The AFLX experiment could be a monster success as coaches, players and fans instantly warmed to the short format.
The debut of the abbreviated format in Adelaide on Thursday night has been hailed a resounding triumph by all involved.
Fans flocked to the fresh format; players loved it; and coaches welcomed both the spectacle and benefit for their teams.
About 10,253 spectators attended Coopers Stadium and watched Adelaide win the inaugural AFLX grand final.
The Crows pipped Geelong by eight points in the last of seven games crammed into a tick over three and a half hours.
Geelong coach Chris Scott led a chorus of approval for the format, featuring seven players a side and played on a soccer-sized, rectangular field.
Scott said the format appealed not only as an elite-level spectacle, but would be an invaluable game for children to learn Australian Rules football.
“Our footy club really supports the concept,” Scott said.
“We think it not only has a good chance at the top level but probably more importantly, it has a good chance to succeed at the amateur level, and internationally as well.
“I have a view, and I think it’s shared by a few of the senior coaches around the competition, that 18 (players) versus 18 on a huge field is not the right way to go for young kids who can only kick the ball 30 metres.
“I think this (AFLX) is a really good way to learn the game.”
And Scott had a simple message for traditionalists likely to baulk at the razzle-dazzle of AFLX: flashing LED goal-posts, frequent loud music during play, and at-ground commentary.
“Too bad,” Scott said.
“We’re at the stage where we have got to move past those sort of negative people.
“They don’t have to watch.
“But they’re the same people that don’t like Twenty20 (cricket) either and I think that is succeeding in spite of them.”
Scott’s views were supported by other coaches including Collingwood assistant Robert Harvey.
“From a coaching point of view, I think it’s a great concept,” Harvey said.
Players universally expressed enjoyment of the format while noting the fast pace of the games.
“It’s a fun game,” Fremantle’s acting captain Michael Walters said.
“But you have also got to play the team game as well as the individual game.
“There’s a lot of flashy stuff that is going to happen out there but if the team does’t work as a unit, it can go pear-shaped very quickly.”
David
Guest
I watched a little but it looked a bit like Wednesday night training at WAFL to me. The solution to fix AFLW and AFLX seems simple - merge the two. So, the girls play AFLX on a rectangular stadium (maybe with a little tinkering - 10 players on the ground instead of 7 and change the length of the games and the 40m arc becomes 30m). This solves a number of issues: 1) Shallow talent pool of AFLW players 2) Low scores by the girls on the big grounds (some coaches have already been told off for being too defensive) 3) Cost of giving away free entry to spectators of AFLW games just to get them to buy some food and drinks 4) Lower impact on the female body 5) An opportunity to promote the game internationally without bastardising the AFL competition we have. I don't have a problem with this being a pre season fixture for the AFL players, it is low impact, hones some of the skills required and helps develop some fitness is a semi competitive situation. I also don't have a problem with the AFL experimenting - after all, this is what they were doing. Interested in others views on my thoughts.
Martin
Guest
Harry, that's curious that you would put the AFLW into the same box as AFLX. Are you not aware that the AFLW has been enormously successful, that is at least this eight team format has been.
Kane
Guest
I'm not a fan, i didn't get any excitement out of it at all. Maybe I'm a traditionalist but it just doesn't provide the excitement that it's meant to. It's Gill's baby so it won't be going anywhere until he's gone even if it becomes a flop. There's no need for it, the AFL doesn't need it to be successful so just cut your losses before it impacts on our great game for the worse.
Slane
Guest
It does have pretty poor ratings. Only double your average A-league game...
Kangajets
Guest
The real winner was Netflix.
JimmyJax
Guest
AFLX = P76
Cat
Roar Guru
More fake news copy/pasting.
dave
Guest
By about the 3rd game BT and Brayswaw zooper calls sounded subdued.So AFLX has already achieved something we thought impossible.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
It really isn't too hard to find articles and content related the AFL season proper. Perhaps it's your alleged age and the presumed technological intellect (or lack thereof) that results in your inability to locate it online?
DingoGray
Roar Guru
If that you Pendles?
Slane
Guest
It's the AFL off-season. News about AFLW and AFLX is naturally filling the void. We won't hear anything about either code once the season proper begins.
Harsh Truth Harry
Roar Rookie
McLachlan has turned our wonderful, precious game into Gilligans Island with AFLW and AFLX.
Harsh Truth Harry
Roar Rookie
I would rather watch Cat run around with other unfit, bald blokes in the over 50's than AFLX or AFLW and that's saying something!
Harsh Truth Harry
Roar Rookie
One more thing on AFLX and AFL Womens footy. Is it just me or are others incredibly annoyed to have to filter through all the AFLW and AFLX rubbish articles in the media trying to find the real stuff? Why does AFLW and AFLX tripe appear in all threads on the Age, Sun, news.com.au etc? I don't want to have to search for real footy! get the rubbish off on their own! Make them their own tabs on your AFL website Gilligan!
Harsh Truth Harry
Roar Rookie
I actually found it completely offensive. It was like taking The Return of the King movie and making a parody what was meant to be serious but the whole cinema were laughing regardless. How long are we all going to sit back and watch Mclachlan turn our code into Gilligans Island?
Professor Chaos
Guest
LOL otherwise. they would be charged with bringing the game into disrepute. All they need now is to wear bras and to not touch each other whilst chasing a red balloon. Its a mean game of sarcasta ball AFLX!
Tom M
Guest
I agree, the game had zero highlights and I changed the channel after 2 games. I felt sorry for Brayshaw and BT In the comms box, they tried hard to get enthused by the product but you could tell even they thought it was rubbish
Stalking Fred
Guest
Lol. The propaganda machine rolls on . On social media & Forums I read about 8-2 in favour of what a steaming pile ths was . So no fans didn't warm to it . Don't believe me . Go to an AFL forum .. The comments are a real eye opener
anon
Roar Pro
I thought it was actually boring. It was almost devoid of highlights. How can International Rules be so exciting compared to this rubbish? We saw why footy is played on the large fields it is. You can kick from half back to deep in the forward line.
Slane
Guest
The ground somehow managed to simultaneously be too big for only 7 players per team and too small for the way we kick the ball. It's almost like making the ground longer and bringing more players in would leave us with a better product. The announcer at the game would annoy the hell out of me but it was a good chance to see aome young talent running around. Not as good as an actual game, mind you. The physicallity was sorely lacking in the games last night. Contested marks, tackles and evwn contested possessions look to be going the way of the dinosaur (or ruckman).