Players set to take on AFL over finals bye

PLAYERS are on a collision course with the AFL over league chief executive Gillon McLachlan’s contentious prefinals bye.

The powerful player union is pushing for a second in-season bye next year as part of negotiations for a new wages deal.

But the AFLPA says the prefinals break — introduced this year — does not count as a bona fide week off because it helps only eight of the 18 teams.

The AFLPA wants two permanent byes in the home-andaway season in a move that could force fans to endure three in-season breaks if the AFL insists on preserving a week off before the finals.

“The players believe that the return of a second in-season bye is essential to give them a physical and mental break during a demanding season,” AFLPA player relations chief Brett Murphy said.

“The players do not believe that the week off before finals gives them a genuine break, nor does it provide any benefit for players whose teams miss the finals. If the AFL want to keep the week off before finals, that’s a matter for them, but it shouldn’t come at the expense of an in-season break, as player wellbeing should remain the priority.”

Players have expressed concern over the impact of the pre- finals bye on teams that win in the first week of finals. The incentive of finishing in the top four was also questioned.

The injury-ravaged Western Bulldogs, who finished seventh, were the biggest beneficiary of the pre-finals bye, which gave them extra time to nurse key players back.

The AFL yesterday said no decision had been made on the pre-finals bye for 2017.