CLUB’S MONDAY BACKFLIP

THE AFL could decide on its floating fixture as late as Round 20 but is unlikely to schedule a Monday night conclusion to the home-and-away season.

Geelong has now changed its mind on its request for a Monday night fixture to minimise breaks, keen to play a Saturday night contest.

That would maximise the crowd for a blockbuster Simonds Stadium fixture against GWS, with the league listening to club submissions.

Cats chief executive Brian Cook said earlier this week the football department had requested a Monday night game to minimise the time before the club’s first final.

But the Cats’ commercial team has won out as the club tried to maximise the crowd against GWS in what shapes as Steve Johnson’s last game at the venue.

AFL fixturing boss Travis Auld said yesterday given the tight finish to the season the league wanted the most time possible to consider the permutations.

But after considering then aborting an Adelaide-West Coast Round 23 finish on a Monday night last year, the league has cooled on a Monday home-and-away finish.

Clubs believe it will affect attendances, with broadcaster Channel 7 last year more interested in non-football shows in that timeslot.

The AFL would only fixture a Bulldogs-Hawthorn clash on Friday night if the Dogs were still in finals contention.

Luke Hodge’s potential farewell to football would add to that clash but would not be reason enough for fixture it as the Friday night clash.

A repeat of last year’s Round 23 Friday night clash between West Coast v Adelaide is also an attractive proposition after that fixture rated well last year.

St Kilda-Richmond shapes as the likely Sunday 3.20pm game given both teams also play on the Sunday of Round 22.

The lack of momentum for a Monday night home-andaway finish comes as the league ponders a Thursday night final in week one of September.

The league would need to find a suitable clash, likely a game hosted by West Coast or an Adelaide-based team.

The AFL is reluctant to fixture Thursday night games in Melbourne or Sydney, with the Bulldogs upsetting the Eagles in a Thursday night final last year. The Dogs’ stunning victory was watched by 42,079 fans at Subiaco Oval and was a monster ratings success.

It lured a peak national audience of 1.564 million viewers on the Seven Network and drew 420,000 views on Fox Footy.