NBA-style finals series flagged for AFL

There could be massive changes ahead for the AFL as clubs outside Victoria try to crush the MCG home ground advantage. See what’s been discussed.

Interstate clubs have flagged a radical best-of-three grand final series to reduce Victorian clubs’ MCG home ground advantage.

The NBA-style shake up is among a raft of changes that interstate clubs have floated to level the AFL’s playing field.

Only two of the past 17 AFL premierships have been won by interstate teams – West Coast in 2018 and Sydney in 2012.

Three sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, have revealed the best-of-three grand final discussions among non-Victorian clubs.

Collingwood on a victory lap after winning the 2023 Grand Final at the MCG. Picture by David Caird

The plan was first pushed by Swans chief executive Tom Harley in 2018 and was floated again at a meeting of AFL bosses at Werribee Mansion last year.

However, sources claim that there has been renewed talk about the shake up as the AFL was about to launch its $225 million revamp of Marvel Stadium.

The league-owned venue was given the cash for the upgrade in a deal with the Victorian State Government to keep the AFL grand final at the MCG until 2057.

That agreement was extended for another two years as compensation for moving the AFL grand final to the Gabba in Brisbane in 2020 and Perth in 2021 because of the Covid-19 pandemic rules in Victoria.

The Covid-19 years proved that the grand final could be staged outside Melbourne, however the MCG remains the largest venue in the league with the grand final seen as an AFL cash cow.

Tom Harley at the AFL launch this week.

Jimmy Bartel with his sons Henley and Aston when he was inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame. Photo by Michael Klein.

Questions have been raised about whether the AFL prioritised an upgrade to the Docklands Stadium, where the league has its head office, over the fairness of the competition.

The Marvel Stadium upgrades include a revamp to the entrances at Gates 1-3 and Gate 5, along with new lighting, bars and restaurants.

Former AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan described the new scoreboards installed in 2022 as part of the deal as “the highest definition, sexiest things you can possibly imagine.”

But the changes at the ground have been modest considering the cost to Victorian taxpayers at a time when state debt was expected to hit $135 billion in June this year.

An image of the Marvel Stadium upgrades.

Incoming AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon, sources claim, was open to more American-style sports entertainment and had been canvassing clubs for their views.

A two-week break before the AFL grand final, similar to the Super Bowl lead up has also been discussed among clubs.

A best-of-three grand final series would be similar to the NBA’s best of seven play offs.

Former Adelaide coach Don Pyke had reportedly raised the idea in 2017 to the AFL Coaches Association following the Crows embarrassing loss to Richmond at the MCG.

Mr Harley, a premiership captain at Geelong, said at the time the plan had “genuine merit” at the time.

He did not return calls this week.

Andrew Dillon at the SCG this week.

Gillon McLachlan at the 2023 AFL Grand Final Commission lunch.

His Geelong teammate Jimmy Bartel called it a “ridiculous idea” at the time.

Any best-of-three series would create a logistics headache for the sporting calendar, potentially pushing the AFL into the traditional window occupied by horse racing.

The 2010 AFL grand final ended in a draw, with Collingwood smashing St Kilda in a reply the following week.

The AFL Commission scrapped the grand final replay rule in 2016, with extra time now added to a drawn grand final to ensure a winner on the day.

AFL spokesman Jay Allen said: “There are no plans to change the AFL grand final.”

Originally published as NBA-style finals series flagged for AFL