‘Very much on’ during wildcard weekend in the AFL’s campaign for longer finals

According to Jon Ralph of the Herald Sun, the AFL is “very much on” about expanding the finals series or introducing a “wildcard weekend” of the playoffs.

The idea of expanding the post-season with additional games has long been discussed by the league, and now that the Tasmania Devils, the 19th team, are set to join the fray, momentum is building for this idea.

Since 1994, when there were 16 teams in the competition, the top eight teams have advanced to the AFL finals; however, since there will soon be 19 teams and possibly a 20th, there is at least a competitive case to broaden access.

The AFL would also reap the financial benefits of one or two additional post-season games, depending on the format chosen.

“It’s closer than it’s ever been,” Ralph explained on Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle.

“Last year at Werribee Mansion they threw it up, slapped away by the AFL’s club executives.

“This time though at the conference over at Crown (Perth), it got a really warm reception. I think the AFL was pushing this one hard – they’ll do a little bit more research on it.

“It’s not a certainty to come in, but I would think by 2028, we’ll have whether it’s an 8 vs 9 (game), or 7 vs 10 and 8 vs 9 (round).

“That would be across the (bye) weekend normally where the AFLW season kicks off, but in coming years the AFLW season will be longer, it’ll start earlier.