THE AFL is pushing ahead with plans to stage 2015's Anzac Day game in New Zealand at 11am (Australian Eastern Standard Time), to fit all the matches into an already jam-packed schedule.
League chief Gillon McLachlan revealed the proposal during his radio rounds on Saturday afternoon.
The League is planning five matches for April 25 next year, including the showpiece Essendon-Collingwood blockbuster at the MCG and a twilight game in Canberra featuring Greater Western Sydney.
"What we're talking about is that the New Zealand game might be earlier, so it would come in at 11 o'clock (AEST) and the twilight game may well be in Canberra," McLachlan told Crocmedia's AFL Live program.
"We would then in Melbourne have the Essendon-Collingwood game stand alone on the Saturday afternoon in Melbourne to try and give it a bit of clean air here.
"I think it would be a good roll-on from the New Zealand game if we can get it coordinated."
Meanwhile, McLachlan told ABC Radio's Grandstand that he was comfortable with the stance the League had taken on the joint investigation with ASADA into Essendon's supplements program.
He declined to comment specifically on questions of whether the confidentiality of a briefing from the Australian Crime Commission in early 2013 had been breached, saying it was a separate issue to Essendon's Federal Court action against ASADA that begins on Monday.
"They (the ACC) have already come and said, with respect to (former AFL CEO) Andrew (Demetriou) that he hasn't," he said.
"After that, I just think it's noise and distraction, and and it doesn't relate to process issues, to my mind ... we've had that debate and we've moved on."
McLachlan also took his turn on 3AW, where he spoke about the challenges the League has faced with the scheduling of games this year.
The AFL boss has already conceded the League has made some mistakes with the fixture this year and he spoke about the need to get that particular facet right in 2015.
"Our learning is that twilight footy in July or August at the MCG is not the right way to go," McLachlan said.
"What we've got to do is get the right clubs in the right slots in the right markets, and we need a bit more consistency, I think that's all we're saying.
"There's been a big push for Saturday afternoon footy in Melbourne and that's something we'll have a good look at."
McLachlan also defended his public take on Tiger Reece Conca's two-match suspension, when he described the hit on Devon Smith as an "appalling act".
His comments drew the ire of Richmond coach Damien Hardwick on Friday and on Saturday McLachlan defended his motive for commenting on the incident.
"The MRP had handed the decision down, so I wasn't influencing it in any way," he said.
"I do think there's some things I'm entitled to express my view on.
"I really didn't like the look of someone hitting someone from behind."
