AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan defends AFLX as team Rampage win 2019 tournament

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan has defended the league's radical AFLX concept despite widespread criticism of the tournament as Jack Riewoldt's team Rampage secured the 2019 trophy in a thriller over Nat Fyfe's Flyers.

Team Rampage celebrate with the AFLX trophy. Picture: Getty

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan has defended the league's radical AFLX concept despite widespread criticism of the tournament.

 

 

South Australian footy great Graham Cornes labelled AFLX "snoozy" on Friday night, while fans mostly slammed the tournament on social media.

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But McLachlan says the fact players clearly enjoyed taking part in the tournament, combined with a strong attendance from families at Marvel Stadium, made it a winner.

"(There are) a lot of kids here and they are having a very good time. It is a good crowd, the players are having a good time," McLachlan said.

Team Rampage celebrate with the AFLX trophy. Picture: Getty

"It is a fun night, that is what it is. It is for kids and it is a bit of fun to kick off the year."

The AFL boss said the game's stars who took part, including team captains Nat Fyfe, Patrick Dangerfield, Jack Riewoldt and Eddie Betts, enjoyed the opportunity to play alongside the best of the best.

"It was very new last year and very young," he told Channel 7. "It is good to have some of the great players playing. They enjoy it. They like to be able to plain with each other and hang out and meet each other and sort of coach themselves and have a bit of fun as well.

#AFLX Trying to like it but it's a little snoozy. What's the verdict?

— Graham Cornes (@Cornesy12) February 22, 2019

So,Has AFL realised that this is crap?#AFLX

— kim kingsun (@shifty75) February 22, 2019

Definition of torture.... Waiting patiently for the footy season to start. An having AFLX thrown at you just to make the wait more excruciating. #AFLX

— Brett (@Bluebagger09) February 22, 2019

Bloody boring. Not liking it at all. #AFLX

— Blockchain San (@sanran100) February 22, 2019

"I know they have enjoyed it."

But fans weren't exactly complimentary of the tournament throughout the night as they flooded social media with posts criticising the concept.

By the conclusion of the tournament, AFLX had grown on other fans.

Riewoldt's team Rampage secured the 2019 AFLX premiership in a thriller over Fyfe's Flyers, with captain Riewoldt kicking the winning goal in the dying seconds.

"Thank you to my boys tonight, obviously playing well in the last game and getting $30,000 which will go a long way," Riewoldt said.

"To the rest of the players, we have had a really great two days. We had a great catch-up last night and we all enjoyed it.

Jack Riewoldt presents the CEO of Maddie Riewoldt's Vision with a cheque for $30,000.

"It's not very often you get 50 of the best players in the competition together to play a different brand of footy, enjoy each other's company.

"Finally to our boys, played their hearts out. We really enjoyed it. We love spending time with each other."

With Riewoldt's Rampage securing the 2019 AFLX premiership, $30,000 was donated to his team's chosen charity, Maddie Riewoldt's Vision.

If you didn't like #AFLX then you totally missed the point of it. Everyone involved had fun
The kids were loving it
Got a better crowd then some actual games
Raised money for charity
And the games were entertaining

What more could you want

— Taj (@TajWhelan) February 22, 2019

#AFLX was actually better than I imagined it would be. Next year do State Of Origin instead of made up teams!

— ⚡️ Craig ⚡️✨ (@Beckers_CD) February 22, 2019

Originally published as AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan defends AFLX as team Rampage win 2019 tournament

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