Collingwood president Eddie McGuire says the AFL has “cocked up” the finals schedule but the league insists there’s no chance the dates will change.
The Magpies will face GWS in a semi-final at the MCG on Saturday night which leaves the winner just a six-day break before a preliminary final against Richmond.
It is just the third time this century that a team will be forced to play a preliminary final on a six-day turnaround.
“That is an anomaly that seems to me to be totally ridiculous. It makes zero sense whatsoever,” McGuire said on Triple M on Monday.
“If you just changed one game … and play Richmond on a Saturday night and West Coast on the Friday night, every team would get a seven-day break.
“Why is that not top of mind?”
AFL fixtures chief Travis Auld said Richmond, as minor premiers, had earned the right to host a Friday night game and enjoy an extra day off before the grand final should they win.
“Where’s that in the rule book?,” McGuire fired back in a combative exchange with Auld.
“You blokes make it up as you go.”
Scheduling the Tigers on a Friday night also ensures the strongest possible commercial outcome for the league.
The Tigers will head into the preliminary final on a 15-day break.
Should they win, they will have eight days rest before the grand final.
McGuire said the AFL could immediately bring greater fairness to the schedule by revising the dates for the preliminary finals.
“That won’t happen,” Auld said.
“If you finish on top on the ladder, you should have the opportunity to get a longer break than those that finish below you.”
The league are yet to announce a starting time for West Coast’s Saturday preliminary final but Auld confirmed the game would be played in the afternoon, allowing either Hawthorn or Melbourne to travel back to Victoria that night.
AFL FINALS WEEK TWO AND THREE
* FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 14
First semi-final, Hawthorn v Melbourne at MCG, 7:50pm AEST
* SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 15
Second semi-final, Collingwood v GWS at MCG, 7:25pm
* FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 21
First preliminary final, Richmond v Collingwood/GWS at MCG, 7:50pm
* SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 22
Second preliminary final, West Coast v Hawthorn/Melbourne at Optus Stadium, time TBC
