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AFL may introduce conference system for bigger league
Karen Lyon | December 9, 2007
THE AFL will now turn its attentions to a possible restructure of the traditional competition format, with the increased likelihood that two new teams will enter the league in the coming years.
North Melbourne's rejection of the AFL's multi-million-dollar package to relocate to the Gold Coast could trigger a massive overhaul of the competition, with the possible introduction of American-style conferences to better suit an extended competition.
The Roos' decision to stay in Melbourne will also create a small change in the 2008 fixture with the club set to lose one of its four Gold Coast games next year.
While the league had wanted the Roos based on the Gold Coast by 2010, the AFL's chief commercial officer Gillon McLachlan said the new team, now to be built from scratch, could take longer.
"I think we will review that, it is tight, I don't think it was ambitious if the Kangaroos were relocating, it may be with a new 17th team."
There has been some disquiet among current clubs to the granting of new licences but McLachlan said the competition supports the league's push into the area. He said the league would have to handle the introduction of any new teams with sensitivity.
"Putting a team together and how we do that, making sure that any clubs aren't unfairly impacted, is a delicate issue and one that will take some time," he said on 3AW.
"We are very aware of how sensitive that is, we don't want any clubs disadvantaged, on the other hand you need to put a team together."
The spectre of the 18th team has increased, not just to keep balance in the competition but also with suggestions from AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou saying the performance of the code in western Sydney had exceed expectations.
"It's not longer a matter of if we will have a second team in Sydney, it's a matter of when. We will now turn our minds to that work and do it in parallel with the Gold Coast," Demetriou said.
"In an ideal world you would rather have 16 or 18 teams than a bye, but we can certainly make a 17-team competition work but 18 teams are better."
McLachlan said the league would look at plans for the an expanded competition. "We are looking at all the different structures that might work. We will look at all the options but they are a long way off."
The Kangaroos have two years left on their Gold Coast contract and it now seems certain the club will not be there in 2009.
North Melbourne chief executive Rick Aylett yesterday conceded there could be some difficulties in marketing next year's games after the decision this week.
While the Roos have been the focus of marketing on the Gold Coast, Aylett said it might be time to market the code in general.
"We could really push the AFL competition and the AFL itself and the code marketing-wise. We can say: 'Come and see the game itself and not really a particular club'," he said.
Aylett said the club would have been happy to play out its commitments until 2009 but understood the position of the AFL.
The club will now have to look for ways to replace the $1.6 million it was expected to make from the Gold Coast games in 2009.
With the league set to review all of its financial assistance packages to all clubs in 2009, Demetriou yesterday assured the Roos they would continue to gain their current level of funding in the next two years.
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