AFL football operations boss Steve Hocking has confirmed to players that there will be no additional prize money handed out during the League's inaugural AFLX series which is set to take place in February.
The AFL's new seven-a-side hybrid competition will run from February 15-17 in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales over three nights, although despite much speculation, it seems as though no added bonuses will be on hand for the winners of each pool.
It was widely speculated that cash bonuses of up to $10,000 per player for the winning sides would help sides play their best players in the tournament, although the League are hoping clubs will select their best anyway, even without further incentives.
While next month's first ever series is massive for the future of the AFLX concept, it is believed clubs are going to take a long-term approach to the season, and instead play young, inexperienced players in a bid to have another look at the depth of their lists.
Despite no prize money being offered for the inaugural series, the AFL have confirmed they are open to adding monetary prizes over the coming years after a review of the first edition.
After trialing the concept last month, Geelong coach Chris Scott supported the shortened format, but suggested the game's modifications would see the intensity and contact drop down from the home-and-away level.
โBut thatโs not necessarily by design. Itโs just a function of the fact the ball moves so quickly,โ Scott said.
โThereโs a trend across the world of shortening games and smaller teams, and shorter games for the viewer as well.
โAnd I think at junior level, I think it just makes so much sense for 10-year-olds to be playing on smaller fields with fewer numbers on the field.โ
With the addition of AFLX to the 2018 pre-season schedule, teams will now play just two JLT Series games as well as a weekend of AFLX action, before the home-and-away season begins.
