There is no doubt the AFL has made changes to the game recently that clearly haven't worked or aren't necessary.
*Cough* Opening Round *Cough*.
But most of the complaining about the new AFL Wildcard Round is just critics whinging for the sake of it.
Or traditionalists who want the game to stay the same just because.
MORE: AFL Wildcard Round explained: How does it work?
Not all change is bad as Kieran Francis debunks the critics' different opinions of AFL Wildcard Round.
AFL Wildcard Round is rewarding mediocrity
"Why are we really rewarding mediocrity?" AFL Fans Association president Ron Issko said to ABC Melbourne.
"It dilutes the whole premiership race and the fixture because a team finishing 10th will probably have lost more games than they've won. How can a team that's got a worse than 50:50 win-loss record have the chance to be premiers?
Rebuttal
It's true that the team finishing 10th has had a win-loss record of less than 50 per cent five times since 2012 - but that's only five times in the last 14 seasons.
Issko's opinion makes it out that the 10th-placed team winning less than 50 per cent of games is common.
It's not - it is clearly happening less than half of the time in recent history.
In fact, in 2025, Western Bulldogs and Sydney would have both been worthy Wildcard recipients.
The Bulldogs, who finished ninth, had a record of 14 wins, nine losses, were the league's top scoring team and had the third highest percentage.
Sydney also finished with a positive win-loss record of 12-11 and were a dangerous team in the second half of the season after the injury return of Errol Gulden and Callum Mills.
You can also argue that 'mediocrity' is not really being 'rewarded' as history shows the Western Bulldogs (7th in 2016) are the only team to ever win the premiership from a wildcard ladder position.
In fact, since the current finals system was introduced in 2000, only two teams have won the AFL premiership from outside the top four - Western Bulldogs (7th in 2016) and Brisbane (5th in 2024).
For a team to win an AFL flag outside even the top four, it takes an extraordinary, almost impossible effort that certainly isn't mediocre.
AFL Wildcard Round is just a money grab
"This is just uncalled for. No-one has been asking for this. No-one wants round zero either. Why do we have round zero? Who’s benefiting? It’s money and broadcasters," Mick Molley said on Triple M’s Mick in the Morning.
"It’s not for the fans; the fans don’t get considered in this. It makes the home-and-away season almost moot. It rewards mediocrity."
Rebuttal
Well, yeah, it is a money grab - you would be hoping that everything the AFL does makes more money for the game, as opposed to losing money.
There is no doubt that AFL Wildcard Round will generate more money for the AFL but that is because there will be more sudden-death elimination games that will pique the interest of fans.
Top eight should play finals instead of AFL Wildcard Round
“It’s ridiculous! If you finish seventh and you lose, you’re out, and then the week after the finals will start properly. If you’re not good enough after 24 rounds to finish in the top eight, you’re not good enough to win the premiership. You shouldn’t get that opportunity," Brendan Fevola said on The Fox’s Fifi, Fev And Nick
“To me, it’s like when you used to get the Coaches Award or participation award when you were a junior. It’s like, ‘You finished tenth, but we’ll give you another little opportunity to play finals footy. No, no, no, no. The top eight play finals!”
Rebuttal
Fevola is literally just arguing that the AFL top eight should remain because it has been that way for a while - and during his whole career.
As explained below, adding a couple of extra teams to the finals mix will make for more cut-throat matches and less dead-rubber football.
Why the AFL Wildcard Round is a positive
Too often, AFL clubs have nothing to play for in the last few matches of the season, leading to reduced interest from supporters, also meaning lower crowds.
After Round 17 2025, Sydney were in 10th position (28 points) with seven wins and nine losses.
Realistically, with seven games to play, the following AFL clubs were still able to finish 10th:
- Port Adelaide (equal on points with Sydney)
- Carlton (one win behind)
- Essendon (one win behind and game in hand)
- Melbourne (two wins behind)
- St Kilda (two wins behind)
- North Melbourne (two wins and a draw behind)
If you look at which AFL teams were still in the race for the top eight at the same stage, you could argue that only Sydney (10th - three wins out of the eight) and Fremantle (9th - on percentage) were any chance of making the finals - and even the Swans making a push was a stretch.
Sure, there is only a small chance of any team finishing 7th-10th winning the AFL premiership, but it's a chance nonetheless that will ensure there are more meaningful games and less dead rubbers through the latter stages of the season.
As a bonus, every team positioned first to eighth on the ladder will get a chance to host a home final at some stage - meaning their fans can see their team in sudden-death football.