'Laughing stock': Greats rip new AFL proposal

9 months ago 69

Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd has called retired the AFL, saying the league would beryllium a "laughing stock" if a finals wildcard circular was introduced.

It comes aft two-time premiership-winning Geelong manager Chris Scott raised akin concerns astir the AFL's "integrity" being further "compromised" by the projected further round.

"To propulsion successful the 10th squad having different accidental to marque it ... we'd beryllium a laughing stock," Matthew Lloyd said connected Nine's Footy Classified connected Wednesday night.

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"We have, successful elite sport, by planetary standards, one of the astir compromised competitions that you could perchance imagine," Scott said connected Wednesday.

"Play 2 teams 5 times, uneven numbers, ohio let's conscionable thrown successful a 'gather round' and compromise the contention adjacent more.

"If these things are really, truly important from a instrumentality position oregon from a commercialized perspective, they're worthy of thought, I would conscionable inquire that the integrity of the contention is fixed arsenic much thought."

Geelong manager Chris Scott says the AFL's "integrity" would beryllium nether occurrence if the league introduces a wildcard round. (Morgan Hancock via Getty Images)

But writer Damien Barrett explained the merit successful a apt six-six-six format aft circular 17, which would spot sides vie for applicable spots connected the ladder and "create immoderate interest" successful the second portion of the season, tying it to a wildcard finals round.

"To person the apical six play disconnected for the apical six spots, alteration the order, the mediate six play disconnected for seventh and eighth, and the bottommost six to play amongst each different and make immoderate involvement wrong those late-season games which we are not getting present with the assorted fixturing," Barrett said connected Footy Classified.

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"What this six-six-six statement could bash is bring successful this wildcard constituent to the chartless and support the contention unfastened successful that space."

Andrew Dillon (left) and Gillon McLachlan. (Getty)

The AFL would inactive request to fixture successful instrumentality matches specified arsenic the occidental derby, the Showdown and different rivalries, with Geelong champion Jimmy Bartel against the connection each together.

"It's already compromised arsenic it is due to the fact that we've got 18 teams successful a 24-round competition," Bartel said connected Footy Classified.

"Let's instrumentality Collingwood for example. If they wide retired and decorativeness 4 games connected apical of the ladder, what does it look similar for the apical six? Are they ... starting astatine zero again, where's the payment of them being truthful acold up of the remainder of the competition?

"Are we going to person a lottery system, adding much balls?"

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