IT’S now a month away until Melbourne makes its debut in the new AFLX format.
On Friday, February 16, Melbourne will feature in pool ‘B’, along with Carlton, Essendon, Hawthorn, North Melbourne and St Kilda, at Etihad Stadium.
AFLX will be played across three days from February 15 to 17, in the lead-up to the JLT Community Series, which starts on Saturday, February 24, when Melbourne takes on North Melbourne at Kingston Twin Ovals (2.05pm EDT) in Tasmania.
Here is a quick breakdown of AFLX …
WHAT IS AFLX?
AFLX, the League's high-octane version of the sport, will debut on February 15 next year with the AFL including traditional soccer and rugby venues among the venues for three separate round-robin tournaments. The modified game will be played in three cities across three nights, with six AFL clubs represented in each competition. AFLX aims to showcase the unique and most thrilling aspects of the game to attract new fans - given our focus on ‘new fans’ AFLX is a particularly interesting proposition.
WHEN WILL IT BE PLAYED?
In the week prior to the commencement of the 2018 JLT Community Series, three individual tournaments will be held in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney. The details for these tournaments are as follows:
Pool A, Hindmarsh Stadium, Thursday February 15
Adelaide, Collingwood, Fremantle, Geelong, Port Adelaide, West Coast
Pool B, Etihad Stadium, Friday February 16
Carlton, Essendon, Hawthorn, Melbourne, North Melbourne, St Kilda
Pool C, Allianz Stadium, Saturday February 17
Brisbane Lions, Gold Coast, Greater Western Sydney, Richmond, Sydney, Western Bulldogs
The decision to hold three individual tournaments during the men's 2018 pre-season period has been chosen to introduce clubs, their players, their fans and the wider public to the AFLX game
TEN QUICK FACTS ABOUT AFLX
- Played on a rectangular field (approx. 70m width x 110m length) with four posts at each end (as per a normal AFL field). Ground markings will showcase X as the centre square and 40m arcs.
- Two field umpires, two boundary umpires and one goal umpire at each end of the ground.
- Ten players per team, seven on field at all times and three on the interchange bench. No restrictions on player rotations.
- 10-minute quarters or halves depending on the tournament format.
- Free kick against for last touch out of bounds.
- Kick-ins from behind the goal line after all scores.
- No marks paid for backwards kicks (except in forward 40m area).
- Quarters commence with a ‘ball up’ in the centre and at least two players from each team starting inside the 40m arc.
- Free shot from forward 40m arc – directly in front for deliberate rushed behinds.
- 10-point super goals when goals kicked on the full from outside the 40m arc.
o see AFLX in February 2018 when Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney host individual tournaments featuring all 18 AFL Clubs.
