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Expert reveals the REAL reason the AFL brought in its most hated rule change - and it's got nothing to do with giving the fans what they want League announced controversial change on Monday By MICHAEL PONTICELLO Published: 01:43 GMT, 11 November 2025 | Updated: 01:43 GMT, 11 November 2025 A leading expert has made a bold claim about the AFL's widely panned decision to bring in its 'wildcard round', revealing the shock move has nothing to do with satisfying fans or players. Colin Smith, a sports rights analyst at Global Media Sports, believes the call has purely been made to ensure the AFL can keep raking in hundreds of millions of dollars for its TV rights. 'The AFL is rightly concerned, not necessarily about enhancing the value of broadcast rights, but protecting value', he told The Age. Wildcard Round is essentially another week of finals, with the teams that finish seventh to 10th facing off in do-or-die contests to keep progressing in the recognised finals series. It's a concept which has been slammed by fans, former players and commentators, with many claiming it rewards mediocrity and is the footy equivalent of a participation medal. 'If you don't make the 8 then you shouldn't be able to play finals,' said one Facebook user. Fans have been very outspoken about their disapproval for this new initiative on social media (pictured, supporters at an Adelaide Crows match in 2025) Wildcard Round will give fans of mid-table teams another opportunity to support their team in 2026 - but the move has been blasted by fans and greats of the game Had the round been implemented this year, the Sydney Swans would have been gifted an opportunity to play in the finals series despite finishing 10th Nearly 80 per cent of AFL fans don't support the decision to bring in the extra round of competition, and scrap what has become the pre-finals bye. But it's also legends of the game who are taking aim. '(The move) is the most drastic change in the history of the AFL,' Carlton great Brendan Fevola told Triple M. St Kilda Legend Nick Riewoldt is also angry about the call. 'What we have done now is we have guaranteed that we will never see another team finishing seventh win the premiership again like the Western Bulldogs in 2016,' he said. Despite the negative feedback, AFL powerbrokers are remaining calm and believe fans will get on board with the initiative when they seen it in action. 'Our fans love finals games, so we think it provides opportunities and hope for our fans,' AFL CEO Andrew Dillon said. The AFL's current broadcast deal expires in 2031, so it's no surprise that officials are trying to make a new agreement as enticing as possible. AFL legend Brendan Fevola (pictured) has blasted the league for making the change Three-time AFL grand finalist Nick Riewoldt is one of many past players who do not support Wildcard Round being implemented AFL CEO Andrew Dillon (pictured) has made several bold decisions in his brief tenure as CEO, but this is his most controversial yet It comes as one of the most powerful voices in the NRL has claimed it's only a matter of time before the rival code follows suit and brings in a wildcard round of its own. South Sydney Rabbitohs CEO Blake Solly is a long-time supporter of a wildcard system in an expanded NRL competition. 'Once our competition gets to 19 or 20 teams, a wildcard round makes sense,' he told News Corp. 'What it will do is add some interest to games at the end of the season.' FacebookAFLBrendan Fevola Share or comment on this article: Expert reveals the REAL reason the AFL brought in its most hated rule change - and it's got nothing to do with giving the fans what they want Add comment
