(Ryan Withers is a freelance writer and BPL Citizen Journalist)

The Age recently published a story by Brendan Schwab in which the head of soccer's PFA presented an idea to split the competition in half with the inclusion of the league's 18th team - bringing the idea of relegation to the fore. This is not the first time Australian football has been given the opportunity to change the very nature of the game.

During the Second World War, the powers of the VFL and VFA came together to discuss their competitions and the possibility of merging the two into one. The idea, much like Schwab's of the modern day, comprised two divisions. The first division would have been the VFL, with the VFA below. However, no matter how in-depth the conversations went, both groups eventually chose to part ways and continue on their separate paths.

The main reason behind this move has been suggested that neither competition could agree upon the process of relegation and promotion, with the VFA calling for immediate promotion of their top side. This contradicted the VFL, who wanted a match to be played between the bottom side of the VFL and top side of the VFA to decide whether relegation was to occur. Whatever the reason, this did not happen.

But what would the current day AFL look like had the two competitions been able to agree? Who would dominate and who would fall?

It didn't take long after the publication of Schwab's comments for AFL CEO, Andrew Demetriou, to come out and denounce the suggestion and officially removing it from public thought. But, like many suggestions put forth over the years, Schwab's concept has merit. Promotion / relegation works well in soccer leagues across the world, adding interest to seasons bereft of entertainment.

What Brendan Schwab's concept brings to the table is a competition with more substance than the present day format. This is not to say that the modern layout isn't perfectly good in its own way, Schwab's idea merely brings greater interest to the lower rungs of the ladder. Rather than lingering at ninth and tenth, teams will be fighting to gain those positions in the second division, hoping that such success might lead them into a possible promotion to the first division and the hope of a premiership at the other end. Teams who finish fifth and sixth will have to earn their spot in the top eight for the next season, removing any sides lingering beyond their expiration date. Rather than simply fighting for the flag, teams will be fighting for every position they can.

Having said this, Schwab's plan will most likely come to nothing.

However, if what the AFL want is a season full of excitement, where every match means something, and at the end of each season more than one side can claim victory in a campaign well played, then Schwab's idea deserves some notice.