The AFL is again changing the rules around the McClelland Trophy (and the $1 million prize money that goes along with it).
7NEWS chief AFL reporter Mitch Cleary has revealed that the trophy and precious cash will now take in the finals, where previously had just been based on ladder positions at the end of the home and away season.
âAfter finals, menâs and womenâs teams will now be ranked 1-18,â Cleary said.
âThe premier gets 18 points, runner-up gets 17, the wooden-spooner gets one point, etc.
âThere are 36pts on offer.â
So if the menâs and the womenâs team both win the grand final, that club will score 36 points, and guarantee them the cash.
A reminder we have an AFL Tipping Competition if anyone wants to join:
3AW radio Sunday midday panel absolutely tearing into the AFL âRound Zeroâ failure⌠Callers overwhelming agree and theyâre being even harsher.
Theyâre also acknowledging the success of the NRLâs new Vegas opener and mentioning âjealousyâ, rare for especially the AFL media to ever say that in regards to their main rival.
Interesting times ahead, canât see this talking point dying down this week either. They also noted the Grand Prix next weekend also takes focus away, so really not clear air until R2 (AKA R3)!
Iâm not a fan of opening round either. I donât think itâs fair to judge this years because it was out of their control. But I do think the AFL should be having a game in Melbourne over this long weekend. It just makes so much sense.
If the AFL did want to really compete and do a staggered round they could do an overseas venture of some kind too.
Have round 1 but have 4 games overseas:
St Kilda v Port in Shanghai
Essendon v someone in London (I believe Essendon talked about this)
Collingwood v someone in LA
And another two teams playing in New York
The following week these 8 clubs have a bye and the other 10 clubs play in QLD/NSW while 2 clubs play the long weekend game at the MCG (could be a grand final rematch?)
This could be an extra round so memberships and home games arenât affected.
No need to overthink it - the NRL has a plaything in Vegas currently but theyâll get bored of it.
Just play a full opening round and schedule a couple of marquee fixtures in the first round.
I donât know why they wouldnât keep it going in Vegas. China, although attendance might suggest otherwise, was a good and successful business opportunity for port Adelaide. They and the federal and state government want to go back. It does quite a bit for the country to have this sort of expansion.
The only ones going are Aus/NZers. That is going to wear out after a while. The crowd last week was about 20 thousand seats short of being full.
I agree to the concept, however, I think it would be more beneficial if instead of two New York games, one might be played in somewhere like Singapore or Jakarta, and another game is played in New Zealand.
Does that really matter if it can promote trade, products and business in the area?
A success isnât always about how many bottoms are on seats.
And get over this thing that Round 1 has to start with Richmond v Carlton
Sorry I just had one game in New York (I said two teams) but New Zealand or Singapore would be good ideas as well.
Yes. Optics are important.
Itâs a jolly for VâLandys and co to ego boost themselves - and itâs a fun weekend, sure for people who have travelled.
Iâm not sure the NRL is that interested in platforming those things you mention.
Overseas expansion and promotion is important for any sport that has a small (comparatively) and concentrated fanbase but the Vegas thing just does not feel like it at all.
Yeah look I donât follow NRL I am just commenting based on ports attempt into China and they are still working hard to get back. There is merit to exposing to an overseas market.
This is what I would do for Round 1 next Year:
Thursday February 26th - Western Bulldogs vs West Coast - from London
Friday February 27th - Essendon vs Adelaide - From LA
Saturday February 28th - Collingwood vs Fremantle - from Singapore
Sunday March 1st - Port Adelaide vs St Kilda - From Shanghai
Thursday 5th March - Brisbane vs North Melbourne Gabba
Friday 6th March - Gold Coast vs Geelong People People First Stadium
Saturday 7th March - Sydney vs Melbourne SCG
Sunday 8th March - GWS vs Hawthorn Engie Stadium
Monday 9th March - Richmond vs Carlton MCG
India was mentioned this morning, not sure if they were joking or not. The country does have a connection to Australia, with their love of cricket and, for example, Melbourne and the MCG well. Might draw interest and a crowd, purely for curiosity sake 
Another point - while London does seem like another good market, Iâd argue that the time difference would put viewers back at home off, since in order to play it at a decent time in London, everyone in Australia would likely be asleep since it would have to be played in the late hours or early morning our time.
Thatâs true. Asian countries would probably be the best places to do it. As suggest above India could be an option. Also I recall snow twice in March while living in London. It also snowed last year when I travelled in March.