Former professional darter and analyst Matthew Edgar has proposed a structural change to Premier League Darts, suggesting the introduction of an official 'ninth man' to address lineup withdrawals. In an interview with Online Darts, Edgar explained his idea: "I've suggested having a ninth player. You'd pay them a fee to keep Wednesdays and Thursdays free during the Premier League." He emphasized the player's role, stating, "They might never play, but they'd be ready if needed—like being on emergency call." Edgar sees only upsides, noting that Danny Noppert could have had two weeks already, and maybe more, playing the same matches as others with fewer opportunities overall.
Edgar reflected on the difficulty of assessing the original Premier League lineup at the halfway point, citing shifting perspectives. He mentioned Josh Rock as an example, saying, "You look at him now and think, 'Should he have been in?' But at the time, he wasn't even number eight for me—he was around five or six. He was in quite convincingly." The biggest pre-tournament debate, according to Edgar, was over the final, eighth spot, revolving around Stephen Bunting and Danny Noppert. He revealed behind-the-scenes chaos: "I was at the launch, and even close to the announcement, they still hadn't decided. In fact, the production team had to prepare for both scenarios: we actually had to pre-record content both ways because the debate was ongoing right up until the last minute."
Despite the selection debates, Edgar is strikingly upbeat about the competition, calling it "the most entertaining Premier League I've ever seen." He noted that normally by this stage, he'd be a bit bored, tuning back in around week 13 for the conclusion, but this year is different due to multiple winners, big players who haven't won a night yet, and loads of variation. He listed storylines including when Josh Rock would get his first win (achieved last week), whether Stephen Bunting can silence his critics, if Jonny Clayton can sustain his strong form, if Luke Humphries will still force his way into the top four, and when Gian van Veen will finally strike. Regarding Luke Littler, he said, "We had the question of when Luke Littler would win a week—and now we're seeing he can be beaten."
Looking ahead to the play-offs in London at The O2 Arena, Edgar ventured a prediction for finals night: "I think both Lukes get in. I don't see Humphries missing out—he's too strong." His full prediction includes Luke Humphries, Luke Littler, Jonny Clayton, and Gerwyn Price. After eight match nights, Luke Littler currently leads the table, followed by Jonny Clayton, Gerwyn Price, and Michael van Gerwen. On the format debate, Edgar acknowledged criticism but added nuance, comparing it to boxing where outcomes aren't guaranteed. He believes the PDC is data-driven, keeping the format because viewing figures, ticket sales, and fan engagement support it, and noted that those who dislike it are a smaller group than those who do.
