What the Hell Is AFLX? Everything You Need to Know About Its Weird Rules, Rectangular Field and Circus Performers

There was AFL. Then, AFLW. Now, meet AFLX.

Tonight, the Australian Football League will unveil its latest pre-season experiment: AFLX, which is kind of like regular AFL but 1,000 times more extreme, as denoted by the totally radical ‘X’ at the end of its name.

Explaining what it is and how it works has been a trying test for the AFL, though Twenty20 cricket, rugby Sevens and America’s BIG3 basketball league are decent points of comparison.

But with the first season going down in Adelaide tonight, there’s still plenty out there who have no idea what AFLX even is. (For instance, did you know a whole season happens in one night?)

Can someone explain what AFL X is because I'm very confused #AFLX

— Sonia B (@soniarailb) February 6, 2018

So, here’s everything you need to know but were afraid (or just too confused to even frame a coherent question) to ask.

Let’s start simple. What kind of field is AFLX played on?

Would you believe that even the most basic element of AFL—an oval field—is turned upside down by AFLX, which sees players—seven a side, with three on each bench—going at it on a rectangular pitch. The reason? Few international stadiums have oval stadiums, so if AFLX takes off locally, it could also end up being sold overseas.

Umm, okay. How long is each game/season?

Each game is made up of two 10-minute halves. If you’re worried that matches will be over before you’ve even managed to grab a meat pie from the vendors, don’t worry: There are six games a day, beginning in the late afternoon/early evening, leading to a ‘Grand Final’ that same night. Think of the Crowded House song “Four Seasons in One Day”, divide it by four, and you’ve got the basic idea.

Will there be super goals?

Great question. Yes, there will be super goals, and they’re worth 10 points.

Great. Now, what is a super goal?

If you can manage a goal from beyond the 40m mark, you have achieved a super goal. (There is also a 20-second shot clock, just like in basketball.)

40m? Is there still a 50m penalty?

Nope. It’s 25m now.

Anything else?

(Deep breath) Rushed behinds equal one point and a 40m set shot, there’s a kick-in after any score, it’s last touch out of bounds and a kick backwards leads to ‘play on’ except within the forward 40m. There are also unlimited rotations. If you need to know more, or are still baffled, you can check the full rules at afl.com.au/aflx and also get the fixtures for the upcoming seasons in Melbourne and Sydney.

But that’s it right? Nothing else crazy.

Umm, there will also be DJs, circus performers and flames on the field to keep people entertained (remembering that attendees will see seven super-fast games of football played over three hours).

Circus performers?

Okay… If I don’t like circus performers and shot clocks, can I still just watch the AFLW?

Of course! There’s still five rounds left in the women’s competition.

And when does the men’s AFL return?

22 March.

We hope this helped?

Photos: AFL