How latest gimmick robbed AFL fans of a grandstand season finale
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The AFL’s introduction of Wildcard Round has cost them one of the more compelling conclusions to a season in recent memory, but, despite that, they likely aren’t losing any sleep over it.
With two rounds of footy left to play, the top 10 is virtually set. Carlton is now two wins clear of St Kilda in the battle for 10th, and every team above is firmly locked in.
Carlton players celebrate a goal. Getty Images
We’ve seen battles over the years for the final spots in the top eight go down to the wire and become one of the highlights of the season.
Just last year, the Western Bulldogs and Fremantle played each other in round 24, with the winner making finals and the loser missing out; a natural wildcard game of sorts born of pure coincidence.
The year before that, the Dockers lost their spot in the top eight in the final game of the season, handing Carlton a lifeline entry.
In 2022, the Blues were inside the top eight for the entire campaign before a loss to Collingwood on the final day of the season cost them everything.
This year won’t quite have that same drama, despite an additional two spots being up for grabs thanks to the Wildcard system.
And, ironically, adding those extra two slots has actually cost us what would have been a truly epic finish.
Instead of Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs being locked into the top 10 with a fortnight to spare, they would have been caught in a fight to the death with Carlton for eighth place.
The Blues and Dogs play each other in round 23 in a game that could have had enormous ramifications, before everything was then decided a week later.
Collingwood finishes the season against Hawthorn and Brisbane. They will likely enter both games as the underdog. If they lost both and Carlton knocks off the Bulldogs and Fremantle, the Blues would get their revenge for 2022 and boot the Pies out of the top eight altogether.
The Bulldogs could steal the spot in similar fashion, they would just have to beat Melbourne in round 24 after beating the Blues.
The drama potential here is off the charts. Carlton has the equal best record in the AFL across the last three months, having gone 10-2 under interim coach Josh Fraser.
Their ride from 1-8, parting ways with Michael Voss and sitting 16th on the ladder could have culminated in making the top eight on the final weekend of the season, playing a Fremantle team at Marvel Stadium likely locked into first and with nothing to play for.
Collingwood could once again break Carlton’s hearts by taking down Hawthorn or Brisbane and securing their spot in September action.
Instead, the Pies have virtually nothing to play for. They are locked into what will almost certainly be an MCG Wildcard game and will likely consider resting players across the next fortnight to ensure they are raring to go.
Nick Daicos addresses Collingwood teammates. via Getty Images
Carlton needs one more win to lock in their spot in the top 10, but will enter clear favourites against a Bulldogs team already secured of their entry and without ruckman Tim English.
If they lose both games, St Kilda could still sneak up and pinch 10th off them, given they finish with winnable games against Richmond and Gold Coast. GWS could also steal 10th in the same scenario if the Blues lose both, the Saints lose a game and they win both of theirs.
So, technically, there could still be some drama in round 24, except it’s fighting over 10th and a Wildcard spot and not a true top eight finals berth.
Regardless, the AFL probably doesn’t actually care that they’ve lost what was once a cherished part of the fixture.
And that’s because they’re seemingly going to get a Collingwood versus Carlton elimination game at the MCG with a spot in the finals on the line in front of 100,000 fans three weeks from now.
If it’s not Carlton, it will still likely be a Magpies home game to headline Wildcard Round.
They’ll be too busy counting the revenue and enjoying the broadcaster pats on the back to stop and wonder whether they’ve crossed too far into gimmick territory with the concept.
Which is not to say that they have, either. Wildcard Round might be a genuine success and here to stay. A decade from now it might just be second nature as part of a 19-or-20-team competition.
But it has robbed us of a grandstand finish to the season with the Blues, Pies and Dogs scrapping for the final spot in the eight.
And seemingly has lowered the bar for a successful season for some teams and fan bases.
