AFL and players at odds over bye plans in 2017 fixture
THE AFL has released early details of next year’s fixture including the Grand Final date and bye plans. And players aren’t happy.
THE AFL and players are at odds over the pre-finals “bye”, after the league flagged the inclusion of the contentious week off in next season’s fixture.
The Herald Sun last month reported the issue would form part of this year’s collective bargaining negotiations between players and the AFL.
The league today announced it had “commenced the process of detailed consultation with its broadcast partners, clubs, the players, venues and other key stakeholders” as it begins to prepare next year’s fixture.
It revealed a likely season start date of Thursday, March 23 and a return to a September Grand Final, on September 30.
The powerful AFL Players Association is adamant there should be two byes during the season proper, to be enjoyed by all players.
The AFL is calling this year’s dead weekend between Round 23 and the commencement of finals a “celebration of football” and will showcase a women’s exhibition match and the EJ Whitten Legends game.
An AFL statement said “for the purpose of all groups preparing their responses, the AFL had indicated the season opener could be Thursday March 23, with the 22 rounds to be played across 23 weekends up to the end of August, before a bye weekend on the eve of the finals.”
A multi-million dollar settlement with cricket reached last summer has given the AFL access to the MCG earlier in March each year, allowing for an earlier start to the season and the ability to schedule two byes.
AFLPA player relations boss Brett Murphy said players appreciated the chance to have input into the fixture, but were concerned the “proposed scheduling framework does not at this point contemplate the return of a second in-season bye”.
“The players overwhelmingly support the return of a second in-season bye, and believe this is a critical player welfare issue given the demands of the modern game,” Murphy said.
“As the AFL has itself noted the importance of player welfare in devising the fixture, we remain hopeful that this important issue can be addressed for the 2017 season.”
AFL club and operations boss Travis Auld said broadcast deals meant a standard round would again consist of one Friday night match, two Saturday afternoon matches, one Saturday twilight match, two Saturday night matches, one early Sunday match, one Sunday afternoon match and one Sunday twilight match.
“Other key considerations, in no order of importance, for the construction of the fixture will be — AFL and AFL club contractual obligations with venues; player welfare; travel considerations for AFL clubs; maximising attendances and fan engagement; continuation of “blockbuster” matches and “themed” rounds; maintaining consistency of match start times where possible; balancing second round match-ups — the ‘weighted rule” as per 2014, 2015 and 2016; expansion market objectives and rewarding on-field performance.”
Originally published as AFL and players at odds over bye plans in 2017 fixture
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