AFL plans to schedule more Thursday night matches in 2019 fixture

AFL clubs including Richmond and North Melbourne are prepared to play off five-day breaks to allow the league to schedule as many as 12 Thursday night games next season.

Richmond’s Trent Cotchin.

AFL clubs including Richmond and North Melbourne are prepared to play off five-day breaks to allow the league to schedule as many as 12 Thursday night games next season.

The AFL looks set to ramp up its Thursday night coverage next year but would need the player union to alter the collective bargaining agreement to allow it.

North Melbourne chief executive Carl Dilena and Brisbane chief executive Greg Swann backed the proposal as long as both competing teams were coming off the same five-day break.

LIST ANALYSIS: ST KILDA AT THE CROSSROADS

BIG CHANGE: AFL CONFIRMS MID-SEASON DRAFT

PODCAST: FOOTY STAR REVEALS DRUG HELL

In this year’s fixture the league scheduled five Thursday games around the mid-season byes, two in the first two rounds and a Thursday final for a total of eight.

Clubs would only be handed one five-day break, which would test the recuperative powers of their players on a quick turnaround.

The Herald Sun revealed in August the AFLPA was being consulted by the league on five-day breaks but initially wanted a second bye in the calendar — which has not been put into next year’s draw.

Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale said clubs needed as much rest as possible between games but said the proposal would introduce more flexibility to schedule blockbuster games.

“We acknowledge it could give the AFL more flexibility to schedule big games and they have their hands tied right now because of some limitations,” he said.

“As a general rule we are comfortable with it providing teams are on an equal footing with the days break and there are not too many of them.

“From a physical point of view our recovery is tracked to a high degree of sophistication and we are comfortable our club could handle it.”

North Melbourne coach Brad Scott believes clubs would absorb a single five-day break if it was fair and put the club into a prime time clash then was followed by an eight or nine-day break.

Richmond and Carlton opened the season on a Thursday night.

Roos chief executive Carl Dilena said the Kangaroos, pioneers of Friday night football, were supportive of the concept.

“Fundamentally we don’t have an issue with it provided both clubs are coming off the same amount of days break leading into a game,” he said.

Lions CEO Swann said Brisbane was desperate to keep growing its brand with free to air contests and games in marquee slots.

“Our view is given we were only on free to air once this year we are more than happy to do it to get more exposure for the club,” he said.

“The CBA says you can’t have five-day breaks so they will have to review that, but we more than happy for it to happen.”

A decision is imminent from the player union, which has consulted with its own player delegates and canvassed senior players.

The league’s fixture customarily comes out in the last week of October, so the players tick off five-day breaks quickly so the league can plan for it in its official draw.

A dozen Thursday night games would be ideal for the league’s broadcasters Seven and Fox Footy after low-scoring football and poor scheduling saw flat early ratings in 2018 before a late-season surge.

The Lions have already asked the league for an Easter Monday clash against Collingwood and are cautiously optimistic they will be granted that request.

North Melbourne believes they will host Good Friday football for the third year in a row, with Essendon and Carlton two teams being considered as potential rivals.