Former Port Adelaide star Kane Cornes believes the AFL have "fallen alseep at the wheel" in regards to news coming out of the NRL on Monday night.
The NRL are looking to move swiftly on a wildcard weekend, which could see teams that finish ninth and 10th play off against the sides that finished seventh and eighth respectively for a chance to play finals football.
The new proposal could be introduced as early as the 2020 season, and Cornes says the AFL have lost a huge chance to get the jump on the rival code.
The NRL has jumped the AFL to this," Cornes said.
"This will be introduced in the NRL and the AFL are asleep at the wheel.
"Itโs absolutely time for the AFL to switch. There is nothing worse at the moment than the week off before the finals start.
"You get all the excitement of finals then you have a complete week off which is a waste.
"The reason theyโve brought this week off in is so that teams donโt rest their best players before the finals series. Itโs not needed. Itโs a waste.
"Imagine the excitement if you had a wildcard weekend like they do in the NFL, which is amazing, and you are a last-ditch chance to make the finals.
"Also, it makes the season feel longer. Last year we had 12 teams vying for that eighth spot. Donโt you think thereโd be more excitement about who can qualify for 9th and 10th to potentially make the finals as well?
"It clearly rewards the top six teams, certainly the top four, because at the moment the reward is diminished by everyone getting that week off.
"The AFL said it is not on their agenda. Well they are absolutely asleep at the wheel."
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