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Caroline Wilson believes a proposed 2021 AFL fixture benefits West Coast and Fremantle the most

The West Australian
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Regular Western Australia naysayers Caroline Wilson and Eddie McGuire believe the proposed 2021 fixture will benefit West Coast and Fremantle more than other AFL clubs.

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This year’s finals haven’t even started yet but fixture boss Travis Auld has apparently already turned his attention to next season, proposing three/four week travel blocks for teams, minimising interstate travel for the Eagles and Dockers in particular.

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The WA clubs normally accumulate more kilometres than any other team, in 2017 West Coast travelled 69,840 km (1st) versus Collingwood who barely left Victoria for 15,284 km (18th).

The proposed plan would see a Victorian side play Freo, the Eagles and SA sides before returning while WA sides would battle three or four sides before returning to Perth.

“There will be blocks of games played over a shorter period again, potentially next year,” Wilson told Footy Classified.

Ross Lyon speaks to the media during a press conference following the announcement of his sacking from the Fremantle Dockers.
Camera IconRoss Lyon speaks to the media during a press conference following the announcement of his sacking from the Fremantle Dockers. Credit: Paul Kane/via AFL Photos

“I gather even a team like Hawthorn might go up to Queensland and play two games in a short period of time and Fremantle might fly to Victoria and play a block of games over two or three weeks.

“Those sort of cluster games have been well received.”

This year’s reduced quarter length to 16 minutes may be adjusted again, increased to 18 minutes in 2021.

Former Dockers coach Ross Lyon is aware of the toll taken from regularly crossing the Nullarbor and also sees the benefit to the WA clubs.

“Instinctively, I agree, you would take the three-week block (in Victoria),” Lyon said.

“It cuts out two extra flights or really four flights. By the end of the year, it‘s the cumulative load and effect and I think anything that could lessen that, those west coast teams would jump at.”

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