Rugby clash puts finals in spin again
Fremantle's move into the top four is set to cause finals fixturing woes for the AFL for the second year in a row because Patersons Stadium is booked for a rugby union match in the second week of September.
Australia are scheduled to play Argentina at Patersons Stadium on Saturday, September 14, so if Fremantle remain in the top four the league must fixture the first two weeks of finals around that game.
It is the second year in a row that rugby has impacted upon AFL finals.
Last year the Wallabies played at Patersons Stadium in the first week of September, meaning West Coast had to play North Melbourne on the Sunday.
The fixturing schedule will become a bigger issue if Collingwood finish in the same section of the draw as the Dockers, making them prospective semifinal opponents.
The Magpies will play their final home-and-away game on Sunday, September 1. As the only finalist playing that day, Collingwood are anticipating playing their first final the following Sunday.
But if that happened, the Magpies would have only five days to recover if they had to play Fremantle at Patersons Stadium the next Friday.
AFL spokesman Patrick Keane said the league had raised the issue when the Test match was scheduled and will have to find a way to organise the finals around it.
"We were informed of the agreement when it was reached and we did raise our concerns at the time," he said. "From our point of view, it's not ideal for the structure of our finals but we have said we will endeavour to fixture around it."
The Dockers are almost certain to remain in the top four because they play Greater Western Sydney, Melbourne, Port Adelaide and St Kilda in the last month. The Dockers could win in the first week of the finals and earn a week's rest, but the league must plan its schedule in advance to give teams the appropriate break if required.
The AFL already faces a balancing act with their schedule because Sydney are also in the top four and the Swans share ANZ Stadium with the NRL during the finals.
The AFL asked the State Government to avoid booking Patersons Stadium on potential finals dates after last year's clash.
The WAFC said the AFL still had the option of playing a semifinal at the ground on Sunday, September 15. The league hasn't scheduled a Sunday semifinal since 1995.
"The fixture has been scheduled as part of an agreement with the West Australian State Government for Patersons Stadium to host international sporting events," the WAFC said in a statement.
"From our point of view, it's not ideal for the structure of our finals …""AFL spokesman *Patrick Keane *
