Breaks key to fixture rethink

Maybe 12 Thursday night games in 2019

AFL clubs, including Richmond and North Melbourne, are prepared to play off fiveday breaks to allow for the fixturing of as many as 12 Thursday night games next season.

The AFL looks set to schedule more Thursday night games next year but would need the players’ union to alter its collective bargaining agreement.

North chief executive Carl Dilena and Brisbane Lions counterpart Greg Swann yesterday backed the proposal as long as both teams were coming off five-day breaks.

There were eight Thursday night games this year — two in the first two rounds, five around the mid-season byes, and a final.

Teams would be handed only one five-day break, which would test the recuperative powers of their players.

News Corp revealed in August the AFL Players’ Association was being consulted about five-day breaks, but initially wanted a second bye.

Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale said the proposal would give more flexibility to schedule blockbuster games.

“As a general rule we are comfortable with it, providing teams are on an equal footing with the days’ break and there are not too many of them,” Gale said.

“From a physical point of view, our recovery is tracked to a high degree of sophistication and we are comfortable our club could handle it.”

Kangaroos coach Brad Scott believes clubs could absorb a single five-day break if it was followed by an eight or nine-day break. Dilena said yesterday North, a pioneer of Friday night football, supported the concept.

“Fundamentally, we don’t have an issue with it provided both clubs are coming off the same amount of days’ break leading into a game,” he said.

Swann said the Lions were desperate to keep growing their brand with free-to-air clashes and games in marquee timeslots.

“Our view is, given we were only on free-to-air once this year, we are more than happy to do it to get more exposure for the club,” he said. “The CBA says you can’t have fiveday breaks, so they will have to review that, but we are more than happy for it to happen.”

The league’s fixture traditionally comes out in the last week of October. A dozen Thursday night games would be ideal for the broadcasters, Seven and Fox Footy.

The Lions have asked the league for an Easter Monday clash with Collingwood and are cautiously optimistic.

North Melbourne believes it will host Good Friday football for a third year in a row,.

Essendon and Carlton are teams considered potential opponents, but no decision has been made by AFL House.