Don't know if the AFL will continue with pre-grand final byes in the future. They certainly seem fairer for the two top four teams that win their first final.
If the bye is to become a permanent feature, why not schedule state of origin matches for the pre-grand final weekend. Obviously players from the GF teams wouldn't be available.
Selected players from the teams that didn't play finals would have a few weeks to refresh and recover from niggles. Hopefully some of the players from losing finalists would make themselves available. Two matches during this weekend would surely get great ratings, clicks and therefore dollars.
And if the AFL were exceedingly greedy, the two winners from the 'bye' weekend could play their grand final on the Friday night.
It's certainly not ideal as some of the very best players wouldn't be available. But the reality is that, currently, we may never see state of origin games again.
If the bye is to become a permanent feature, why not schedule state of origin matches for the pre-grand final weekend. Obviously players from the GF teams wouldn't be available.
Selected players from the teams that didn't play finals would have a few weeks to refresh and recover from niggles. Hopefully some of the players from losing finalists would make themselves available. Two matches during this weekend would surely get great ratings, clicks and therefore dollars.
And if the AFL were exceedingly greedy, the two winners from the 'bye' weekend could play their grand final on the Friday night.
It's certainly not ideal as some of the very best players wouldn't be available. But the reality is that, currently, we may never see state of origin games again.