THE AFL Grand Final will return to its traditional place on the sporting calendar in 2012, with the League proposing Saturday, September 29, as the date for next season's match.
The AFL released a proposed outline of key dates for the 2012 season on Monday, featuring a 22-round season to be played over 23 weeks.
Round one will take place from Thursday, March 29, to Sunday, April 1, with the home and away season concluding in round 22 between August 31 and September 2.
The introduction of Greater Western Sydney as the AFL's 18th team will eliminate the need for byes next year, enabling a shorter season and, as was always planned, a shift back to a September Grand Final (the 2011 decider will be played on October 1).
The pre-season NAB Cup will begin on Friday, February 17, and finish on Friday, March 16, or Saturday, March 17.
Spokesman Patrick Keane said the AFL was yet to determine when the rest weekend/split round would take place, or what format it would take.
Keane said the AFL had written to every club seeking fixture requests and would start its more detailed fixturing process once responses had been received.
The 18-team, 22-round competition will mean teams face only five other teams twice in the home and away season, down from six in 2011 and seven in 2010.
