On Friday the AFL's chief operating officer, Gillon McLachlan, unveiled the new 'lightning' format which will accommodate the introduction of the two new franchises.
As revealed exclusively on afl.com.au, the key innovation of the new format would see the 18 teams divided into six pools of three for the opening round of the competition.
Each pool team will play each other once in shortened matches consisting of two 20-minute halves with a five-minute half-time break with the three games to be played in succession on the same day.
In the night timeslot example given by McLachlan the first match would kick off at 7.40 with the next starting at 8.35 and the last to begin at 9.30.
The pool winners, as well as two lucky losers, would then progress to the second week of the competition, which would revert to the more traditional format seen in recent years.
The AFL has taken the new format to the chief executives of all 18 clubs as well as host broadcasters and McLachlan reported it had been universally well-received.
"We had received a lot of feedback from clubs that three full-scale pre-season matches was the right number for them in terms of their preparation for the premiership season," McLachlan said.
"The introduction of the Gold Coast Football Club, as the competition's 17th side from 2011 onwards, had meant the AFL would not be able to continue with a traditional four-week straight knockout competition for the NAB Cup, with each eliminated team to then play in the NAB Challenge.
"We had examined a number of options around a bye for one team, or a qualification match to get into the main draw for the NAB Cup, but none of those various options worked on a fairness basis."
Teams eliminated in week one of the competition will proceed to the NAB Challenge as has previously been the case.
The team from Greater Western Sydney is not set to join the AFL until the 2012 season and would have to be bolstered by mature recruits from local leagues.
While the new-look NAB Cup looks set to become the format of choice in coming years, McLachlan said it was still a work in progress.
"We have presented a framework to our clubs, and for the football public to look at, but we need to still do a lot of work to confirm how the competition would look," he said.
Issues to be hammered out between the AFL, clubs and host venues include logistical problems arising from having three teams competing at one ground such as warm-up space, change rooms and even shower facilities.
Rule innovations to support the shortened format will also be considered as will squad sizes.
Team GWS head coach Kevin Sheedy welcomed the proposal for his team to play in the 2011 NAB Cup.
“Taking part in the NAB Cup would provide an exciting playing and coaching opportunity for the club," he said.
“From a recruiting position, this is a great selling point for us and provides increased excitement level amongst a young playing list.
“This will be a benchmarking opportunity for players and staff still 12 months out from our first AFL game, highlighting the challenges around skill, strength, conditioning and decision making.
“Taking part in the 2011 NAB Cup will give this club and its players national exposure and in the end it shows the market we are serious about this club and our place in the AFL.”
