AFL CEO conference: All the latest information after 18-club meeting

AFL clubs believe the league is seriously considering an expansion to the finals format before 2028, while an in-season tournament, the return of State of Origin and an AFL All Stars game have been canvassed. HAVE YOUR SAY.

The AFL CEO conference brought up plenty of big issues and talking points, including ball tracking. Picture: Supplied

The AFL has confirmed it could introduce ball tracking technology for the AFLW season within weeks as club chief executives discussed a wildcard finals weekend and a radical in-season tournament at their Perth conference.

Clubs believe the league is seriously considering expanding the finals format for Tasmiania’s introduction in 2028 – and possibly beforehand.

The league introduced the idea last year at a Werribee Mansion conference with very little support from AFL clubs, but clubs now think the league is seriously considering expanding the finals format ahead of Tasmania’s arrival in 2028.

Yet when the league’s fixture bosses threw up the idea as part of a session on fixture innovation club bosses were certainly more receptive about fixture innovation and a potential wildcard playoff.

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley is likely to lose his job if he misses finals and yet this year the Power are 10-7 and yet still outside the eight.

Ken Hinkley speaks to his players in June. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images.

He has twice missed finals in his 11 completed seasons with a winning 12-10 record and could repeat the dose yet again this year.

The league and clubs are aware a wildcard playoff would not only keep more clubs in finals contention later in the season, it would provide more content for fans, the AFL and broadcasters.

Under a 7 v 10 and 8 v 9 system in the current ladder order, GWS would take on arch rival the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne would play Port Adelaide in two knockout clashes to decide the last two finals spots.

The league’s strong AFL ratings continue but the astonishing ratings for rugby league’s Wednesday State of Origin game – 3.65 million average and 5.4 million total reach – are proof of the interest in rival sports.

Earlier, the league’s chief executives were informed on Tuesday the league had not yet decided when to introduce changes to the draft bidding system this year, but all clubs will now be able to match bids for academy players across the entire draft this November.

The clubs were also told the length of a contract would now be a critical factor in any free agency compensation, which could help St Kilda secure first-round compensation if Josh Battles leaves for Hawthorn on a six-year deal.

Previously a free agency contract only needed to have two guaranteed seasons at a certain salary, but now a longer contract will help win maximum compensation for a player’s previous club.

Ball-tracking technology is bound for the AFLW. Picture: Getty Images

The Herald Sun exclusively revealed last month the ball-tracking trials conducted by the AFL were going so well the league was keen to introduce the technology for the AFLW season starting in seven weeks.

AFL football boss Laura Kane confirmed in her note to chief executives on Tuesday night the league was serious about that proposal.

“Testing is going very well. We need to pass another key milestone (in terms of testing) in July. As you know, the more we test, the more accurate the data. This is progressing and there is potential it comes in for the upcoming 2024 NAB AFLW Season,” she wrote.

“If implemented in AFLW, it would come in as ‘score assist’ to help with goal review decisions (post, touched, etc) with immediate feedback for our AFLW umpires.”

If successful, the technology would be introduced for the 2025 men’s competition.

The league last year threw up a wildcard weekend as a discussion point, with possibilities ranging from an 8 v 9 playoff on the weekend of the pre-season bye to a 7 v 10 and 8 v 9 system where the final two spots in the eight were decided.

That proposal was again raised, with the AFL aware it might have to expand its finals format at the latest by 2028 when Tasmania forms a 19th team.

Gold Coast chief executive Mark Evans has also proposed an in-season tournament similar to the NBA’s successful tournament where clubs play for premiership points but are also in a simultaneous knockout tournament with a separate cash prize.

It drew massive ratings and a positive response from fans this year as the LA Lakers won the inaugural tournament.

The league’s executives also discussed a potential pre-season tournament, State of Origin and a potential All Stars game.

Marc Murphy (right) and Jonathon Brown with the NAB Cup in 2013. The Lions and Blues played in the last NAB Cup Grand Final. Picture: Julian Smith

The league threw up ideas including a return to a pre-season competition with a cup on the line, and an in-season tournament with a prize like the NBA.

While the AFL is keen not to simply steal ideas from American sport it is aware of its capacity to innovate and create new content that has strong fan support.

Clubs were asked about their ideas for the remaining games under the 19-team competition where all teams played each other once for 18 total games.

Clubs are keen to retain derbies and showdowns, but the league is open to exploring how it could add to the fixture with those remaining games.

The league did not discuss expanding the season to 24 home-and-away games despite throwing it up publicly this year.

Clubs were told the league would continue to review its match review system after discussions at dinner as the MRO decisions came through.

The discussion grew so boisterous the league added the judiciary as an unofficial agenda item the next day, with the league to consider changes as part of its annual review.

Fremantle chief executive Simon Garlick presented to the chief executives on “travel considerations and discussed ideas around equalising”, according to the AFL.

The Dockers are keen for an extra home clash in the fixture and would like greater fixture parity, with the Dockers staying an extra week in Adelaide through Gather Round and having to travel to Launceston last weekend to take on the Hawks.

The league told clubs rookies would now be able to remain on club lists for five years,

It is yet to decide whether it will make changes to the points model for its draft in 2024 or 2025.

The league is set to introduce the mid-season trading of picks this year or next year.