The Ho-Hum Finish: A Missed Opportunity for AFL Thrills

The Australian Football League’s (AFL) decision to release its final two rounds of fixtures has been met with a collective shrug from fans and pundits alike. Gone are the tantalizing finishes that would have seen top teams battle it out in thrilling matches, replaced instead by a lackluster conclusion to the home-and-away season.

The wildcard round, introduced to inject excitement into the competition, has had the opposite effect. With the new finals system, the usual suspects – St Kilda, Carlton, and GWS – will now know their fate by Saturday night, rather than having to endure the suspense of waiting until the final Sunday.

This development is particularly galling because under the old system, a top eight would have led to a thrilling finale. Instead, we’re left with three uninspiring matches on the final Sunday: Essendon vs Port Adelaide at Marvel Stadium, Sydney hosting North Melbourne at the SCG, and Hawthorn facing West Coast in Perth.

The fact remains that four rounds remain, and just two games separate fourth and ninth positions. However, what’s become clear is that the true prize now lies in making the top six and earning a week’s break. Teams finishing seventh and eighth will launch straight into wildcard games against ninth and 10th, creating an opportunity for those teams to win five consecutive matches to secure their spot in the finals.

The shift in emphasis raises questions about what this means for the sport as a whole. Is it merely a reflection of changing landscape of professional sports, where player welfare takes precedence over thrilling finishes? Or is it simply a case of prioritizing short-term gains over long-term success?

League chief operating officer Tom Harley has defended the decision, citing benefits of finishing in the top six. “I’m really comfortable with the way it’s landed,” he said, highlighting the prospect of wildcard finals. However, when pressed on the lackluster finish to the season, Harley’s response – that teams would have to win five consecutive matches to make the finals – comes across as a hollow justification.

The decision to introduce the wildcard round and its subsequent scheduling has also had a ripple effect on other areas of the competition. The league is keen to get the AFLW season underway with double headers, but this has led to some questionable match-ups. For example, the highlight of round 24 will be the Friday night blockbuster between Collingwood and Brisbane Lions at the MCG – but what about the other matches that week?

As the season draws to a close, it’s clear that the AFL is struggling to find a balance between providing thrilling finishes and prioritizing player welfare. The wildcard round was meant to inject excitement into the competition, but instead it has created an air of uncertainty.

The real question now is what this means for the future of the sport. Will we continue down this path, where the focus on making the top six takes precedence over delivering meaningful matches? Or will there be a course correction, one that prioritizes providing thrilling finishes and creating a more competitive, suspenseful season?

Only time will tell, but as things stand, it’s hard to argue with the sentiment of AFL fans – this is shaping up to be a ho-hum finish to the home-and-away season.