There has been plenty of debate around changing the fixture of late, with a 'wildcard weekend' of particular interest to the AFL.
The idea would see teams play off for the final few spots in the top eight prior to the final series.
The format would most likely seeย 7th play 10th and 8th play 9th in the weekend of the pre-finals bye, to determine which two sides would join the top six teams and go on to playย finals.
AFL footy boss, Simon Lethlean told SEN Radio on Tuesday morning the wildcard round, among other ideas such as the 17-5 format, is definitely a change the league is considering for next season.
โWe had a good discussion with the clubs last week,โ Lethlean said.
โWeโve done a big piece of work on the alternative fixtures, which is a large piece of work and will be a large change and one component of that is a wildcard week for qualifications into the next phase of finals.
โItโs a chance, but it will need further work and some further consultation with those that it affects, but itโs certainly one of the options available.โ
The 17-5 fixture is also still a very real possibility. That model would see every team play each other once in the first 17 rounds of the season, with the ladder then broken up into three groups of six for what would essentially be five weeks of play off rounds.
The top six teams would play off for the top-four spots, teams 6-12 on the ladder would play off for the final two spots in the top eight and the bottom six would playoff to decide the order of the draft for that year.
