The AFL is seeking submissions from the public about how to structure the season with the addition of two new northern teams, and the details can be found here.
But Archer, who played in the first extra-time final in 2004, told afl.com.au that the league already had the right system when two more teams were added to the mix.
"I've got a great idea - leave it the way it is," he said.
"Expanding to a top 10 … if you finish 10th I don't think you are deserving of playing in finals.
"If I had my way we'd drop back to a top six, but that's only if we were to stay at 16 teams.
"Fair enough, you go to 18 teams, and 10 teams drop off and you're left with a top eight.
"I wouldn't change a thing once the other two teams are added - leave it as a top eight, it seems to have worked over the last 10 years.
"And it's not promoting mediocrity - finishing 10th is pretty mediocre."
Archer, who now works in player management, said he was also in favour of keeping the NAB Cup pre-season competition at its current length.
"Again, I'd leave it - I know you hear some coaches saying it should be cut down to two or three games, but I've got no doubt that if I was coach I'd want four or five games under my players' belts before they go out and play for points.
"I look at the NAB Cup series and think four games is perfect - it gives you enough time to get a bit of game time into your players before the first round.
"So even if they dropped it back to two games, 90 per cent of the coaches would be putting four games into their players anyway."
Archer was part of the North Melbourne side that played in the first-ever extra time final, when the Kangaroos defeated the Hawks in a qualifying final at VFL Park in 1994.
It was a fair day of football, with the Cats defeating the Bulldogs when Billy Brownless booted one after the final siren that night at the MCG.
With night finals in their infancy, logistics were a problem for radio and TV stations, with many using helicopters to get their calling crews from Waverley to the city in time to call the second match.
The Kangaroos finished third at the end of the regular season, but their win saw them rewarded with a week off after Carlton, who finished second, lost to Melbourne, leaving the Roos as one of the two highest-placed winners.
Archer said the break was a good thing, although North lost by a goal to Geelong in the preliminary final a fortnight later.
"It was massive, because our trump card was in a bit of trouble - Wayne Carey's calf was knackered, and if we had to play the next week, I don't think he would have got up.
"As it was, he went into the Geelong match - even after the week off - still pretty sore, even though you probably wouldn't be able to tell because he kicked six goals and took a heap of marks (14, 10 contested).
"But had we had to play the next week, it would have been pretty tough."
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