The AFL today detailed the preferred option it was examining as the format for the 2011 pre-season period, covering the NAB Cup competition and the NAB Regional Challenge matches.

AFL Chief Operating Officer Gillon McLachlan, who heads the AFL fixturing group, said the AFL had initially briefed the CEOs of the Clubs and Football Operations General Manager Adrian Anderson would now begin a detailed consultation process with club football departments to bed down key details in the coming months.

The introduction of the Gold Coast Football Club, as the competition’s 17th side from 2011 onwards, had meant the AFL would not be able to continue with a traditional four-week straight knockout competition for the NAB Cup, with each eliminated team to then play in the NAB Challenge,” Mr McLachlan said.

“We had examined a number of options around a bye for one team, or a qualification match to get into the main draw for the NAB Cup, but none of those various options worked on a fairness basis,” Mr McLachlan said.

“Our intention for 2011 will be to divide 18 teams into six divisions of three clubs each, with each club to play two matches in their pool against the other two sides they are matched with. These matches in the first week would be shortened games, comprising two 20-minute halves and would allow for three games to be played in a three-hour block.

“The six winners of each division will then qualify for the next round of matches, along with two other sides that have the best records among the other teams, to allow for a traditional quarter-final set up of eight teams, before moving into semi finals and a grand final over a three-week period,” he said.

Mr McLachlan said it was likely that Team GWS would participate in the pre-season competition only for 2011, as the additional 18th side for this competition, before the new club then joined the competition proper for 2012.

A briefing slide of the pre-season format is attached and Mr McLachlan said the initial response of clubs and key partners had been positive, but there was still much detail to be worked through in the coming months.

“We have presented a framework to our clubs, and for the football public to look at, but we need to still do a lot of work to confirm how the competition would look.

“We had received a lot of feedback from clubs that three full-scale pre-season matches was the right number for them in terms of their preparation for the premiership season, and this format allows for three matches, along with a first week where players can play one match for 40 minutes, with a light run, or play both games for 80 minutes of football.”