If/when a Tassie team enters the comp, would it be time to mix up the finals format so more teams make it? What might that look like?

I don't think so. The finals format is pretty good as it is... other than the post-season / pre-finals bye, anyway.

The only way to improve the finals would be by adding matches in some fashion, which players don't want.

I think it's really hard to add more matches given how taxing the game is and how much of the year it takes up already.

One way I could imagine it being done, though, is by increasing list sizes again; giving 2-3 more byes; and having teams manage players while having to scrounge up a list for 2 games a week. Do this by shortening the regular season in terms of how many weeks it goes for, and then increase the number of games used in the qualifying portion of the finals.

That's also pretty much the only way I think I'd (begrudgingly) see any kind of reason to be OK with premiership medals being handed out to guys who didn't play on the day, as well.

However... I doubt reducing both the amount of time (hence the amount of media exposure) and number of games that non-finals teams would get, relative to those that do qualify, would be healthy for those teams or the league.

/r/AFL Thread