AFTER healthy debate over the various finals formats put forward by the AFL in preparation for its expansion to 18 clubs in 2012, former Melbourne star David Schwarz has come up with his own ideas.

Schwarz, who regularly comments on the game through his media roles at Melbourne radio station SEN and Channel 7, believes pre-finals play-off matches would spice up the season.

“I think the top six teams on the ladder should be guaranteed a spot in September,” Schwarz said.

“Then there should be a play-off for the last two or four positions. That would create a lot of interest towards the end of the home-and-away rounds.

“I think there should also be a play-off for draft selections at the other end of the table.”

Schwarz says the key is to provide enough incentive for teams near the top and bottom of the ladder to produce entertaining contests.

“I think the season needs to be alive for all 18 sides for as long as possible,” he said. "There must be something to play for.”

During his playing career, Schwarz was part of the Melbourne team that was disadvantaged by the original final eight system.

In 1998, the fourth-placed Demons thrashed the fifth-placed Crows by 48 points in week one of the finals, but they ended up on the same side of the draw as North Melbourne.

It meant the Dees had to play the Roos, who had finished on top of the ladder, in the first preliminary final.

Under the coaching of Neale Daniher, Melbourne put up a brave fight, before eventually going down by six goals.

Adelaide, meanwhile, was ‘rewarded’ with a preliminary final match-up against the second-placed Western Bulldogs.

The Crows used the situation to their advantage, defeating the Dogs then upsetting North Melbourne in the grand final to claim their second successive premiership.

“I actually think the final eight as it is now is pretty good,” Schwarz said.

“But I didn’t like that old system, where first played eighth, second played seventh and so forth.

“The top four should always get the short-cuts into the grand final, whereas those in the bottom half of the eight should have to battle through.

“They shouldn’t get the dream run that the Crows did.”