The AFL is dropping its Opening Round experiment. The decision arrives amid heavy criticism about the disputed format. The league will return to a standard season structure. The special early-season round has been scrapped.

Eddie McGuire has floated a plan to change the AFL finals format. He said the idea might enlarge the finals series. McGuire spoke out after the league voted to remove the special early-season round. His finals proposal comes after the move to abandon Opening Round.