‘Electric fence’ rule, six divisions – and why AFL ‘shouldn’t be scare of NRL’: Biggest AFL issues to fix

GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - MAY 22: Bailey Smith (left) and Mark Blicavs of the Cats appeal to the umpire during the 2025 AFL Round 11 match between the Geelong Cats and the Western Bulldogs at GMHBA Stadium on May 22, 2025 in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

It’s a big AFL week on the Gold Coast, with club chief executives from around the league meeting in Queensland for their annual conference.

And plenty should be on the agenda.

In the latest episode of the Midweek Tackle digital-only show ‘Tackle The Headline’, Herald Sun reporters Lauren Wood and Jon Ralph, as well as Fox Footy commentator Corbin Middlemas, analyse the big AFL issues that should be addressed at the club CEO summit.

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Lynch handed heaviest ban of season! | 01:54

TRIO OF RULE TWEAKS

Jon Ralph says: “I’ve been banging on forever and ever about insufficient intent in the Herald Sun offices. I love what the AFL has done with it, they’ve really hardened it up. The thing is they just haven’t been consistent about it. We see someone trying to kick to touch (not paid a free kick) and then we’re seeing some skew off the side (paid).

“I really feel if we went between the arcs and, effectively, went ‘last touch out’ – only for kicks and handballs, not for being bundled over the boundary line – people would lose their minds for four weeks then they’d say: ‘Actually, this is a really good rule.’

“I’m all for that, plus harden up the rushed behind rule as well … I would say there’s absolutely no way you’re allowed to take the ball over the line, unless you’re spoiling the ball across. Think about that being an electric fence and how exciting it would be on the last line, those skilful players who could duck and weave and do their stuff in a phone box, we would see the best of them and it would be fantastic.

“The other one is hands in the back. I can co-opt this from Gerard Healy, who’s pushed hardest on this, why did we ever being this rule back in to allow players to put hands into the back? All it means is that players like Tom Lynch and (Jordon) Butts shove and push, rather than mark the ball or push for the highest arc of the ball. I think it’s been a really bad rule the AFL has gone back to.”

Lauren Wood says: “We’ve all sat at a game where someone is sitting behind you screaming ‘in the back’ all the time. I spend a lot of time at local footy and it just creates more grey area in those flow-ons down to community footy where there’s a little push or shove … I think clarity can only be a good thing.”

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MOVE OPENING ROUND TO MID-SEASON

Corbin Middlemas says: “If we can move Opening Round, put it in the middle of the season – it takes care of two issues in one.

“So Lions, Suns, Lions, Swans – the four home games we get in Opening Round, they are now in July in the school holidays. Basically we clear our byes in that time, so nine games spread across two weeks – five on one week, four on the other. On the four (games) weekend, those four teams in the northern markets are all going to play at home.

“In Opening Round, we’re going to start with a bang, as opposed to a soft launch, and all 18 AFL teams are going to be involved for the opener. It means we have a northern week celebration of those teams, rather than in the opening round of the season.”

Jon Ralph says: “I think we’re all grown-up enough to not be scared of the NRL or whatever other code it might be, who would steal a middle weekend of the AFL (season). If everyone got a bye, you might play one game – it might be Sydney versus Collingwood like it was back in the good old days.

“I think we all believe we’ve hit a real hurdle with five weeks of byes and then we’ve got eight or nine weeks of football where we haven’t got enough games to really get the momentum back in the season again.”

Wildcard Round - 'Something to play for' | 01:39

WILDCARD ROUND … AND ‘DIVISIONS’

Corbin Middlemas says: “I’m a strong yes. I heard Simon Goodwin on AFL 360 … he’s a proponent of division, some conferences.

“I know this is very Americanised for people to get their head around, but basically you’ll get 18 teams, they’re in divisions of three – so six different groups – and the winner of all six groups automatically qualify for the finals. After that, if you finish second in your group – or even third if you win enough games – you’ll qualify for a wildcard weekend, which means there are remaining spots that can be won for teams that are outside of ‘division winners’.

Jon Ralph says: “Didn’t we have this issue in the AFLW where all of a sudden those two divisions were so distorted that one team won more games than a team in the other division – and still didn’t get in the finals?”

Corbin Middlemas says: “But I think six lots of three, as opposed to the two split in half, I think that’ll factor a little bit more of that – and that’s where the wildcards come in to protect the teams that are second and even third in some instances.

“So say you had Geelong and Brisbane and Collingwood all in the same division. Only one team would get the automatic start in the finals and the other two teams. If they win enough games, they’ll still compete in the wildcard anyway because you have to play every team in the competition and then you play your division mate twice as the season goes on.

“That brings us up to 17 plus four … brings you to 21 games and all of a sudden we’ve got ourselves a season.”

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GRAND FINAL START TIME

Corbin Middlemas says: “I’m a big twilight advocate. Not quite all the way in the night time, but enough that it can start later. You can have your pre-match entertainment – at least in the twilight before daylight savings kicks in – and the whole thing is done and dusted by 7.30 or eight o’clock, enough time to party afterwards.”

Jon Ralph says: “I would let one single performer choose what time she would like the Grand Final to start – because that single performer is Kylie Minogue.

“Just go to Kylie Minogue with an open cheque book – is it $10 million? Is it $20 million, $30 million? Whatever it is – and just say: ‘Kylie, you can have an hour if you want, pre-match, post-match, in-between.’ Whatever it is, Andrew Dillon: Get Kylie Minogue for us. She would be fantastic.”

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