The Australian Football League (AFL) has ignited passionate debate by confirming a significant expansion of its finals series, introducing a controversial wildcard round from the next season. This move will see ten clubs, instead of the traditional eight, compete for the premiership, marking the most substantial change to the finals structure since the introduction of the pre-finals bye in 2016.
AFL Chief Executive Andrew Dillon has publicly defended the decision, which has been met with both anticipation and criticism from the football community. The new format aims to inject more drama and opportunity into the postseason, but critics argue it risks diluting the prestige of earning a finals berth.
How the New AFL Finals Format Will Work
The revamped structure introduces an extra round of finals action. The clubs finishing in seventh and tenth positions on the ladder will face off in a sudden-death elimination final, while the eighth and ninth-placed teams will battle in the other wildcard clash.
Crucially, the top six sides will retain their significant advantage, enjoying a week off as the wildcard round unfolds. This new round will occupy the weekend previously reserved for the men's pre-finals bye.
To illustrate the potential impact, if the wildcard system had been in place for the 2024 season, it would have seen a thrilling match-up between seventh-placed Gold Coast and runners-up Sydney, granting the Suns their first-ever finals appearance. The other game would have pitted the Western Bulldogs against Hawthorn, offering the Bulldogs a lifeline after their late-season elimination.
CEO's Defence and Fan Backlash
Andrew Dillon is the plan's chief advocate, emphasising the heightened excitement and engagement it promises. "Our fans love finals games, so we think it provides opportunities and hope for our fans," Dillon stated. He also highlighted the commercial and viewership benefits, noting that finals matches are "the best attended and most watched on television."
Addressing accusations that the change "rewards mediocrity," Dillon argued the opposite. He believes it will create a more defined and sought-after gap between sixth and seventh place, making the fight for a top-six finish even more critical. "You'll have a big difference between first and second with the home final. Third and fourth, you get the double chance. Fifth and sixth you get the week off and seventh and eighth you host a home wildcard final," he explained.
However, this optimism is not universally shared. A survey conducted by the AFL Fans Association (AFLFA) revealed that 77% of supporters oppose the wildcard round. AFLFA president Ron Issko voiced significant concerns, stating, "Fans want a fair game, the wildcard proposal smacks of unfairness and reinforces wider concerns about fixture design and scheduling." The primary fear is that it devalues the consistent performance required across a full season.
Broader Consequences for AFL and AFLW
The introduction of the wildcard round has ripple effects beyond the men's competition. The weekend, which had provided a dedicated launch window for the AFLW season over the past three years, will now be consumed by the men's wildcard finals.
Dillon expressed confidence that both competitions can successfully coexist, pointing to the overlap seen in earlier rounds this season. "W is super important for us," he affirmed, adding that the shift allows the AFLW to "celebrate" exclusively throughout October and November after the men's finals conclude.
This strategic shift represents a gamble for the AFL, betting that the allure of extra, high-stakes finals football will outweigh fan apprehensions about fairness and tradition. The success of this divisive wildcard plan will ultimately be judged when the first bounce of the 2025 finals series takes place.
