PATRICK Dangerfield doesn't have any time for critics of AFLX.

"They were the same sceptics last year that complained that the best players weren't playing," Dangerfield told reporters at Geelong on Friday.

"They're the same ones that are now saying, 'Oh, this is a terrible format'. They'll always complain about something. You just can't buy into it."

The new format sees eight players on a rectangular field, with games consisting of two 10-minute halves.

FULL FIXTURE Every round, every game

There will be four teams, with Dangerfield captaining the Bolts, Fremantle superstar Nat Fyfe leading the Flyers, Richmond spearhead Jack Riewoldt the skipper of the Rampage, and Adelaide maestro Eddie Betts in charge of an all-indigenous line-up called the Deadlys.

They will draft players on to their teams before the matches take place in a one-day event on Friday, February 22.

The innovation has been criticised by some who fail see the point of it.

"Whenever you're initially trying something new, there's always going to be scepticism around it," Dangerfield said.

There's always going to be a few different things that you need to tinker with, but I think the concept itself is really promising.

"It's faster, it's that shorter format.

"I think it engages kids probably a little bit better than what we do with AFL games because they go for so long.

"Combining that with the fact it's in summer, it's a little bit warmer. I think it will be well received."