Latest News

Back to Latest News back

 

AFLX to be ditched as game focuses on AFL Womens

AFLX to be ditched as game focuses on AFL Womens
August 7, 2019

Having been held over just two pre-seasons, the AFL has announced that it is to end the AFLX competition.

AFL Football Operations Manager, Steve Hocking yesterday told a meeting of club chief executives that the pre-season exhibition events, which have largely failed to inspire fan interest, will not be staged in 2020.

Advising that the AFL wants to provide clear air for next season’s expanded AFLW competition, while also ensuring the men’s pre-season was structured to minimise demands on players, Hocking advised “there are four new clubs entering the AFLW competition for 2020, and the AFL’s on-field priority next year is to ensure the right emphasis and resources are in place to ensure the women’s competition continues to build on the success of the first three seasons.

“In addition, the AFL is assessing the full pre-season program for clubs and ways we can ensure the players and clubs are in the best condition in the lead-up to the premiership season. This was a constant message in our recent mid-season reviews with the clubs.”

Last year’s AFLX debut was played across three nights in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide with every AFL club required to field a team. The tournament was revamped this year to feature four all-star teams playing at the same venue on one day and a designated ‘game changer’ with the power to earn double points for the final five minutes of each game.

AFL clubs were largely unconvinced by the exhibition and a number of players were pulled out in the days leading up to the tournament.

Hocking has previously said the AFL is considering a range of options for the off-season including a longer break while the game last year also enforced a three-week shutdown period at clubs over Christmas.

The move to ditch AFLX is a blow to the game which had seen the rectangular stadium version of the game as a way to expand into new markets, particularly overseas.

Related Articles

12th July 2019 - Drug trafficking charges against former AFL coach Mark Thompson dismissed

5th July 2019 - Townsville’s Riverway Stadium the 48th venue to host an AFL match

18th June 2019 - AFL Chief Executive says stadium behavioural officers ‘should go’

14th June 2019 - AFL and NRL agree global content partnerships with Facebook

18th May 2019 - GWS GIANTS prepare for inaugural Welcome Game

1st April 2019 - Grand Final sees AFLW smash domestic attendance record

1st April 2019 - Australian Government announces three-year backing for AFL’s annual fixture in China

25th March 2019 - Research suggests AFLW inspires more women to participate in football codes

20th March 2019 - Online trolling of AFLW player Tayla Harris’ in-game image compared to sexual abuse

14th March 2019 - Nielsen analysts suggest new ways to ‘value’ the rise of women’s sport

1st February 2019 - Lions AFLW team base to be backed by $15 million in Federal Government funding

21st December 2018 - AFLW to expand to 14 teams in 2020 but warned ‘hard work’ needed for successful expansion

22nd September 2018 - Allianz Stadium set for last ever sporting fixture

13th March 2018 - Hawthorn President Jeff Kennett slams AFL’s international expansion plans

14th February 2018 - Neon goalposts and live DJs to enliven AFLX

20th November 2017 - AFL launches new seven-a-side format


Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.

 

supplier directory

The Complete Guide to Leisure Industry Products & Services.

See the directory see all

Elite Pool Covers

Since 1989 Elite Pool Covers have designed and manufactured an extensive range of high quality affordable manual,semi-automatic and fully-automatic pool cover systems for the harsh Australian…

read more

Aquatics / Environment / Technology / Venues

 
 

Pricemark Pty Ltd

Pricemark supplies a wide range of custom branded membership & RFID access products for the Health & Leisure Industry. 

read more

Access

 
 

The P.A. People

The P.A. People is a specialist integrator and contractor in sound reinforcement, audio visual systems, performance lighting and production communications. Over its almost 50 year history the company…

read more

Entertainment / Events / Sport / Technology / Venues

 
 

Anti Wave Global

Anti Wave Global is the original suppliers of top performance swim, aquatic sports, leisure and pool programming equipment. Founded in 1971, Anti Wave Global is proud of its long and tested…

read more

Aquatics / Play / Sport

 
 

Digonex

Digonex is a leading provider of customised dynamic pricing solutions to clients in arts and entertainment, sport, attractions, cultural institutions and retail sectors. Digonex’s technology is…

read more

Attractions / Entertainment / Sport / Technology / Ticketing

 
 

Exerp

Exerp is a global IT specialist in member management software for the fitness and leisure industry. By focusing on the needs of large enterprises, where streamlining, control and scalability are…

read more

Fitness / Technology / Wellness

 
 

HIDROPLAY

Hidroplay welcomes you to the exciting world of children's Playscapes, waterslide's and Water Attractions. Appealing to families, Hidroplay increases patronage in your facility during those…

read more

Aquatics / Play / Recreation

 
 

Again Faster

ABOUT Again Faster is a Brisbane based, Australian owned supplier of strength and conditioning and functional fitness equipment. With nearly 10 years experience in the Australian market, we are…

read more

Fitness / Recreation

 
 
 
 

get listed with our suppliers directory

Get your business noticed in our targeted directory. Viewed by 10,000 industry professionals per week!

list your business