Exhibition series will have real X-factor

THE AFL says this week’s inaugural AFLX games should be played at a frenetic pace while still maintaining a strong physical element.

One of the league’s biggest experiments will unfold from Thursday night when Geelong meets Port Adelaide to kickstart the seven-a-side series.

While it is likely clubs will field young line-ups, helping protect some of their biggest names, AFLX project manager David Stevenson said the club was buoyed by talks with clubs about their stars’ availability.

“Like we see in the preseason games we get a mix of established stars and you will also get that up-and-coming emerging talent as well,” Stevenson said.

“But in general the conversations we’ve had with clubs are pretty positive.”

However, there remains intrigue over the physical intensity and likely styles of play.

Stevenson said the league had been encouraged by the speed of the trial matches, and in particular, the bursts of “slingshot footy” after scores.

“All the trials we have had have been super-quick,” Stevenson said on Triple M.

“There was one last Saturday we went and saw Hawthorn and Richmond, which is sort of the first time we have had two AFL clubs playing each other, and the ball just zipped around like you wouldn’t believe.

“So that sort of slingshot footy (is prevalent), particularly after a score, because the ball gets kicked in straight away from behind the goals.”

Teams will each play two qualifying games. The two highest-ranked clubs within each pool will play in the grand finals. There will be three grand finals, one on each night.

Games will be played over two 10-minute halves.