MPNFL 2021: Pines coach Paddy Swayn calls for changes to season structure

An MPNFL coach has a plan to get the season completed, with more teams to play finals, and ease pressure on club volunteers.

Pines coach Paddy Swayn says it’s time to “think outside the box’’. Picture: Chris Eastman

It’s been a frustrating, stop-start local football season and now the question is, will we be able to complete it?

Pines senior coach Paddy Swayn wants the MPNFL to “think outside the box’’ in a bid to find a quick and fair end to the 2021 season.

Among his ideas are a new three-week finals format incorprating a top-six, the scrapping of relegation in Division 1 and a 20-round 2022 season.

Swayn also wants pressure on club volunteers to be eased, with AFL South East officials to make the hard calls.

Naturally, it all hinges on coming out of lockdown.

“I think you’ve got to have a final six,’’ Swayn said.

“And I don’t think it’s fair to have double chances, because mobs haven’t played each other twice and you’ve got some mobs who are in the top three only because of who they’ve been able to play twice.

“So I think the double chance is out the door as well.

“One plays six, two plays five and three plays four. That’s what I would do.

“You end up with three (teams).

“The best percentage out of those three games goes straight into the grand final, then the other two play a preliminary final.

“And then we get the grand final that way.’’

Pines celebrates its 2018 premiership. Picture: Andy Brownbill

A top-six finals system in Division 1 would allow Rosebud (currently in sixth spot) to play finals.

“Rosebud have been in the five all year and they’ve just gone out, and they haven’t been able to play Red Hill or Edithvale twice which would potentially put them into a double chance position,’’ Swayn said.

“So I think they earn the right to play a final and as it stands at the moment they would meet Bonbeach.

“Who knows how they’d go but at least they’d get the opportunity to play a final.’’

Finals footy at Frankston Park. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Swayn, who said his idea had received support from other club coaches, also urged AFL South East officials to make the hard decisions about the sensitive issue of relegation and promotion, so to take the pressure away from club presidents, who are volunteers.

He said the league bylaws “were written before Covid’’ and modern thinking was required.

“You’re going to get relationships ruined, you’re going to get clubs hating each other and that sort of stuff,’’ he said.

“We don’t want that.

“I don’t think it’s fair for presidents, they’re volunteers and they’ve got this hanging on their head.’’

Swayn’s Pines are currently on the bottom of the ladder and in the relegation hot seat in Division 1.

“We don’t want to get relegated,’’ Swayn said.

“We don’t think it’s fair that we get relegated off the back of not playing each other twice or missing out on that Edithvale game or the Red Hill game in the last lockdown.

“We’ve missed six games so how can you relegate when you’ve only played two thirds of the year?

“In Division 2 if they get a finals series and a winner, they’ve got to come up. I have no problem about that.

“I don’t think it’s fair that they wouldn’t come up but I also don’t think it’s fair that we’d go down.

“I would, just for one year, have an 11 team comp in Divvy 1. You can handle it for one year. It’s not normal but nothing’s normal.

“We’d have to play through Easter, everyone play Queen’s Birthday…everyone play each other twice, you’d have a 20 round season.’’

MPNFL club presidents will meet with AFL South East to discuss finals and other issues on Monday night.