The Australian Football League (AFL) has revealed four radical fixture ideas for the 2028 season, which could significantly change the way the game is played.

The sharpest fact is this: the AFL is considering a group-stage model for the 2028 season, which could be the most revolutionary change in decades.

The radical fixture idea, presented to club CEOs on Monday, includes a group-stage model in which the competition would reset after each team plays 20 matches, splitting into four groups of four and a group containing the bottom three teams.

Those four groups would then play matches to determine finishing positions on the ladder ahead of the wildcard round and finals, while the bottom three teams would play each other once to potentially establish their place in the draft order.

The four groups could be split, after 20 matches, into: Group A (positions one, eight, nine and 16); Group B (two, seven, 10 and 15); Group C (three, six 11 and 14); and Group D (four, five 12 and 13).

The teams would have a bye before launching into a neutral round and then a home and away game. The bottom three teams could not make the wildcard finals but would play each other for a draft position.

Club CEOs were also told the group stage could be split into two groups of eight, or into four groups where the top eight teams are guaranteed a finals spot but play for a top-eight position, and teams sitting ninth to 16th play for a wildcard spot.

The AFL presented the more traditional 22-game-per-team season including Gather Round with four double-up opponents leading into a wildcard round and finals, and a 24-game-per-team season including Gather Round and another neutral match for each club with six double-up matches leading into the wildcard round and finals.

The league also canvassed a mini-competition either in or out of season, which would include a state league All-Stars team in a 20-team competition.

Under this proposal, the competition would take a mid-season pause while teams battled it out for a separate mid-year prize with a strong focus on appealing to younger fans.

A source at the CEOs' meeting, who preferred to remain anonymous, said there was little support for an in-season tournament.

However, the group stage caused much discussion, with clubs believing the idea has enough merit to explore further.

The AFL would also explore the potential for shorter game time if the 24-game season was implemented in 2028 with the introduction of the Devils making an odd number of teams in the competition.

'The most intriguing of the four models was the group stage model in which the competition would reset after each team played 20 matches (playing each other once plus Gather Round and rivalry round)', the source said.

This move could make or break the league's future, as Tasmania prepares to join the competition as the 19th team.

Tasmania's admission will bring a new level of excitement to the league, but it also raises questions about the competition's structure and fixtures.

The group-stage model could be the key to making the most of this new addition, making the game more competitive and engaging for fans.

However, it's not the only idea on the table. The AFL has presented three other models, including a 24-game-per-team season and a 20-game-per-team season leading into a group stage before finals.

These models focus on shortening the season or introducing a mid-season tournament to keep fans engaged.

The AFL has not yet made a decision on which model to implement, but it's clear that they are looking to make significant changes to the competition.

The radical fixture idea is a bold move that could either be a game-changer or a disaster for the league.

Only time will tell if the group-stage model will be the catalyst for success or a recipe for chaos.