AFLX rules, schedule and fixture confirmed: What is AFLX?

MARK an X in your diaries — seven-a-side AFLX is here. The AFL has announced the dates and venues for the first ever matches of the fast-paced modified game. Who is your club playing?

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 15: Paddy McCartin of the Saints leads teammates in a sprint around the oval during a St Kilda Saints AFL training session at Linen House Oval on November 15, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/AFL Media/Getty Images)

THE AFL’s plans to conquer the world with its AFLX brand will start with the modest beginning of three round-robin contests in mid-February.

Collingwood and Geelong will take part in the first round of games, with six teams each to play on a trio of nights from February 15-17 next year.

Teams will play two contests each consisting of two 10-minute halves, with the winner of each pool then playing a “grand final” the same night.

But the stars of the AFL are unlikely to play in big numbers, with the league conceding it may be a showcase for the kids and VFL regulars.

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Geelong football boss Simon Lloyd backed the concept but stopped short of committing his club’s best players to the round-robin format.

The Herald Sun understands there will be no prizemoney on offer, with talks continuing with Channel 7 and Fox Footy on a broadcast deal.

If neither chooses to broadcast the concept the league will look at alternate media arrangements or broadcasters.

The game, to be played on a rectangular field, will feature seven players and three interchange members per side. Interchanges will be unlimited.

AFLX how it might look

The concept has drawn a sceptical response from many who believe it is an AFL cash grab that is unlikely to succeed.

But AFL game development manager Andrew Dillon echoed Gillon McLachlan’s ambition to take the format to the world.

“AFLX has been created to provide us with the options to play a form of the game in places where oval grounds are limited and to showcase our game internationally at a point in the future,” Dillon said.

The concept will be launched at Adelaide’s Hindmarsh Stadium, move the next night to Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium then finish on a Saturday night at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium.

The first six teams to trial the concept will be the Magpies, Cats, Adelaide, Port Adelaide, Fremantle and West Coast.

Rules include a free kick for last touch for out of bounds, no marks for backwards kicks and kick-ins from behind the goal line after all scores.

Clubs would seem extremely unlikely to risk all their best players in an experimental format played the week before the JLT series.

The AFL has not released a detailed AFLX fixture but has divided the 18 teams into three groups:

GROUP 1

To play at Adelaide’s Hindmarsh Stadium, Thursday February 15

Adelaide, Port Adelaide, Collingwood, West Coast, Fremantle, Geelong

GROUP 2

To play at Etihad Stadium, Friday February 16

Melbourne, North Melbourne, St Kilda, Carlton, Hawthorn, Essendon

GROUP 3

Allianz Stadium in Sydney, Saturday February 17

Sydney, GWS Giants, Brisbane Lions, Western Bulldogs, Richmond, Gold Coast

AFLX EXPLAINED

— Soccer-size rectangular pitch

— Trial games have been played between teams of seven (plus three on the bench)

— Fast, free-flowing footy

— One umpire, no centre bounces, kick-ins from full-back after goals

— Quarters of 10 minutes

— 10 points for goals outside 40m

— Ex-stars could bolster AFL teams in pre-season carnival

FAST FOOTY

A possible Richmond AFLX 10

Dustin Martin

Trent Cotchin

Jack Riewodlt

Alex Rance

Daniel Rioli

Jason Castagna

Shai Bolton

Bench

Dan Butler

Connor Menadue

Corey Ellis