AFLX quick to impress

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

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

It is likely clubs will field young squads, helping to protect some of the biggest names, but AFLX project manager David Stevenson said the league 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.

There is no prizemoney for the winners of the three-night tournament.

The Gold Coast play the Bulldogs and Swans in Sydney next Saturday.