Caroline Wilson exposes finals 'failure' as AFL CEO Andrew Dillon responds to fixture uproar

AFL CEO Andrew Dillon has defended the league's controversial finals fixture schedule after veteran reporter Caroline Wilson described it as a massive missed opportunity to tap into the lucrative Sydney market. The league has also come under fire for scheduling the Western Bulldogs' elimination final on the same night the club's AFLW side kicks off its season and for giving second-placed Port Adelaide the shortest turnaround of all the AFL finals teams.

Port Adelaide's reward for finishing the regular season as the second-best team in the competition is a Thursday night home qualifying final against Geelong on September 5 - just 11 days after their final regular season match against Fremantle. The Power are lucky no players suffered a concussion in the final round win over the Dockers because the shorter turnaround would have ruled them out of the finals clash with the Cats.

The Western Bulldogs are also unhappy that they've been given the Friday night fixture against the Hawks at the MCG when the club's AFLW team is playing their first game of the season at Whitten Oval on the same night. It creates issues with the Bulldogs' men's and women's teams sharing staff, while also taking the gloss off the opening of the club's redeveloped headquarters. Fans will have to choose which team to support, given the games are to be played back-to-back at different venues.

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But Wilson says her biggest gripe is the fact the AFL decided against holding the massive Sydney derby between the Swans and the Giants in the prime time Friday night slot. The AFL hailed its Gather Round at the start of the season for expanding the game and tapping into the lucrative non-Victoria markets around the country. But Wilson told Nine's Footy Classified on Monday night that Dillon and the AFL had "failed" fans and undone much of their good work because of the finals draw.

"You have wasted and missed a golden opportunity to burst football onto the toughest market in the country and to turn the sporting eyes of the country onto the SCG," the veteran AFL reporter said. "Surely that qualifying final should have been played on Friday night, it had everything - Isaac Heeney, Toby Greene, bitter rivalry, great contest. And apparently Sydney wanted it there too.

"But finishing top of the ladder apparently doesn't count for anything in the face of broadcasting requirements. No, the AFL and Channel 7 played it safe, preferring the Bulldogs vs Hawthorn at the MCG. The Bulldogs weren't happy either because the Friday night game clashes with their AFLW fixture.

"And what about Port Adelaide, who finished second? They go into their qualifying final against Geelong with the shortest break of any club, 11 days. Lucky no Port player suffered concussion at Ballarat, not that the AFL asked." Responding to the backlash around the finals fixture on Monday night, the AFL CEO defended the league and said his fixturing team had done an "incredible job".

AFL CEO Andrew Dillon defends finals fixtures

“I've spoken to most of the clubs today and I don't think anyone's disappointed to be in finals,” Dillon said on Fox Footy's AFL 360. “Our fixturing team do an incredible job and the way that round 24 landed, you couldn't have scripted it. The team take into account attendance, broadcast, days breaks, what weeks two and three are going to look like and ultimately, we consult with the clubs and the venues.

“When we get to Friday week and we have close to 90,000 people at the MCG we'll know that that was the right fit. Clubs have a view of what's best but when it's all said and done, they're really happy to be there.” The Bulldogs could also feel aggrieved at not being able to play their finals fixture at home, with the MCG chosen instead because of the likelihood of a much bigger crowd.

Geelong have also resigned themselves to playing finals games at the MCG rather than their GMHBA Stadium base, for the same reasons. In week two, the loser of Port Adelaide-Geelong game will host the winner of the Bulldogs-Hawthorn clash. The loser of Sydney-GWS will host the winner of Brisbane-Carlton. Venues and times for week two will be confirmed at the conclusion of week one.

AFL week one finals schedule:

• Second qualifying final: Port Adelaide v Geelong - Thursday September 5, Adelaide Oval, 7.40pm

• Second elimination final: Western Bulldogs v Hawthorn - Friday September 6, MCG, 7.40pm

• First qualifying final: Sydney v GWS - Saturday September 7, SCG, 3.20pm

• First elimination final: Brisbane Lions v Carlton - Saturday September 7, Gabba, 7.30pm

with AAP