The AFL is determined to keep its season rolling and that could potentially see the pre-finals bye scrapped after five years.
There are just two rounds left in the home-and-away season, which has proceeded throughout current and previous lockdowns across the country, albeit with fixture reshuffles.
Channel Nine reported on Wednesday the AFL’s desire to keep the season moving has the league considering starting the finals the week after round 23, removing the bye.
Melbourne are guaranteed to finish in the top four and coach Simon Goodwin said the Demons were ready to roll straight into finals if required.
“We’ll do whatever it takes to get this season away, and we’ll be ready and that’s the best approach that we’ll take,” Goodwin told reporters on Thursday.
“Our players have done an enormous amount of work, they’re match-hardened, they’re ready and they’ll do whatever the game needs to put on the best spectacle for the AFL, wherever that may be.
“So we’re looking forward to that opportunity, we can’t wait and if it means there’s no pre-finals bye, that won’t impact us one bit.”
The pre-finals bye has been controversial since it was introduced in 2016 – realistically to prevent teams resting players in games ahead of finals.
While the bye has allowed teams an extra week to regain injured players ahead of their finals campaigns, it also means top-four teams that win their qualifying finals – and therefore earn a week off – only play two games in the space of four weeks ahead of their preliminary final.
Despite his side being almost certain to finish in the top four, Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said on Thursday he is “apathetic” towards discussion around the bye.
Geelong are in the same position, with Cats coach Chris Scott saying his club will roll with the punches rather than causing problems for the AFL as they attempt to complete the season.
“I’m appreciative of the fact that we’ve been asked our opinion on it, but very aware that we have no influence at all,” Scott said.
“We’ll just get on with it and adjust if we need to.
“Right at the minute, we’re preparing for the probability that there will be a pre-finals bye.
“I think with a week and a half to go it’s pretty important to make that decision, but we completely respect that everyone needs to think on their feet, given the circumstances around the globe at the moment.”
Scott said opinions on the bye in AFL clubland were driven by self-interest.
“Even within our club, there are some players that would like to keep rolling because they’re in good form and have got some momentum, and others that need a spell and recovery time from injury,” Scott said.
“It’s a bit like finals (match) timing and venues – it’s completely out of our control. It’s a question for the AFL.”
Cat
Roar Guru
And the AFL didn’t run out of time … the Suns ran out of time.
Cat
Roar Guru
Facts are the Suns made a choice. GOLD Coast coach Stuart Dew says post-match uncertainty for players and staff prompted the decision to play its 'home' match against Essendon at GMHBA Stadium on Sunday rather than Metricon Stadium. The round 22 contest was locked in only on Thursday afternoon as the Suns, in Melbourne since the city was locked down last week with rising COVID cases, sought clarity on their movements following the match. That’s not clarity from the AFL. That is clarity from the Queensland government.
Aransan
Roar Rookie
I believe Walla has been affected by the lockdowns, hopefully he has been given time and space to recover.
Aransan
Roar Rookie
NSW’s problems are becoming national problems. Their complacency knows no bounds — two women flying from Sydney to Melbourne without the required passes, testing positive. Pity the poor people on that plane. Victoria’s current outbreak dates back to 3 Sydney removalists not wearing masks. There seems no end to this silliness and cases in NSW are clearly out of control. This could explode nationally quite quickly and is still capable of destroying the AFL season.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
The old rule was that the Bombers couldn't win without him or even without him scoring, but not so much this year. The Suns before Dew never had a problem scoring, but with personnel departures and a focus on team defence the scoring has dried up while opposition scoring has been stymied. Players like Walla usually have a field day. Last week, Eddie Betts had 5 touches and a goal, while Jack Martin had 11 disposals and a goal, but normally those types would get half a dozen between them. In his last season for the Crows, Betts scored 2 bags of 6 against the Suns.
Aransan
Roar Rookie
Walla hasn’t been a factor for a while.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
I will be very surprised if the AFL scraps the finals bye. All Governments except NSW and Federal have proven they can negotiate Covid with getting AFL fixtures played. Given the PM is outvoted in National Cabinet, he is irrelevant, while the AFL got GWS and Sydney out of NSW over a month ago. ALL clubs need the bye.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
The facts are that Suns members have paid to see that game and competition equalisation demands that Essendon travels. Suns fans have been having their games cancelled all season, including almost every single AFLW game where fans lost a lot of money on trips to Mackay and Darwin. I'll only be happy if it turns out that the AFL has managed to get the Suns and Swans game approved in Darwin because they have had two games cancelled this season/
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
That's what happens when you are last in priorities. christ on a bike, you call me out for making excuses but when the AFL trots out "Er, um, we ran out of time" you take it as gospel.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
Not 100% out of the running, but needing A LOT of results to go against them. You should be worried more about the Bombers vs Suns game. Two young teams with licence to play a risky brand of footy with rewards that can as easily be turned over in the contest. Much as I like him, Peter Wright is never going to kick a bag on the Suns defenders. Josh Schache was exposed badly in defence and the Suns have 4 blokes who could do better, although I think Jake Stringer will be the key match-up, with the media saying Sean Lemmens but more likely Chris "Cameleon" Burgess. Results haven't gone too differently for the two sides, with the Bombers going all-offence as the 3rd highest scoring team, yet 13th in defence explains the 9 and 11 record despite 103%. While the Suns have the 9th best defence and 17th in attack, so it is a clash of different approaches that could see the Suns defence being strained by the Bombers' weapons (no Walla is a blow) as the Bomber defence is tested by a suddenly dynamic offence that doesn't rely on King or Rankine for goals.
Knoxy
Guest
Good. The pre-finals bye was always a stupid idea. There is nothing wrong with clubs resting their star players in the last few rounds before the finals. The AFL should butt out and let clubs manage their team as they see fit. Clubs that finish in the top 4 are also potentially disadvantaged by the bye, which again is stupid. The top 4 teams have earned their advantage. Not to mention it is just plain frustrating as a supporter having to needlessly wait a week for the finals to start.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
And to think dogs are playing these buggers go figure
Aransan
Roar Rookie
In addition Essendon have young players Cox, Perkins, Jones who have had difficulty backing up every week. They have also had to manage McDonald-Tipungwuti. The AFL has to be congratulated on managing the season so far. I wonder if not taking the bye could allow them to take a bye in the final series if circumstances dictate.
Aransan
Roar Rookie
The Suns can’t make the 8, Essendon can. In addition Essendon have had to do more than a fair amount of travelling this season.
Aransan
Roar Rookie
GWS might be out of the running after this weekend — here’s hoping!
Maxy
Roar Rookie
pull them out with a tow strap and ute,that is the way :thumbup:
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
I'm off to to do some rich blokes back yard today
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Pric.ly Hawthorn bushes in my yard removing along my creek absolute buggery work
RT
Roar Rookie
Correct! Also in 2015 Brad Scott rested half the side in a final round against Richmond, not just to rest them but in losing, conveniently avoided an interstate final. There was potential for it to cost Adelaide a home final as well.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Getting rid of prickly Hawthorn bush on my property as we speak bloody bugger!