigious title as they were the dominant teams of that era.
Between them, Essendon and Hawthorn won nine of the 11 trophies on offer between 1984 and 1994.
But now it seems that the less developed teams steel themselves to peak for this moment and to build some positive press for the home and away season.
Brisbane, for example, won the title this year despite finishing 13th, 15th and 13th in the last three years of the home and away season.
To solve this problem of there being a lack of prestige in the pre-season competition the competition should only be between the top six clubs from the previous season.
Teams that have achieved in the year before are rewarded with a second chance of winning some silverware and adding some prestige to their club.
They are the best teams and should be rewarded for that good form.
The suggested format (of a six team knock-out competition) satisfies the requirement of the AFL for a quick three week competition and it also potentially gives an opportunity for instant revenge if the grand final combatants happen to meet in the pre-season playoff.
First week: 3rd vs 6th – qualifying final 1
First week: 4th vs 5th – qualifying final 2
Second week: 1st vs winner of qualifying final 2
Second week: 2nd vs winner of qualifying final 1
Third week: the final
An NRL comparison and the importance of the State of Origin concept
In the NRL, the State of Origin competition is a bigger event than the NRL grand final, so that should also be of consideration in the AFL’s deliberations.
It is the over-arching success of the NRL’s State of Origin competition that should make the AFL reconsider an AFL State of Origin concept.
Whether the State of Origin competition is introduced every second or third year (in place of the pre-season cup) is up for debate, but it should at least be trialled.
Recent AFL reports have confirmed that players ‘overwhelmingly’ supported the return of representative State of Origin football.
The football guru Kevin Sheedy has also been a vocal proponent of re-introducing the State of Origin competition.
A suggested three-week State of Origin competition is achievable. Initially Victoria would be deemed the highest seed, yet should Victoria lose the final they would also lose their status as the highest seeded team for the next series.
First week: Queensland vs NSW vs Tasmania– round robin/shortened games/winner progresses
Second week: Queensland (assuming Qld wins) vs Western Australia vs South Australia – round robin – winner progresses
Third week: Western Australia (assuming WA wins) vs Victoria – full match.
The time has come for the AFL to ensure that there are two genuine moments of trophy winning joy every year.
It shouldn’t matter whether that be in a club competition or a State of Origin competition, but as long as there is a second competition on offer.
As it stands now, the pre-season competition has lost its prestige. The aim of the new format as suggested is to increase the pride and prestige of that pre-season competition.
The NRL state of origin concept has been such an enormous rating success, so much so that it seems the AFL should at least see if they can re-introduce the concept and work out if it gets traction.
If it doesn’t work, then at least an attempt was made.
Either way, the AFL should seek to learn from other sports as much as possible and having one competition per year is going against the wisdom provided by other competitions from around the world.
Griffo
Guest
Yeah, a bit like the world cup. Ridiculous!
josh
Roar Rookie
don't the AFL realise that 2 byes just makes picking AFL Dreamteam/Super Coach/Fantasy teams much more harder...
Aussie in London
Guest
Personally, I'd prefer to have a proper home and away season. To me, in a partial a H/A season there are too many compromises in order for the AFL to give clubs finishing lower to have a chance to make the 8 in the next season, the emphasis on establishing a 'rivalry' between the new 2 clubs etc. Look at the Crows in 2012 for example. I know the Crows beat all the big sides in 2012, but they finished equal 1st on points with the Hawks, yet of the stronger sides, they only played Geelong twice, and played GWS & GCS twice each. Hawks on the other hand played the big 3 clubs twice and the GWS & GCS once each. I just dont think that clubs respect the NAB comp, and with the format and the rule changes, fans dont buy into it. In your NFL/NRL/soccer examples the format of the game remains the same. From a spectators view, the NAB cup just doesnt feel the same as the proper game I think they key is that any additional comp needs to be worthwhile for the players to want to compete and that fans will want to watch? The problem I see with SOO is that it's been too difficult to integrate the new with the established and just hasnt worked. I think fans and players embrace it for the traditional states, but it's not relevant for the allies etc. I think SOO needs to be scrapped but replace it with a town vs. country concept like in the NRL. I think something like that could work because of the good depth between those. I think Vic, SA, WA, Qld and NSW (inc ACT) could have their own town & country sides, not sure what to do with Tas and NT). Then there is a pool type system which then results in finals type comp so as not to have too many matches to take away from the clubs i.e. sides could get to a GF in 6 games? This would give good playing exposure to the rookie lists, maybe a salary contribution from the AFL to make it worthwhile for the established players and it puts games out to the country as well? Mr. Demitriou, gimme a call to discuss if you want?
