AFLX, the format that nobody asked for and failed to capture the imagination in its first running, is back for round two in 2019.
This year's edition will feature a one-night event at Marvel Stadium, with four teams made up of players from all around the league.
The Flyers, the Deadly, the Bolts and the Rampage, captained by Nat Fyfe, Eddie Betts, Patrick Dangerfield and Jack Riewoldt respectively, will be on show come February 22.
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On Saturday, the AFL released a series of posts showing the artwork for each team and the process that went into developing them.
Fyfe’s Flyers ✊
— AFL (@AFL) January 13, 2019
Betts’ Deadly 💪
Danger’s Bolts 💥
Riewoldt’s Rampage 👊#AFLX pic.twitter.com/PkjC4FGWya
Fair to say, footy fans on Facebook weren't all that complimentary in their feedback.
The chat wasn't much kinder on Twitter either.
Oh please make it stop. What did we do to you to deserve this.
— KIKI🖤❤️ (@kiki5_0) January 13, 2019
— amy charleston (@amycharleston) January 13, 2019
And if you think we've just cherry-picked a few comments, take a look for yourself, there's plenty more where they came from.
So, while the teams, names, captains and concept have clearly failed to rouse interest, AFLX for 2019 is full steam ahead.
And while it may be funny to laugh at, Rohan Connolly discussed the growing corporatisation of the league for Sporting News late year.
"You might remember last February’s inaugural AFLX weekend featured those ubiquitous 10-point long-range goals known as “Zoopers”, named after the ice confection," Connolly wrote.
"This version’s wacky team names and very “Marvel-esque” logos is clearly another step up the “corporate synergy” ladder.
"And if you already had your suspicions about just what an American corporate monolith might expect out of a naming rights deal at a ground half a world away used to host a sport about which most of Marvel’s clientele haven’t the vaguest idea, this won’t have you resting any easier."
