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"We're lovers, not fighters" - McLachlan says AFL aren't in competition with football

30th October, 2014
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AFL chief executive Gill McLachlan has laughed off criticism that its fixture next year unfairly impacts on soccer.

The league remains adamant that Football Federation Australia failed to give enough notice that the A-League grand final date was changed from May 10 to May 17.

That date change means a potential scheduling problem should the grand final be a Melbourne game, because the AFL has booked Etihad Stadium.

“There is a whole series of accommodations for lots of sports in this fixture,” McLachlan said at Thursday’s announcement of the AFL fixture for next year.

“We’re lovers, not fighters in here – I cry at romantic comedies.

“A Melbourne team has to make the grand final first – we’re a long way from that.”

McLachlan said AFL scheduling manager Simon Lethlean is sure that soccer officials did not tell the league at the time the grand final date was changed.

The AFL said on Wednesday that it only found out a few days ago and this was too late to make the necessary changes.

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“One thing he has is a steel-trap mind,” McLachlan said of Lethlean.

McLachlan also does not regard the AFL as being in competition with soccer, saying: “I wish them every success.

“We’re a broad church, we have the best game in the world and our job is to deliver a great game for us.

“I don’t look at anyone else – I look at ourselves.”

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