AFL floats a 'floating' final roundCaroline Wilson | October 20, 2009
IN A historic first, the AFL will determine the time and place of the final eight games of season 2010 on the eve of round 22 in a bid to orchestrate the fairest possible finals series.
League chief Andrew Demetriou confirmed late yesterday that he had received cautious support from the competition's three broadcasters to introduce a ''floating fixture'' in round 22 - in essence a package of eight home-and-away games with no corresponding venues or times - as part of an eyebrow-raising 2010 draw.
In another break from tradition, the draft fixture, which will be released on October 30, has only scheduled one home-and-away clash between Geelong and St Kilda. This year's grand finalists will not meet until the second half of the season.
Despite their memorable duels this year - one in round 14 and the other on the last Saturday in September - the Cats and the Saints will not meet in round one, as has been in vogue in recent seasons. They will eventually do battle at the MCG in July, after the mid-season break.
While neither club will contest the AFL's surprising move, officials from both teams admitted to some surprise at the decision. The Cats however, will fight for eight games at Skilled Stadium next year, one more than they have been currently granted.
Richmond is so concerned at its disappointing 2010 schedule that Tigers president Gary March and chief executive Brendon Gale have called a meeting with Demetriou today to push their case for more blockbuster games at the MCG.
While Richmond's draw appears relatively favourable in football terms, the Tigers were smarting last week upon learning they had been originally given only seven home games at the MCG - including the season-opener against Carlton on Thursday, March 27 - and the remaining four at Etihad Stadium.
Richmond in the draft fixture would only play Essendon and Collingwood once - and both as away games - with the club's home game against St Kilda scheduled at Docklands. While Demetriou refused to elaborate upon individual club issues - ''it's not new for clubs to want changes to their fixture'', he said - the AFL chief confirmed his support for the floating round-22 draw.
''We'll announce a block of eight games, but not in any time slot probably,'' Demetriou told The Age. ''It's all about retaining a bit of flexibility when you are looking at teams going into the finals.
''This year it wasn't perfect but we got around it. It's just more sensible to have some flexibility if we need it.''
The AFL considered rescheduling several round-22 games this year, with top four sides Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs facing each other in the Sunday twilight game on the eve of the finals, but potential changes were deemed too difficult given misgivings held by clubs, venues and broadcasters.
Demetriou would not explain the reasoning behind the Geelong-St Kilda scheduling, pointing out the current fixture was in draft form only. As it is, the reigning premier is scheduled to play Essendon in round one on Friday night at the MCG, with St Kilda playing the Swans in Sydney.
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