Natalie von Bertouch column: Has netball found fix for AFL’s tanking problem?

NETBALL Australia may just have found a solution once and for all for the AFL’s tanking saga and last-round bye — and as a bonus, enhance the excitement factor and intensity of every individual game.

Jemma Mi Mi of the Firebirds catches during the Round 6 Super Netball match between the Magpies Netball and the Queensland Firebirds. Picture: AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy

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NETBALL Australia may just have found a solution once and for all for the AFL’s tanking saga.

AFL bosses have again scheduled an end-of-season bye to try and combat clubs resting star players on the eve of finals.

While the bye is somewhat helping curb this trend, it certainly has it downfalls and is not look upon favourably by many.

Netball’s new bonus point system, however, may be just what the AFL needs to scrap the bye and still maintain the integrity of the competition.

Renae Ingles of the Vixens is challenged by Kimberlee Green of the Giants fight for the ball in a round five Super Netball match. The introduction of bonus points has done wonders for the intensity and excitement of each individual game. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

AFL teams finishing in the top four should be rewarded for their successes throughout the home and away season but the scheduled bye may in fact do the opposite.

Teams who win their first final only play one game in three weeks and you don’t have to be an expert to know that this is not optimal preparation for players physically or mentally. Last season the Crows scheduled their own intra club match demonstrating just how worried clubs are about the effect of reduced match practice on performance.

But it’s not just the effect on teams that should be considered. Spectators want footy in September, a gap week before finals that halts the build up of excitement doesn’t sit right.

Netball Australia has introduced a new bonus point system whereby in addition to the two points on offer at the end of the game, the team who wins each quarter gets a premiership point.

This rule change has done wonders for the intensity and excitement of the game.

Teams now fight to the death of every quarter in the pursuit of premiership points, and for the losing team, well they continue to fight as they have the opportunity to win quarters and salvage some pride.

Could this rule be the answer in the AFL problem and the imperfect bye solution? I think it could be. With more premiership points up for grabs each game it’s unlikely that teams will be ‘safe’ meaning the result of not fielding your best team would be much more costly and not worth the risk.

And as an added bonus this rule change has boosted the atmosphere at netball matches as spectators are passionately urging on their team in the hunt for bonus premiership point glory. Imagine the atmosphere of 50,000 people cheering on their footy side with purpose each and every quarter — it would be electric.

Love them or hate them, rule and format changes are here to stay as sporting organisations try to keep their sport ahead of the game. Innovation is key in the sporting market place which is now ultra competitive.

Each code is doing all it can to hold on to its spectators and participants. Look at the impact the Big Bash and women’s AFL has had — very successful ventures for Cricket Australia and the AFL.

A huge Big Bash League cheers on the Strikers at Adelaide Oval. Picture: AAP Image/David Mariuz

Traditional games must keep up and I think this innovative rule implemented by netball bosses has hit the mark, and then some.

We have seen some good rule and format changes and some terrible ones. Who can forget the rule change in netball that allowed a penalty to be taken anywhere on the court in line with the infringement? It meant if a player contacted an opponent in a pocket the goal shooter could walk herself along that line and under the post to score a goal. A shocker and long gone now.

The Big Bash is a great example of changing the rules and format of cricket to improve the spectacle of the game. And let’s face it, in this fast-paced society where everything is at your finger tips fans and participants are after fun, fast and exciting.

Like every code the AFL are looking into rule and format changes to improve the game and spectacle, this bonus point rule change in netball is one the AFL bosses should stand up and take note of.

It just may be the answer they have been looking for — and one that keeps everyone happy.