For next season only - given the competition will expand to 18 teams in 2012 - all 17 clubs must have two byes to enable a 22-game season to be completed across 24 weekends of football.
Having looked at various options to construct a 187-match season, the AFL decided this would be the most appropriate way to breakdown the season.
The League considered two other options, including the idea of playing 23 rounds of eight games and one round of three games.
“The fixture we will use provides the best spread of byes across the competition for the season,” the League’s chief operating officer Gillon McLachlan told afl.com.au on Tuesday.
“This mix will enable the byes for all teams to be spaced as best we can through the season.
“For our broadcast coverage, the majority of the season will look exactly as this year does.
“In the rounds where there will be only seven matches played, we will work with our broadcast partners so that one fixture slot is removed from these rounds.”
It is expected that three of the rounds in which only seven games are played will take place early in the season.
This will enable a number of feature matches to be scheduled around the Easter and Anzac Day period.
As an example, three teams, including the Brisbane Lions, could have the bye in round four.
This would allow the Lions and their opponent to have a reasonable amount of rest before doing battle in an Easter Thursday (April 21) game at the Gabba in round five.
The completed 2011 fixture will be released in late October, although the League has already announced Gold Coast will have a bye in round one.
The Suns will then play their first home-and-away game against Richmond at the Gabba in round two.
2011 FIXTURE SUMMARY
* The introduction of the Gold Coast Suns provides 11 extra games across the season - 187 games in total (was 176 games), plus finals.
* 19 rounds x eight matches (one bye) - Starting times and television slots same as in 2010.
* Five rounds x seven matches (three byes) - one slot to be dropped in each round, with the AFL and television networks to decide which one.
