{"id":19617,"date":"2016-01-28T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-01-28T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cms.fiveaa.com.au\/uncategorized\/eddie-mcguire-s-radical-plan-to-change-the-afl-fixture\/"},"modified":"2016-01-28T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2016-01-28T00:00:00","slug":"eddie-mcguire-s-radical-plan-to-change-the-afl-fixture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cms.fiveaa.com.au\/sport\/eddie-mcguire-s-radical-plan-to-change-the-afl-fixture\/","title":{"rendered":"Eddie McGuire\u2019s radical plan to change the AFL fixture"},"content":{"rendered":"

Saying we need to reclaim the \u201cpurity\u201d of the game and get the \u201cfix out of the fixture,\u201d Collingwood president Eddie McGuire has suggested a radical change to the AFL fixture.<\/h3>\n

\u201cSo here is where I put a bomb in the water,\u201d McGuire said on Melbourne radio.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhoever wins the NAB Cup, gets a wildcard finals place,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe first thing you hear the commentators say when they get on (TV during the NAB Challenge) is this is just a hit and giggle, no one is really caring.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis was an idea that was put to me buy a man called Peter Scanlon\u2026 he is one of the smartest business people I know. Basically he\u2019s a genius,\u201d McGuire said.<\/p>\n

McGuire also proposed some additional changes to how the AFL season works:<\/strong><\/p>\n

– Every team faces each other once up to Round 17

\n\t– After this, the league breaks into a top 12 and a bottom six

\n\t– The top 12 then plays the last six rounds to determine finals positions

\n\t– The bottom six play off for (another) wildcard finals place

\n\t– 12 teams make finals, with two six-team conferences culminating in a grand final.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cUnder this fixture, it\u2019s fair and every game means something,\u201d McGuire said.<\/h3>\n

\u201cThe good teams will still win the flag. But what it means is more teams are going to make the finals, more games are about something. It means everyone trying right to the very end.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy Round 12 the bottom five or six (teams) are cooked anyway usually. Nobody jumps up from there. In fact from Round 10 the top eight is just about set most years.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eddie\u2019s wildcard suggestion has drawn a mixed response.<\/p>\n

\"Gillon<\/p>\n

AFL CEO Gill McLachlan has previously supported the idea of a conference-style fixture<\/h6>\n

AFL CEO Gill McLachlan has previously supported the idea of a conference-style structure after round 17, and Eddie\u2019s radio co-host Luke Darcy said: \u201cI hate to say it, but there is some merit in it.\u201d<\/h3>\n

But Richmond great Kevin Bartlett ridiculed the proposal.<\/p>\n

\u201cEddie wants a wildcard for the winner and he also wants the bottom 6 of the home and away season after 17 rounds to play off for a finals spot as well,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow talk about rewarding mediocrity, Eddie says his concept was developed with former AFL commissioner Peter Scanlon one of the smartest people he knows.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhich goes to prove even a genius can have an off day.\u201d<\/p>\n

LISTEN to Kevin Bartlett here:<\/h3>\n