WEST Coast has major concerns about the impact of the AFL’s proposed ‘17-5’ fixture, given that it increases the travel burden on West Australian clubs.

The AFL is discussing how and whether it can implement the radical 17-5 fixture — in which every team plays each other once then clubs play five games against teams in their ‘third’ of the ladder — but the prevailing view among clubs is the AFL wants this ground-breaking change introduced for 2018.

While a number of clubs have reserved their position — waiting to see what precisely is proposed — West Coast chief executive Trevor Nisbett has expressed concern that the Eagles and Fremantle will be forced to travel at least once more during the 22 rounds, compared to the status quo of 10 trips and 12 games in Perth.

“It will be another travelling day,” said Nisbett.

Round 18

“From a club perspective, we don’t want to travel any more than we have to and that’s the position we take.”

He said the WA teams would only avoid an extra trip if they finished in the same third of the 17-round ladder.

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Because the second meetings will be determined by ladder position and only after 17 games, Perth derbies, Adelaide ‘Showdowns’ and Victorian blockbusters between Collingwood, Carlton, Essendon and Richmond will be greatly reduced.

Neither of the WA teams, nor blockbuster clubs Collingwood, Carlton, Essendon or Richmond, have representation on the AFL’s ‘working group’ that has been considering the proposed 17-5 split, which would likely see the top six playing for ladder position — and guaranteed spots in the top six — and the 7-12 teams playing for two finals vacancies.

West Coast could have to travel an extra game under a possible 17-5 fixture. Picture: Mark Dadswell Source: News Corp Australia

But dealing with the bottom six is viewed by clubs as the major problem that would need resolution. It has been suggested that 13-18 teams would play for draft picks — with the 13th team winning first pick — but there are concerns from clubs how this would play out, given that the 13th team could be significantly better than the bottom three to four sides.

Nisbett, who last year spoke positively about how the 17-5 concept would make a fairer fixture, appears to have taken a different view in 2017, though he was talking to Fox Sports from a club perspective.

Fremantle, meanwhile, said it was “still waiting to understand” how the 17-5 system worked, but club chief executive Steve Rosich said there were “complicating factors” for a team in Perth that should be “taken into account for this new initiative”.

Rosich said a Perth team needed a guarantee of 11 home games. Other clubs have largely assumed that each club would have 11 home games.

The perceived major positives of the 17-5 system is that the shape of the ladder is determined by a more equitable draw and that there would be fewer “dead” games late in the season.

But clubs also have questions about the commercial impact of the short notice, given they have relied on certainty in their arrangements with sponsors, members and stadiums.

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