Floreat Pica
Guest
The minor Premiership in the AFL was also overlooked as a trophy- so dont feel too slighted..
Connor
Roar Rookie
I thought they were reconfiguring (or more correctly re-stuffing up) the fixture to make it easier for teams with a soft draw to make the finals, by splitting the league into three "groups" of six and playing with it from there, even having the possibility that two teams could play each other three times or not at all.
Cappuccino
Roar Guru
Maybe, but non-football journalists and fans alike so often ignore the A-League Premiers (or "minor premiers" as they're usually incorrectly called) that it's hard not to wish people would actually take notice.
Me too
Guest
I've heard some doozies but this one takes the cake. A second competition with only the top six involved? Really?
Shmick
Guest
It's science.
zach
Guest
I've always thought that was a ridiculous proposition - you determine the winner of a sporting competition by a sports match - not by some statistical analysis of results over the past 6 months.
peeeko
Roar Guru
Nearly every soccer comp has at least one knock out trophy comp as well as the premiership
peeeko
Roar Guru
Exactly, no one cares , there is really only 1
liquor box
Guest
One trophy would be perfect, why give out prizes for not being good enough to win the real thing. Soccer has it right....except in Australia, the minor premiership as we know it should always be more valuable than a one off win.
Brad
Guest
Precious much?
Cugel
Roar Rookie
Credit where due, has to be the non sequitur of the year so far
TW
Guest
Off Topic but related internationally wise-- Good to see our game getting some sort of recognition overseas while that point is not important domestically it does make more sports admins (400 of them apparently) aware of the code offshore. Sheedy is in his element at this type of format. Internationally the game continues to spread and expand with "most" domestic comps having increased playing numbers albeit from established bases and also zero bases in some countries with "Iceland" of all places joining in. The sport is still mostly unrecognised but TV cover is helping very slowly to change that. I can see the day when the 3 yearly International Cup being capped for numbers due to time restraints which would be a positive. http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-08-30/clarkson-and-sheedy-off-to-chelsea
Simon
Guest
'SOO works so well in the NRL because that code is decades behind the AFL' Haha most people will stop reading there
Cappuccino
Roar Guru
The A-League already has two trophies on offer (the Premier's plate and the Championship) and will have three next year. If you're going to bring up football in an AFL article, at least get it right.
Cat
Roar Guru
So what 3 trophies does NFL have? Are you talking about two conference trophies and the super bowl trophy? If that's the case you left out the AFL minor premiership trophy.
The Big Fish
Guest
And you cant compare the physical demands of Football and NFL to AFL or NRL over a season. Half Marathon every week as well as tackling as much as happens over 30odd week means intense pressure takes a toll on players. Only way around is decrease teams but increase d player lists.
Shmick
Guest
Some good points, but I can't agree with respect to State of Origin. The AFL and players are speaking generally about rep footy, not SOO. SOO works so well in the NRL because that code is decades behind the AFL, and in all honesty it is only relevant to two states. It's simple and it works. AFL has outgrown SOO, as evidenced in the 90's after several non-VIC teams had become well established in the league. You're better off promoting the SOO comp that exists between the state leagues. Rep footy in a national competition needs to be all-inclusive. There are players and fans from every state and territory as well as overseas. There needs to be an opportunity for every AFL-listed player to qualify, and every fan should feel equally compelled to take an interest in the game. I'd prefer to see something along the lines of the all star weekends that the American leagues do. There's plenty of opportunities for innovation.