AFL FIXTURE ANNOUNCEMENT SET TO BE DELAYEDTom Morris reports...The AFL‘s next batch of fixtures are set to be announced next week.
The AFL is keen to condense Rounds 8-12 inside the current 32-day window before players return home from their hubs.
It would shorten breaks between games, but give the league some much-needed breathing room in the back end of the season.
Clubs would return home before the weekend of August 15 and 16, and either have a bye or play another round.
Victorian teams would take on each other, while the eight non-Victorian clubs would be free to fly around as normal.
High ranking club sources believe it‘s almost inevitable Victorian clubs will then be asked to re-enter hubs for five weeks to finish the home and away season.
As first reported by foxfooty.com.au last Friday, the AFL has assured players they will not be spending any more than five weeks in hubs in this batch of fixtures.
Shorter quarters allow for four-day breaks between games, though the league would endeavour not to schedule back-to-back four-day breaks for clubs.
Sunday night and Monday night footy looks set to stay when the AFL announces the next set of matches, while the league could even fixture a Tuesday and/or Wednesday night game if it needs.
It‘s unclear when Essendon will play against Melbourne to make up their encounter from earlier in the year, but it could happen in one of those two mid-week timeslots.
The AFL is hopeful of confirming a Grand Final date by the end of August.
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