A TRIAL of Friday Match Review Panel sittings has failed to take off in the past three weeks, with Thursday night football producing just two reportable offences.
The AFL targeted the four weeks between rounds 14 and 17 to trial an early sitting of the MRP, which in theory would allow decisions to be handed down within 24 hours of the match.
However, there has been nothing deemed serious enough by the Panel to bring forward a decision, according to the AFL, with all verdicts from those games held over until the next Monday.
In the only two Thursday night incidents charged so far, North Melbourne defender Michael Firrito was fined $1000 for striking Adelaide's Mitch McGovern and Essendon midfielder David Zaharakis was suspended for one match for striking Eagle Jackson Nelson.
The Sydney Swans' clash against Hawthorn on Thursday night is the last chance for the MRP to sit early this season and deliver a verdict the following day.
AFL clubs have long lobbied for a shorter turnaround on MRP results, particularly for Friday night games that are subject to heated debate across the weekend.
The process of waiting four days to receive MRP results after Thursday night games is particularly frustrating for clubs as the timeslot becomes more prominent.
Making sure teams that are scheduled to play back-to-back Thursday matches, such as Hawthorn this week, don't have to wait four days for an MRP ruling was a focus for the trial.
In the case of Zaharakis's one-match suspension in round 15, the Bombers still had six days to prepare for their following game without the midfielder given their Sunday match in round 16.
The AFL's recently launched central review system, which will eventually take control of all goal review decisions, could also be used in future seasons to bring MRP sittings forward.
Match broadcasters will feed all the vision the MRP needs to make decisions direct to the review centre, saving time and allowing quicker decisions.