.An AFL press to present a 'wildcard weekend break' of the finals - or even additional merely, to broaden the finals series - is "significantly on" corresponding to the Adviser Sunshine's Jon Ralph.The organization has actually long drifted the concept of including more games to the post-season and with the intro of the Tasmania Devils as the 19th staff coming up, it is gaining momentum.The top eight groups have obtained the AFL finals given that 1994, when the competition possessed 16 groups, but with the 19 and also likely a 20th crew to find there is at minimum some very competitive cause to expand access.Watch Hawthorn v Collingwood SAT 4:35 PM AEST|LIVE & special to Fox Footy, available on Kayo. New to Kayo? Beginning your complimentary test today > Sphere 19WHAT'S BETTING REALLY COSTING YOU? Prepare a down payment limit.The AFL will also gain the financial perks of 1 or 2 additional post-season games, relying on the format opted for." It is actually closer than it is actually ever been actually," Ralph revealed on Fox Footy's Midweek Tackle." Last year at Werribee Mansion house they tossed it up, put away due to the AFL's nightclub managers." This time though at the seminar over at Crown (Perth), it obtained a definitely hot function. I think the AFL was actually pressing this one tough - they'll do a bit a lot more research study on it." It is actually not an assurance ahead in, yet I would certainly presume through 2028, our team'll have whether it's an 8 vs 9 (video game), or 7 vs 10 as well as 8 vs 9 (round)." That will be throughout the (bye) weekend ordinarily where the AFLW season begins, but in happening years the AFLW season will definitely be longer, it'll begin earlier." I presume this is quite on." WHAT AN AFL FINALS 'WILDCARD WEEKEND' COULD LOOK LIKEBased on existing ladderPlayed the full week after Around 24GWS Giants (7th) vs Western Bulldogs (10th) at ENGIE StadiumMelbourne (8th) vs Port Adelaide (9th) at the MCGPlayed in the routine initial week of finalsSydney Swans (first) vs Brisbane Lions (4th) at the SCGFremantle (5th) vs Melbourne/Port champion (OR lowest-ranked victor) at Optus StadiumEssendon (sixth) vs GWS/Bulldogs winner (OR highest-ranked winner) at the MCGCarlton (second) vs Geelong (3rd) at the MCGThe Giants as well as Bulldogs will play in a wildcard last under the existing step ladder. (Photo through Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) Source: Getty ImagesIn 2023, the VFL introduced what it called a 'Wildcard Round', along with 7th hosting 10th and also 8th organizing 9th, just before the highest-ranked victor dealt with sixth in an eradication ultimate, and also the lowest-ranked victor faced 5th. Because of the enhancement of previous NEAFL edges, the VFL currently features 21 clubs, steering the choice to expand the finals.Technically the 'wildcard sphere' is merely an added full week of finals, considered that the 'wildcard' principle stems from American sports where local champions progress into the playoffs and after that the next-best staffs, no matter division, train as wildcards.In the AFL these crews and video games would certainly certainly not hold true wildcards - but would certainly require to become branded as something.The additional benefit of the extra around of finals may be giving a much larger advantage to the staffs that qualify in the best 6, who would certainly always keep the bye full week, and also specifically the teams in 5th and sixth who would certainly have an additional full week off contrasted to their preliminary rival.