The AFL is planning to use the bye week before this year’s final series to launch a Big Bash-style short form version of the game.
“We are currently investigating the opportunity of using the Saturday of the bye round to showcase AFLX via the best players from teams which have missed the finals,” the AFL’s Simon Lethlean has told The Footy Show.
“We are exploring this with the clubs, and have contemplated incentives to play and prize money.
“We are very excited about AFLX.
“It’s a fast-paced, high octane version of our game and it will be a new way to view AFL.”
The seven-a-side (plus interchange) format would be played on soccer-sized pitches and consist of quarters lasting no longer than 10 minutes.
Melbourne big man Max Gawn said he liked the idea:
“If I’m not playing finals, and Melbourne don’t make finals, it would be a great concept,” he said on Thursday night.
“I wouldn’t mind the IPL format, where you can go play for a different team … if you look at the IPL and the Big Bash, the guys love the Vic Bushrangers but some of the guys end up playing for the Queensland Twenty20 team.”
