Players tick five-day break plan

THE AFL’s players have voted to approve one five-day break per club next year to allow the league to play as many as 12 Thursday-night games.

It is understood the league was told by the AFL Players Association yesterday, with the decision so serious it needs the collective bargaining agreement to be altered.

The player approval came after consultation through the mid-season break and was ultimately put to a vote of captains, the AFLPA board and delegates.

The strict conditions for its approval include the AFL having to schedule a sevenday break on either side of that five-day break.

The approval is also only for a single season — 2019 — as the AFLPA assesses how players pull up after five-day breaks.

The breakthrough will allow the AFL to schedule more Thursday-night games with teams having an equal five-day break from Saturday to the next Thursday.

Previously it could only play a string of Thursdaynight games around the mid-season bye period when teams were coming off a bye, so had a longer break leading into the contest.

AFLPA executive Brett Murphy said yesterday the players were eager to offset growth in the game with player welfare.

“While player welfare is our primary fixture priority, the players are committed to working with the industry to create the best product possible for fans,” he said.

Playing teams off five-day breaks will also allow the league to schedule more marquee Friday-night contests by occasionally playing teams off a shortened break after a Sunday game the previous round.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan’s has said several times this year he likes the current seven home-andaway Thursday fixtures, believing fans are ready for normal service to resume after five in a row mid-year.

But it will be a boon for broadcasters after soft early season ratings last year.