AFL mindful of encroaching on AFLW with short-form AFLX

The AFL is mindful of the timing of its new short-form competition amid concerns it encroached on the women’s league.

AFL football operations manager Steve Hocking.

The AFL says its timing was wrong this year in playing the short format AFLX while the women’s was still running.

The second season of AFLW was only just under way when the league launched AFLX over three nights in mid-February.

AFL football operations manager Steve Hocking said the timing of the new format was not ideal.

“When it gets played, there is a range of things we have to consider,” Hocking said yesterday.

“What does it mean for (AFLW), how to make sure it’s not going to impact (the) women’s (season) so they have some stand-alone time in a season.”

With the Seven Network swapping the rights of tennis for cricket at the end of next summer, there is a window for the broadcaster and league to begin the AFLW in January in coming years.

This will help as the competition expands from eight teams to 10 next summer, and then to 14 from 2020.

The league was pleased with the initial running of AFLX, a fast-paced game which effectively replaced a round of the pre-season competition.

Fixturing through the pre-season was among agenda items discussed yesterday in the first meeting of the AFL’s new competition committee.

The committee, which reports to Hocking, features club presidents, chief executives, players and coaches from a range of clubs.

All agreed the AFL should not spring rule changes on clubs within range of a new season.

There was outrage when the league opted to outlaw a third man up in ruck contests in late 2016, which had an impact on clubs that had used this to their advantage.

Now, rule changes must be decided by October to allow clubs time to consider list alterations during the trade period and draft.

Hocking was football operations manager at Geelong, which had benefited from the talent Mark Blicavs had in the role, when the rule change occurred.

“Any changes to the game moving forward, we’ll actually look at delivering that to clubs and fans (and) the broader competition by October,” Hocking said.

“We’re moving away from rule changes or any changes to the game in January or February of a new season.”

Port Adelaide’s football manager Chris Davies said it was a “pretty significant point”.

Other discussion points included the possible introduction of a mid-season draft, which was floated earlier this year, and the general health of the game was considered amid criticism.

North Melbourne coach Brad Scott last week said the committee would take a measured approach to considering issues concerning changes such as the introduction of zones would be too drastic a measure.