THE AFL insists a rejigged NAB Cup format will improve the pre-season preparation for players and clubs, but the new television rights deal means thousands of supporters without pay TV could miss most of the competition.
The AFL has again tinkered with its pre-season competition, this time allowing all clubs to play meaningful matches in the opening three rounds, bringing certainty to clubs, players, broadcasters and supporters.
The competition will continue to be split into six groups of three teams in shortened matches of 20-minute halves in round one, an off-beat format spread over a fortnight that delivered encouraging feedback when introduced this year.
In the latest change, all clubs will progress from round one and play full-scale matches in weeks two and three, rather than the losing clubs after rounds one and two being immediately consigned to practice matches in country areas.
All matches will count equally for four points and percentage, with the top two teams playing the grand final on March 17. The remaining 16 clubs will play practice matches that weekend.
Players and clubs have recently complained about a lack of certainty in weeks two and three. Now teams are guaranteed of at least four meaningful matches, including the two shortened games.
AFL chief operating officer Gillon McLachlan said the league had heeded the message of clubs and players.
''Teams are now able to prepare their training load in full, knowing their travel and match-day commitments,'' he said.
''The other significant benefit and reason for the change is we are able to plan all our games, all of our regional games with some certainty and allow both the AFL and our regional partners to plan these games, promote them and get our supporters the best possible chance of attending them.''
While McLachlan felt ''this is a format that will be reasonably settled over the next couple of years'', the AFL Players Association maintains the pre-season competition is too long. Players only want to play two or three matches, and will again express this view when a new working party meets with the league next year.
''We think the changes provide greater flexibility for players to continue their discussions with the AFL around how the NAB Cup is structured in the future,'' AFLPA player relations manager Ian Prendergast said.
But there is no guarantee the revised competition will go ahead until a new collective bargaining agreement is brokered between the league and the AFLPA.
Pay TV provider Fox Sports, through its new channel Fox Footy, will broadcast all six opening group matches, but only five of nine matches in round two and six in round three.
Channel Seven has slashed its schedule and will only televise the final, in simulcast with Fox Sports.
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