The AFL Players Association occasionally sends out messages that the players would like two byes throughout the AFL season.
These messages are ignored, or the AFL puts a bye right before the finals in an attempt to stop teams resting. Let’s forget it kills momentum heading into the finals, and it gives the media clear air to report on Mad Monday activities.
I would like to explore slotting the two byes into the regular season, using the current 2016 fixture as a guide. And make it work, without crippling the momentum of the season.
First up, and this is key to making this work, the bye weekends will stretch over two weekends, not three.
The first weekend will have four games, and the second weekend will have five. This frees up so many more options to work with. The bye weekends will also be Round 8-9 (middle May) and Round 18-19 (end of July) in the season, as opposed to the current 13-15.
Starting with Round 8, there will be four matches scheduled to be played: Friday night, Saturday afternoon, Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. There is then the possibility of the Saturday afternoon game being taken overseas to New Zealand, China or Tasmania. Round 9 will have five games, with Thursday Night at Adelaide Oval included into the mix.
During Round 8, as there wouldn’t be any games in South Australia, the state game between SANFL and VFL would be played. Round 9, with no Western Australia games happening, will be the WAFL versus Allies (NSW/Queensland) state game.
For Rounds 18 and 19, have a similar round as Round 8 and 9. There would be however the exception. Instead of overseas matches, use the break to give games to northern Queensland and Darwin.
The gaps in the timeslots where the state games were to be played, a women’s state of origin match could be scheduled.
An U17s state of origin exhibition game could be played in this window also, as a appetiser to the draft.
The advantages of this model of byes is that August is left alone, giving the AFL a four-week lead up to hype the finals up. It also allows games to be taken overseas with harsher travel requirements without impacting teams too much.
It doesn’t kill the momentum of the league heading into the finals. It creates a sprint to the finals with teams given a week off close to the big games, without negatively impacting their preparation.
But what do you think Roarers? Let me know in the comments section below how you would approach the byes in the AFL season.
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.
Former Adelaide captain Rory Sloane has been forced into immediate retirement by the threat of further eye damage. Sloane, 34, had a second bout…
"You can't push forward with Zac Williams in the short-term... you've got to set standards."
Kane Cornes has hit back at suggestions Aliir Aliir had some responsibility in being concussed in Jack Higgins' dangerous tackle, which saw the Saint…
The MRO handed the Bulldogs player a one-game suspension for rough conduct after his shepherd on Fremantle opponent Brandon Walker.
With the national competition, the premiership-winning coach says some games it was hard to feel the occasion such as ANZAC Round - and it's…
Eight weeks is usually the point where the AFL ladder has taken its shape for the season - and thanks to Opening Round, that's…
