AFL 2026

[RB]

Ten teams making finals, what a joke, that's all I've got to say.

[dedja]

Does everyone get a participation award?

[Dutchy]

Work your arse off all year to finish 7th, only a win from a double chance and you have to win another game just to hold your position, then come up against a team that has had a week off to progress further

[Jimmy_041]

Dills presser

He can't believe anything hes saying..... surely?

Was he smiling?
It means he:
1. Knows it's $hit but it appeases the 15 lobby groups that frequent his office
2. Doesn't know it's $hit - he actually believes in it

The sooner Harley replaces him; the better

[The Dark Knight]

https://www.instagram.com/p/DQ2tiA2k3u9 ... BxZmM2aw==

[wenchbarwer]

Still have to finish top 10 to get in the wildcard round...

[am Bays]

Work your arse off all year to finish 7th, only a win from a double chance and you have to win another game just to hold your position, then come up against a team that has had a week off to progress further

Be better so you dont put yourself in that position. rewards the teams that finsih higher than you

Could be worse you could miss finals on result of dodgy deliberately rushed behind call but the umpire in question makes the finals panel, all be it on the pine...

[FlyingHigh]

Struggling to understand all the hysteria over this.
For me, upsides are:
- Removes the bye before finals which kills the momentum of the season. (I’m sure we can go back through the posts complaining about the void this weekend produces)
- Can make an argument for teams that weren’t blessed with playing the Eagles, Roos, Bombers twice aren’t as disadvantaged..
- TV revenue which some should ultimately find its way to clubs

Ultimately, history shows 7th & 8th are largely participation roles in the finals as well, the impact on the fairness of the comp is minimal and if anything potentially improved with teams less likely to throw the white flag as the season progresses.

I think the idea is stupid but the highlighted part is possibly a valid reason.

However, it could just as much be applied to any finishing position on the ladder, and as Dutchy pointed out, will now push the effect from the 9th and 10th teams on to the 7th and 8th teams.

[daysofourlives]

Struggling to understand all the hysteria over this.
For me, upsides are:
- Removes the bye before finals which kills the momentum of the season. (I’m sure we can go back through the posts complaining about the void this weekend produces)
- Can make an argument for teams that weren’t blessed with playing the Eagles, Roos, Bombers twice aren’t as disadvantaged..
- TV revenue which some should ultimately find its way to clubs

Ultimately, history shows 7th & 8th are largely participation roles in the finals as well, the impact on the fairness of the comp is minimal and if anything potentially improved with teams less likely to throw the white flag as the season progresses.

1)Totally agree with you, at least there is a couple games on the bye weekend before finals.
2) not sure this is a valid reason, the teams that finish 11th and 12th may not have played the bottom teams twice where as 9th and 10th have, this will always be an issue whilst we dont play everyone twice.
3)not sure an extra 2 games would make much difference. Bottom 4 finish their season with picks 1-4, the rest of the teams that dont play finals play for draft pick 5. Its almost so stupid the AFL might do it

[Booney]

Hard* draws just got harder*

---------------------------------------

https://www.afl.com.au/news/1452102/lea ... vRmTCoSkBg

THE AFL has made a key change to its fixture build, with the League updating its 'weighted rule' and lifting how many double-up games can be played by a team against a fellow club in its ladder range.

Under the League's three-way split of the ladder – the top six teams, the middle six and the bottom six – the AFL uses the weighted rule to determine 'double-up' games.

In 2025 the clubs could play either two or three of their own group twice, and one or two clubs in the other groups.

However the League has made a change to its weighted rule, with the update seeing teams being able to play up to four of their own group as double up games rather than three.

Because of the addition of Opening Round, Gather Round and increased club requests for marquee slots and fixtures, the League's scheduling team has made the move to add more flexibility to the fixture.

[wenchbarwer]

Just fix the f***ing draft you numpties!!!

[Booney]

Good if you finished just outside the top 12 I reckon.

[Jim05]

You can’t make this shit up

Richmond will play two home games in Tasmania over the next two seasons as part of a multi million-dollar deal.

The two-year agreement will see the Tigers host one game at Hobart’s Ninja Stadium in 2026 and another in 2027.

The club will still play 10 home games at the MCG as well as an 11th MCG replacement game, which means the club won’t play home games at Marvel Stadium anymore.

[gadj1976]

So, it isn't a final because it's a wildcard round but if you win it's considered a finals win.

Gotcha!

[Dutchy]

Once Tassie come in there will be a bye, get the last bye of the year and make the top 6 and get 2 weeks off!

[wenchbarwer]

Once Tassie come in there will be a bye, get the last bye of the year and make the top 6 and get 2 weeks off!

The AFL will invent another rule change to offset the rule change to offset the rule change by then, though

[woodublieve12]

wildcard rule is a disgrace!!!!! Not good enough to make the 8. Get off

[Brodlach]

All about Dillion getting his next bonus for exceeding his KPI’s

[Lightning McQueen]

Once Tassie come in there will be a bye, get the last bye of the year and make the top 6 and get 2 weeks off!

They'll release the last few rounds after round 20 to ensure that this doesn't happen.

[Dutchy]

All about Dillion getting his next bonus for exceeding his KPI’s

People blame the CEO but it is actually the commission that set his targets to grow the revenue of the game, which is exactly what he is doing.