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Russell backs second AFL competition - with one proviso
Jaiden Sciberras • July 7th, 2025 4:31 pm
Should the AFL introduce a mid-season competition?
On Monday it was revealed that AFL CEO Andrew Dillon is seriously considering introducing a new format to run during the home and away season, according to The Age’s Sam McClure.
Reports have suggested that a secondary tournament - coinciding with the regular season - may be on the cards, with prize money and a potential guaranteed finals spot up for grabs.
The format, reportedly seeking introduction following Tasmania’s entry to the AFL in 2028, would see the current league format reduced, with the home and away campaign cut to allow just one matchup between each team, alongside a potential rivalry round and the continued presence of Gather Round.
The mid-season tournament would then reportedly “make up the difference” in scheduling, to allow for both the regular home and away fixture and the introduced competition to coincide.
As reported by McClure, the exploratory concept was raised by the CEO and other senior AFL figures as recently as last week, with reports suggesting that four AFL club bosses confirming the conversations and approving of the concept’s theory.
“We had a really productive couple of days with all 19 Club CEOs and the AFL executive on how we as an industry prepare for the next five- to 10-year period, including continued discussions on developing a long-term sustainable competition structure, including accounting for the introduction of Tasmania from 2028,” Dillon said.
“A committee of club CEOs and AFL reps have been working through ideas, with a focus on creating more content and marquee moments across a season that are appealing for fans, players and clubs. At this stage they are all just ideas, with further exploratory work and discussions need to continue to be progressed with stakeholders across the industry.”
Speaking on the potential introduction of the new format, SEN’s Dwayne Russell believes the concept is brilliant, looking back fondly on former cup competitions – however remaining adamant that the league should not reduce the current home and away season to compromise for the tournament structure.
“This is a great story, it’s a fantastic story,” Russell told SEN’s Dwayne’s World.
“It’s going to hurt some people’s ears to say this is an old Steve Hocking idea, that the AFL needs to bring back a second cup, a second competition.
“When Steve Hocking was the head of the AFL, he was hell bent on having three different cups available every year, including AFLX pre-season, and one in-season as well.
“It’s a good idea, to have an in-season competition, a second competition, a second cup to win.
“I do like it, but I wouldn’t want to reduce the home and away season games that we’ve currently got.
“I think it is part of what Steve Hocking’s recommendation was a number of years ago, and I don’t want to put words in Steve Hocking’s mouth, but I think there was talk when he was at the helm of reducing the AFL competition to everybody playing each other once and having a secondary competition and State of Origin added.
“I don’t want to reduce the amount of home and away games we’ve currently got. I don’t like the idea of only playing each other once, but I do like the idea of having a second cup.
“I’ve liked it for years and years, I liked it back when I was playing because I loved the Wizard Cup as it was back then, the Sterling Cup, call it what you like.
“I loved the fact that we had a knockout cup then, I would love to bring it back. A second cup is a great idea.”
As confirmed by McClure, the concept of a new competition is currently in the works, receiving “wide-ranging support” from a majority of AFL clubs.
