Former Melbourne captain Garry Lyon believes the AFLX tournament took the attention away from AFLW this weekend.
The AFL put a load of marketing and coverage into the inaugural AFLX round robins, as the new concept was met with mixed reviews across the football landscape.
In the meantime, AFLW continued with round three, as the Adelaide v Western Bulldogs and Carlton v Brisbane matches were sandwiched in-between AFLX on Saturday.
Collingwood, Greater Western Sydney, Fremantle and Melbourne all played AFLW on Sunday.
According to Lyon, the immense focus on AFLX confirmed Bulldogs President’s Peter Gordon’s worry, with the AFLW lost in the wind.
“AFLX did take away the spotlight from AFLW over the weekend,” the dual Demons best and fairest winner told SEN Breakfast.
“I think it is something the AFL seriously needs to take a look at.
“If you’re going to be serious about AFLW, then you don’t need to be clouding or muddying the waters by throwing AFLX into the middle of it.
“I don’t think it’s necessary. You got to find a different slot for AFLX.”
Former Essendon captain Tim Watson suggests a midweek timeslot could work for AFLX, but barriers would be placed in front of that, as it could clash with primetime free-to-air television programs, along with spectator inconvenience.
The league has no plans to scrap AFLX from the calendar, asserting the format is here to stay.
Listen to the best bits of this morning’s edition of SEN Breakfast with Garry Lyon and Tim Watson in the player below!