Clubs reject AFL’s 17-5 fixture proposal but support wildcard system

A TEAM that finishes 10th could play off for a finals spot as early as next year under a wildcard system that surprisingly had the support of clubs. How would it work?

AFL chief Gillon McLachlan has raised the possibility of a 17-5 or 18-4 fixturing model. Picture: AAP

THE Western Bulldogs would had been forced to win a knockout game just to enter September last year under a wildcard model being considered by the AFL.

The AFL’s clubs on Thursday shouted down the AFL’s 17-5 or 18-4 fixturing model for 2018 at a meeting of chief executives in Melbourne.

But AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan revealed there was broad support for some sort of wildcard weekend from 2018 onwards.

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He is desperate to ensure more late-season home-and-away games remain “live”, boosting attendances and ratings in a period in which they traditionally flag.

The Herald Sun understands the most likely version would see two wildcard games — 7 v 10 and 8 v 9 on the ladder — with the winners then entering a finals format.

There are many less likely models including a single 8 v 9 playoff, or a more radical 17-5 model where the winner of six teams in the 13th-18th placed pool wins a wildcard spot.

Last year the Dogs won 15 games — five more than 10th placed Port Adelaide — then went on to win the second premiership in the club’s history.

They could have lost to Port Adelaide and missed September, while eighth-placed North Melbourne would have played St Kilda in the second wildcard slot.

Under the wildcard model the Dogs would have had to win five consecutive cut-throat games to hoist the premiership cup.

Marcus Bontempelli’s Western Bulldogs would have to play off for a finals spot even if it remained in eighth spot if a wildcard system was in place. Picture: Getty Images

They would also have been denied the critical bye week off, which many people — but not coach Luke Beveridge — believe helped them rest up to win the flag.

McLachlan said he even raised the possibility of a wildcard weekend for this current season, with 2018 now seen as the most likely option.

“There were about 12 different options. 17-5 and 18-4 and the wildcard got a lot of discussion,’’ he said.

“There was more interest in the wildcard weekend leading into the finals than I thought there would be. It had not universal but a significant level of support and that was the thing that was most surprising.

“It was two (wildcard) games and there are a couple of variations on that.”

The league’s working party on the fixture will continue to assess the various permutations but the wildcard weekend now has a strong groundswell of support.

McLachlan said the league had not ruled out a 17-5 overhaul for 2019, which splits teams into three groups of six by Round 17 for a five-week race into finals.

He prefers that model to an 18-4 model where teams play once each, then in Round 18 play a second round of Derbies, Showdowns and cross-town clashes.

“On substantive fixture reform, I think it’s unlikely for 2018. The broader stuff would be 2019 but the wildcard would be for 2018,” McLachlan said.

The league talked to assembled clubs in the Melbourne CBD on the fixture, impending pay deal, AFLW expansion and ticketing and crowd issues yesterday.

McLachlan reinforced to clubs the league would pay all of the rise in the total player payment agreements.

AFL chief Gillon McLachlan said the league has not ruled out a 17-5 fixture model. Picture: AAP

But he refused to discuss any parallels with Cricket Australia’s pay talks, with that code embroiled in a messy tit-for-tat battle.

“Our aim is for a fair deal and it’s a pretty confidential process. The players need something that ties them to growth and we reaffirmed our commitment that we understand how a review mechanism would work.”

As Brisbane strives to re-sign second-year forward Josh Schache, he said there was no move towards blanket three-year deals for draftees.

“If there is a three-year deal for first-year players it has to apply to every player,’’ he said.

“When you put the heat on clubs I am not sure you would want all players contracted for three years.

“Clubs do an amazing job of creating a culture where kids want to stay.”