AFLX could be overseas option

FOOTY’S controversial AFLX could be reborn as an international event next year with the AFL looking at a range of options including matches in Hong Kong or Singapore.

League officials including AFLX project manager David Stevenson — who is also the league’s GM for China and India — have met clubs recently to talk through some of the challenges involved.

It is understood a meeting with club CEOs next month will determine the future direction of AFLX, with sources suggesting the league won’t be abandoning the product it sees as growing the game to a new audience.

But a new timeslot seems certain, given the AFL’s wish to declutter the pre-season.

This year’s AFLX series featured four All-Star teams — Bolts, Rampage, Flyers and Deadlys — competing on one night at Docklands Stadium in February.

That followed the inaugural competition in 2018 played across three days and involving the 18 AFL clubs.

The chief bugbear is the interruption for clubs and players at a crucial stage of the pre-season, which means a shift to an international competition at the end of the season, possibly in November, is under consideration.

It’s understood Hong Kong is considered a favourable destination given the AFL’s links to China, as well as the fact it is easy to get to, and would be a desirable location for players if they were selected to play.

Singapore could also be an option, with the league looking into possible locations — and weather patterns — if the decision is made to take the brand globally.

It’s still up for debate whether any potential overseas fixture would be a club-based event or an All-Stars game, as it was earlier this year.

The AFL sees AFLX as a plank of the future, given its reach at community level, most notably in New South Wales and Queensland, as well as some parts of regional Victoria. But it remains far from settled on the timing and the right model at the elite level, which will be discussed at next month’s meeting of CEOs.