Former Melbourne skipper Garry Lyon has expressed what he wants to see from the public debut of AFLX this weekend.
Lyon says he wishes to watch a more laid-back and fun game this weekend instead of the cut-throat, high-stakes and win-at-all-costs football that he loves to watch during the home-and-away season.
“I want competitive, enjoyable harmony. That’s my catchcry for AFLX,” he said on SEN Breakfast.
“I want the Joe Daniher at Etihad Stadium that was running around backslapping and laughing and cuddling. I want all that for AFLX.
“I want to see difference in AFLX. I don’t want blokes to run out with the sternest looks on their face.
“I want to see them enjoying themselves. I want to see them laughing and having a bit of fun and trying something a little bit different.
“Absolutely competitive, because when you represent your club you will be, but I want Joe Daniher for AFLX. It could not have summed that up better.”
St Kilda midfielder Jack Steele says that the AFL’s answer to Twenty20 cricket does not play too dissimilarly to the regular game.
“There’s really not that much difference,” the 22-year-old told SEN Afternoons.
“As soon as you score the ball can come back in and go straight back down the other end. It’s important to set up when you kick a goal instead of just celebrate.
“It is just going to be a lot quicker form of the game which is going to be fun.”
AFLX will be played across three nights this weekend, starting on Thursday night at Adelaide’s Hindmarsh Stadium.
Etihad Stadium in Melbourne will host the second night of action on Friday, while Sydney’s Allianz Stadium will close out the debut weekend on Saturday night.
Listen to today's SEN Breakfast podcast below: