The AFL will introduce a wildcard round in 2026, giving teams that finish as low as 10th on the ladder after the home-and-away season a chance to win the flag.
The wildcard round would mean the team that finishes seventh on the ladder in the home-and-away season would play the team that finished 10th, and the team that finished eighth would play the ninth-placed team.
It would add intrigue to where clubs finish inside the top eight, too, as the top six would be rewarded with the week’s break, while teams finishing seventh and eighth would earn a hosting rights in the wildcard round.
The winners would then advance to play elimination finals under the same final eight system as has been in place since 2000.
Why do we need this? I really don't think this is a good idea.
I guess it's nice that there's no longer that weird week break anymore between regular season and finals. Channel 7 will be happy.
You'd think this eliminates any hopes for a Bulldogs like run in 2016 again if you have to play a whole extra finals game.