Australian rules football is one of the nation's favourite pastimes. It is a game steeped in and sustained by its tradition, beloved for its singularity as much as its spectacle.
However, this has rarely hindered those in charge of the country's most-watched code from attempting to edit its foundations. History is littered with ill-fated, albeit well-intentioned experiments, undertaken for a variety of reasons. Some were executed in an effort to broaden the game's appeal to the dormant masses, particularly in the northern frontier; some were an attempt to level the playing field, while others were in aid of globalising this uniquely Australian sport.
We're counting down 10 of these AFL experiments, and casting a verdict on their respective efficacies.
Novelty Rounds
Piggybacking on their biggest rivals' biggest success, the AFL introduced Gather Round in 2023. Billed as a 'festival of footy', the code descends on Greater Adelaide for a weekend, playing all 9 fixtures in and around the City of Churches.
The concept's 2023 introduction was one of the first actions taken by CEO Andrew Dillon after receiving the game's reins from Gil McLachlan, and it has seen many thrilling matches in its infancy.
Though, as with most things, the concept's detractors have been louder than its supporters, with complaints regarding the 'extra home game' gifted to the South Australian clubs, echoing from the eastern seaboard. Yet, for the most part, Gather Round has been a raging commercial success, with the 2025 iteration registering record tourism numbers for the state of South Australia.
Opening Round, on the other hand, has been largely farcical. Fixture inequity still beleaguers the round, slated for its third instalment in 2026. Question marks linger over the integrity of gifting participating teams an extra bye for playing a week earlier, pointedly emphasised by a bothered Chris Scott, last season.
Last year's attempt at making use of clear air in the northern states was stymied by Mother Nature, necessitating a rogue Wednesday night fixture after the conclusion of Round 24.
Collingwood, weary from their excessive travel burden every year, requested to no longer take part this year, and were rewarded with a Sunday night clash against St Kilda, in the creature comforts of the MCG.
Verdict: Gather Round receives a 7/10, while Opening Round receives a 2/10, with scope for improvement if it can actually go ahead, in earnest, in 2026.
