The AFL’s push to introduce a wildcard round has hit complications, with concerns clubs could exploit the system by resting large numbers of players in the final weeks of the season.
The league had hoped to present the proposal to the AFL Commission within a fortnight, but debate has turned to how to prevent teams ranked between seventh and 10th, who cannot shift places in the final round, from fielding weakened sides.
Fear of mass changes
Veteran journalist Caroline Wilson told Channel 7’s The Agenda Setters: “It looked over the line, but there were talks late yesterday at the AFL and there is one serious snag … Are they going to do what Ross Lyon did in 2015 with his Fremantle team? Are they going to do what Brad Scott did in 2015 with his North Melbourne team?”
Lyon infamously rested 11 Dockers ahead of a qualifying final that year, while Scott made similar moves with North Melbourne. Wilson said the AFL was now actively considering restrictions.
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“I think there is a way you could say maybe no more than six players or no more than four players (can be rested in one go). And I think they’re looking at seriously doing that before they introduce (the wildcard round).”
Mitch Cleary, 7NEWS’ chief AFL reporter, questioned whether the league could enforce such limits without clubs disguising changes as injury management. “Is there any way they can do that, though? Because players and clubs will be able to find ways around this. Is a player actually injured? Are they not?”
The debate comes as other fixture decisions loom, including St Kilda’s proposal to host Collingwood in a “Spuds game” at the MCG during the revamped Opening Round in 2026.