Another solution -
Add four more teams to the competition - then divide said competition into two conferences of 10 teams - have each team play each other twice in each conference = 18 Home and Away Games - then run a final series of top five in both conferences with the premiership winner for each conference meeting in the Super Grand Final to decide the Super Premiers of the year.
The four teams could be - A second Sydney Team - A Tasmanian Team - An ACT Team and a Gold Coast or Darwin Team.
In October of each year swap the teams that finished 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th and 10th in each conference to the other conference.
To keep the "22 rounds" of the current home and away season for TV etc have a Knock-out competition similar to the FA Cup in the UK -
Week 1 = 10 games best 8 winning margin winners onto week 2
Week 2 = 4 Games winners onto week 3
Week 3 = 2 Games winners onto Grand Final in week 4
Week 4 = Grand Final
The 4 weeks can be spread throughout the year - after rounds 3, 6, 9, 12 of the normal competition
This will give the clubs who are knocked out a breather to get injuries fixed etc during the year - plus do travel to parts of Australia to promote the game
The knockout comp is a fill up and is not a strong idea - but the two 10 team conferences idea with their own final series and then a Super Grand Final holds water IMO - particularly when the Super Grand Finalists would not have played each other during the year
Add four more teams to the competition - then divide said competition into two conferences of 10 teams - have each team play each other twice in each conference = 18 Home and Away Games - then run a final series of top five in both conferences with the premiership winner for each conference meeting in the Super Grand Final to decide the Super Premiers of the year.
The four teams could be - A second Sydney Team - A Tasmanian Team - An ACT Team and a Gold Coast or Darwin Team.
In October of each year swap the teams that finished 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th and 10th in each conference to the other conference.
To keep the "22 rounds" of the current home and away season for TV etc have a Knock-out competition similar to the FA Cup in the UK -
Week 1 = 10 games best 8 winning margin winners onto week 2
Week 2 = 4 Games winners onto week 3
Week 3 = 2 Games winners onto Grand Final in week 4
Week 4 = Grand Final
The 4 weeks can be spread throughout the year - after rounds 3, 6, 9, 12 of the normal competition
This will give the clubs who are knocked out a breather to get injuries fixed etc during the year - plus do travel to parts of Australia to promote the game
The knockout comp is a fill up and is not a strong idea - but the two 10 team conferences idea with their own final series and then a Super Grand Final holds water IMO - particularly when the Super Grand Finalists would not have played each other during the year
