AFLPA interim boss Ben Smith says players ‘open to' conversation about mid-season cup

News.com.au

08-07-2025

AFL players would embrace the possibility of a mid-season tournament and are open to 'innovation' as a long end to 2025 looms, with only one team outside the eight a genuine chance of breaking in with seven rounds remaining.
The prospect of a mid-season tournament, like one played in the NBA, was flagged to club chief executives last week as a way for the AFL to generate interest during the quieter period of the year and possibly open the door for extra finals qualifications.
Brisbane premiership winner Josh Dunkley threw his support behind the idea and interim AFL Players' Association boss Ben Smith said while the association had not had any part in discussions, he confirmed the players would be open to evolving the game.
'Obviously, at the moment we haven't had any dialogue with the AFL in relation to this,' Smith said on SEN Breakfast.
'But we are partners in the game and that's how the revenue share model works. I think the players are an important part of this conversation and we will be.
'We're open to innovation in the game, I think that's important, but in relation to this mid-season competition, it's not something that's been discussed with us.
'I think there's a point there in relation to there's one success in the grand final and what other options exist for us to find success through the season and opportunities to engage fans in the game.
'I think we're open to that conversation, whether that's State of Origin and the possibilities there or this type of thing – let's have that dialogue.'
Smith said if the in-season tournament added to the number of games, it would accelerate discussion around shortened quarters.
'I think there's a lot of footy now and talk of more potentially,' Smith said.
'I think those things, quarter lengths and all those things, are a part of that conversation if we're looking to expansion.'
The shortened quarters is a topic that former AFLPA president and Geelong star Patrick Dangerfield feels strongly about.
He told NewsWire in March that he wanted to introduce shorter games to bring back 'footy's heyday'.
'I think reducing quarters could potentially mean more games in shorter breaks because it's not as physically demanding,' he said.
'Everyone talks about the '80s as the heyday and reducing quarters would just fall in line with what the game length was back then, which was 120 minutes.
'We're well in excess of 130-plus now. Everyone talks about the heyday, well, this is one way to get back to that, I think.'
Smith said a mid-season tournament fell into the same category of State of Origin.
The AFLPA is open to the conversation but wants to see the AFL's long-term vision before committing.
'I think the players have got a real appetite to consider and look at State of Origin football,' he said.
'We've had that discussion with the AFL, but I think that point around having a strategic focus, what are we doing with it? What's the long-term sustainability of it as well?
'I think the players, if they're going to play it, want it to have a future – I think, what's the plan? What does it look like in 10 years' time?
'That is something the players are really keen to understand and then commit to.'