Hawks get twilight AFL preliminary final

Hawthorn will play a twilight preliminary final against either Adelaide or Fremantle at the MCG on Saturday week, as the AFL juggles television ratings with fairness.

The Hawks would have preferred a Friday night game, or failing that, an early Saturday afternoon fixture, to maximise their preparation time for the grand final, should they make it.

But the AFL had to balance that against the television broadcasters’ preference for night games.

They compromised with the 5.15pm AEST timeslot, which also allows the visiting team time to fly home that night, limiting their disadvantage should they make the grand final.

In the other preliminary final, Sydney will meet either West Coast or Collingwood on the preceding Friday night at 7.50pm at ANZ Stadium.

The winner of that match will have more than 21 hours head-start on their grand final opponents to prepare for the premiership decider.

Traditionally the Hawks, as the minor premiers, would have been given the Friday night slot to give them that advantage.

But ANZ Stadium is booked by the NRL on the Saturday night and the AFL considered the SCG capacity too small for a preliminary final, meaning the Swans had to play on the Friday night.

Hawks chief executive Stuart Fox said while not their first choice, the preliminary final timeslot was acceptable.

“We always knew it was going to be Saturday day or night, this is a compromise in the middle,” Fox told AAP.

“We’re happy with it and obviously getting ready for it.”

Fox said the Seven Network and Foxtel had a right to significant influence.

“They put a huge investment into the game,” he said.

“The AFL have tried to balance the needs of the clubs, but also have a timeslot that will get people through the gate and get good viewership on TV.”

Further compromising the schedule’s fairness, should the Eagles beat Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday night, they will meet the Swans on the back of consecutive six-day breaks.

Sydney will have had a 13-day break from their qualifying final win over Adelaide.

The Eagles were forced into playing their qualifying final against North Melbourne at Patersons Stadium last Sunday.

It would have made the AFL’s fixturing job easier had that game been on Saturday, but the Perth venue was pre-booked for a rugby union Test between Australia and South Africa.

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