XVs Champions League 2017: Bigger and better than before (Maybe)

[PowerBug]

I was just thinking about this, and thought I'd put together my thoughts for how to do this in 2017. First point to note is that it will be the top 8 teams from the 2016 season in each competition (Iceland get automatic qualification but I believe they were in the top 8 in Euros anyway), that hasn't changed. What I have thought of though is to make the competition span close to the entire season instead.

In 2016 we had:
Round 16, 17, 18: Group Stages
Round 19: KO of 16
Round 20: Quarters
Round 21: Semis
Round 22: Final

For 2017 I reckon we should go to the following:
Round 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8: Group Stage
Round 16, 17: KO of 16
Round 18, 19: Quarters
Round 20, 21: Semis
Round 22 and/or 23: Final

So keeping the same structure, we will have each team play each other team twice, totalling 6 games. Then the knockout rounds can also be played over 2 legs, giving teams a chance for a second leg comeback. Then for the final we can do the same format across the last two rounds or just pick either one for the Final.

What I like about it is that it follows the UEFA Champions League structure pretty well. They have 6 rounds of group stages between the start of the season and Christmas, then have the knockouts from Feb to May. We have that gap from round 9 to 15 and then return as well.

Competition is bigger, gives teams a chance if they have a bad week to back up and get back into it. One point of discussion can be whether we have HGA at all, as we could use it (Obviously how this happens we can work out later).


Thoughts all?

[GoLions]

So how would the "2nd leg" of each stage work? Would it just be highest total score wins? I assume you would play the same team twice in KO, Quarters, Semis.

[PowerBug]

So how would the "2nd leg" of each stage work? Would it just be highest total score wins? I assume you would play the same team twice in KO, Quarters, Semis.

Yeah that's right. You get matched against a team, and play them in Rounds 16 and 17 and highest total score wins. And so on with the other Knockout rounds.

[GoLions]

So how would the "2nd leg" of each stage work? Would it just be highest total score wins? I assume you would play the same team twice in KO, Quarters, Semis.

Yeah that's right. You get matched against a team, and play them in Rounds 16 and 17 and highest total score wins. And so on with the other Knockout rounds.

Ah ok, yeah I don't mind that :)

[Purple 77]

I always love me some Champions League! Even though I won't be in it next year...  :(

A longer year the better!

Skipping the afl bye rounds is a good idea for this.

[Ricochet]

Just realised NDT will be in Champs League yeow

[Torpedo10]

No Moscow or reigning finalists Manchester  :(