Essendon great Matthew Lloyd is urging Port Adelaide to “look at their own backyard” following Travis Boak’s strong comments on the state of current scheduling in the game.
The 31-year-old told SEN Breakfast on Monday that the AFL needed to do a better job balancing out its fixture in coming years.
He pointed out an inequality last year, where Richmond played the last seven games of the regular season at the MCG before eventually winning the premiership.
Lloyd said while the “optics” of Richmond having so many games in a row at the MCG weren’t good, their form ultimately prevailed when it mattered. He said Port Adelaide would be better served trying to emulate the Tigers’ on-field success.
“I thought Travis Boak spoke really well,” Lloyd said on Sportsday.
“But those are the conversations I personally would leave to the CEO to fight the fight.
“After that period, Richmond go to the Gabba and win a final which sets themselves up for a prelim. They just win anywhere.
“The optics of it don’t look great in respect to facing them seven (games at the MCG) in a row.
“I’d also say to Travis Boak if I were (coach) Ken Hinkley that we also have some massive wins interstate – I remember they went to Perth and beat West Coast when they were red hot and then the next week they’ll go back to Adelaide and lose.
“I’d look at more at what Richmond do on the field and not try and make it get an advantage.
“They’ve got to look at their own backyard and control what they can control.”