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A-League chiefs will consider switching to a straightforward home-and-away season when two new teams are introduced in 2019-20. Football Federation Australia will review every aspect of its competition format in the hope of implementing improvements to inject much-needed flavour in line with expansion. That includes the finals series, with A-League boss Greg O'Rourke contemplating the merits of extending the post-season by a week and even giving the top-finishing teams a second crack if they lose. When the league is further expanded to 14 teams he predicted FFA would leave the finals cut-off at six to "drive higher ambition." While no plans are in place and discussions remain in the very early stages, he was warming to the idea of each team playing each other just twice. Currently, each of the 10 sides face off three times for a total 27 rounds. A simple home-and-away season with 12 teams would shorten the league to 22 rounds, increasing to 26 with 14 teams. "At the moment we play three times, there's an argument that's one time too many," O'Rourke told AAP. "It's not inconsistent with what happens in other leagues around the world ... but there's a small amount of teams. "So we'll have a look to see whether a more simple home-and-away [season] with just two rounds makes sense when you expand. "And then as part of that there's the questions of the finals series. "Could it be a week longer? Could we give top teams another go? "All those mechanics will be reviewed through expansion." O'Rourke said a number of possibilities were on the table to make up for the lost three rounds. The concept of a stand-alone FFA Cup final weekend could be floated along with an additional A-League finals week, while the newly recognised FIFA windows would further bolster the calendar. Departing Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold this week called for an alteration to the finals format to give the top teams "another bite at the cherry" after his runaway premiers were beaten 3-2 in extra-time by Melbourne Victory in the semifinal. The A-League finals structure was last revamped in 2012-13, removing the double chance for the top two teams and giving them the first finals week off instead. This is the first season since then that the top two haven't made the Grand Final. Another point of contention is why six of 10 teams qualify, giving a lower-table side a chance to win the title. "I think six [finals] teams is still enough ... if there were 14 teams and the finals teams were still six it is an achievement because they actually have to be in the top half of the table to have a shot," he said. "Six into 14 still works because it actually drives higher ambition."
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