AFL General Manager Broadcasting, Scheduling and Legal Affairs Simon Lethlean said it was expected the fixture would be completed in mid to late October 2012, as per the schedule of recent seasons.
“The format for the 2013 Toyota AFL Premiership Season, with 18 clubs in the competition, will follow the model used this year in which there will be 23 rounds for each club to play 22 games, comprising 11 home games and 11 away games for every club, with each club having one bye before the commencement of the Toyota AFL Finals Series,” Mr Lethlean said.
“A standard round, as part of our agreement with the Seven Network and FOXTEL/Fox Sports, will continue to feature one Friday night match, two Saturday afternoon matches, one Saturday twilight match, two Saturday night matches, one early Sunday match, one Sunday afternoon match and one Sunday twilight match.
“For the period where clubs have their byes, the AFL proposes to play three rounds of six matches, as was the case in 2012, to provide as much continuity as possible for fans, and with the goal of a team from each state competing in a match in each week through that period.”
Mr Lethlean said the season would commence across the Easter period of Thursday March 28, and the Grand Final would again be played on the last Saturday of September.
“The AFL did consider various options around starting the season one week earlier, to enable two byes for all clubs, but have not done so for the primary reason that a number of key venues are unavailable due to cricket commitments at the SCG, the MCG and the Gabba.
“It was determined that beginning the season without three key venues would be too big a disruption in terms of achieving the best outcome for the fixture and we fully respect the commitments that Cricket Australia has in March and it was not possible currently that we begin the season early,” he said.
“We look forward to continuing to work with the State Government, the MCG, and Cricket Australia/Cricket Victoria to enable access to the venues in order to commence the Premiership Season a week earlier and enable our players to be provided with 2 byes during the course of the season.”
The key dates for the 2013 Toyota AFL Premiership Season have therefore been advised at this stage to be as follows (final dates for NAB Cup are still to be determined):
Toyota AFL Premiership Season - Round 1: Thursday 28 March 2013 - Monday 1 April 2013
ANZAC Day - Round 5: Thursday 25 April 2013
Queen’s Birthday (except WA) - Round 11: Monday 10 June 2013
Toyota AFL Premiership Season - Round 23: Friday 30 August - Sunday 1 September 2013
Toyota AFL Finals Series - Week 1: Friday 6 September 2013
Toyota AFL Grand Final: Saturday 28 September 2013
The AFL has written to all key stakeholders in relation to the fixture production to outline the primary considerations for the AFL and to seek their input. The AFL also met with AFLPA earlier today to outline its plans for the season and undertook to continue to work with them in relation to their key concerns relating to the fixture.
“The AFL’s arrangements with its broadcasters contain many specific scheduling obligations in relation to free to air and subscription television broadcast of Victorian and non-Victorian Clubs, match selection priorities for broadcasters as well as certain strategic imperatives for expansion markets.
“Other considerations for the AFL are: AFL and AFL Club contractual obligations with stadia; Player welfare issues/six-day break minimums; Travel considerations for Clubs; Maximising attendances; Continuation of “blockbuster” and “themed” matches; Maintaining consistency of start times; Balancing the number of match-ups between top and bottom-placed Clubs from 2012 (where possible) and Expansion market objectives.”
