gadj1976 wrote:I should elaborate....
When we get to 20 sides (maybe before), we'll have two divisions.
The gap between the 'good' and 'poor' sides is ever increasing and hence this is a way to even it up - from a win loss ratio only I might add.
The AFL wont stand for having teams 7-0 (and potentially getting stronger on and off the field) and 0-7 (and potentially getting worse on and off the field) for much longer.
Essentially it'd be say an East and West conference style set up with 10 teams playing each other (in their own div) twice (18 games) and then possibly playing say 6 from the other div.
The AFL can then have an elaborate scheme whereby the finals can be a World Series, where the two conference winners play each other in a best of "eleven-teen" to see who is "World Champions".
(ok that last bit is me being mischevious, but the rest is a monty).
You are right on the money there, and I bet the way the AFL sets it up for at least the 1st year will turn the clock back 20 odd years.
It will be just like the old days of VFL (and the way free to air TV is going lately we'll probably get "The Winners" back too, and that's all we'll get), and the rest of the sides in the league can have their own little affair where they won't intrude on Melbourne soil until September.
Big games & crowds every week in Melbourne, rest of Australia can't fill stadiums now so what the heck if they don't fill them when this happens. The AFL will make squillions in attendances in Melbourne, plus the TV coverage. TV agreements I think dictate the best game of the week is to be Friday night, and the 2nd best Saturday night, what's the bet they are both broadcast out of Melbourne?
But......there is probably no better way to start it, other than odd number teams from the previous season being in the "Skilton Conference" and the evens being in "Barassi", then maybe 2 teams a year swap 'conference' depending on where they finish.
I think the AFLPA will push the point the season is too long now and they will not entertain the idea of having to play more games than they do currently. My bet is they will come down to 18 games a year eventually, playing only those teams in their respective conferences twice a year. They could drag finals out in round 1 by playing 'across conference' over 2 legs (top 3 sides in each group).
Just my thoughts........