\u201cI don\u2019t think it rewards mediocrity. I think it provides opportunity and more games of consequence. Our fans love finals, and they love games of consequence.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dillon said teams with a losing record had also played finals under the current system.<\/p>\n
He admitted that winning a premiership would be even more difficult for the teams that end up in the wildcard round, for they would not enjoy a pre-finals bye.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt certainly will make it harder but what it does do then is make the gap between sixth and seventh, that will be something the clubs will be striving for,\u201d Dillon said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we do then, we see during the finals, a big difference between first and second because you get the home final, third and fourth because you get the double chance, and fifth and sixth, because you get that week off, and then seventh and eighth, you\u2019ll get to host a home wildcard final.\u201d<\/p>\n
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AFL great Nick Riewoldt took aim at the new round on radio, declaring it \u201cfeels like a make-good [because] we had some shocking TV games this year\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of Carlton and a lot of Essendon [matches on TV] on the way home. What we have done now is we have guaranteed that we will never see another team finishing seventh win the premiership again like the Western Bulldogs in 2016,\u201d Riewoldt told Triple M.<\/p>\n
Dillon said there were no plans for a pre-grand final bye, suggesting that with 30 weeks of football with byes through the year, the season was long enough.<\/p>\n
He brushed aside suggestions the fresh move was, in part, a response to the NRL\u2019s creative flair under chairman Peter V\u2019Landys, which includes rugby league\u2019s season opener in Las Vegas.<\/p>\n
Dillon would not disclose whether host broadcasters Seven and Foxtel would have to pay more for the current rights deal (which runs from 2025-2031) now there would be two extra finals. But the new concept will be a big winner in terms of attendances and viewership, immediately filling the AFL\u2019s coffers, but also with a view to its next broadcast rights deal.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou could have two games at the MCG over 80,000 plus, you could have a game at People\u2019s First Stadium [Gold Coast] or Engie Stadium [GWS] which would be sellouts but hosted with crowds of 20,000, so the variable is big depending who ends up in seventh or eighth,\u201d Dillon said.<\/p>\n
The wildcard round will be included as an official final for players, with voting contributing towards the Gary Ayres medallist as best finals player.<\/p>\n