AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan says the league isn’t looking at implementing a floating fixture, saying the fans come first in this situation.
Many individuals have been frustrated with the lack of marquee Friday night games in 2018, leading to the conversation surrounding why hasn’t the competition ever used a floating fixture.
However, McLachlan shot down those ideas, saying it will be too difficult to implement such an unsettled fixture.
AFL IN DISCUSSIONS TO TRIAL RULE CHANGES THIS SEASON: MCLACHLAN
“We have had some poor Friday night games this year and that’s accepted,” he told SEN’s Whateley.
“In the end our game, at its core, and we have always said it is about our supporters and our fans and having them go to the game, as a priority.
“The certainty of our fixture has been core to that.
“On average, 3,500 people travel interstate for every single game on the fixture.
“The fixture comes out and in the next 24 hours, it’s big time for Virgin, people book their flights and people like that certainty.
“I know when we have moved games, I think last year we moved a game by an hour or so, and we got letters saying that’s affecting my travel.
“It’s a big thing to change that certainty in our fixture.
“We will stay with the fixture, even thought I see the merit of a floating one.”
Listen to Gillon McLachlan's chat with Gerard Whateley on SEN's Whateley in the player below