With a 17th team joining the competition next year, the season will have to be played over 24 weeks to maintain a 22-match home and away season, which will require either an earlier start to the year or a later finish.
The AFL will present three major fixturing options to club chief executives regarding next year's proposed fixture, with a decision to be made on the proposals by June.
Those options are:
- starting the season earlier, on March 17, with 11 clubs having a first-round bye;
- moving the grand final to the first weekend of October, or
- playing a split round consisting of 11 games across the Anzac Day round and the following weekend.
Key fixturing issues to be considered by club CEOs include the length of the season, how to structure the byes, round one ground availability (if the season starts on March 17), and the fact that Easter Monday and Anzac Day fall on the same day.
Adding further complications is the fact Gold Coast Stadium will not be available at the start of the 2011 season.
AFL chief operating officer Gillon McLachlan said considerable hurdles had to be overcome before deciding next year's fixture.
"There are three different models that we have worked through - that we believe are the best options - that will be presented to our clubs for their feedback," McLachlan told afl.com.au.
There are considerable problems with starting the season on March 17 because of a clash with the Sheffield Shield cricket final. The MCG, Gabba and SCG have all been reserved for this event.
To overcome the ground shortage, the AFL is considering an opening round featuring three games in three different states, with 11 teams having a bye. The problem with that option is that those 11 clubs with the bye could have consecutive weeks off, given the week's break between the final round of the NAB Cup/Challenge and the start of the premiership season.
AFL broadcasting, legal and business affairs manager Simon Lethlean told afl.com.au it would be possible to scrap the week off if clubs decided on an early start to the season.
"It's easier to have a cluster of byes at the start of the season, rather than have them during the year, because if you have them at round 10 or 12, the reality is that there are going to be four or five sides that receive their second bye either four weeks before or four weeks after that cluster - which is not ideal," Lethlean said.
"The clubs will find the positioning of their two allocated byes a significant challenge.
"All clubs would ideally be seeking two byes spread well across the season or for their byes to be positioned around long haul travels or short breaks - we will do what we can to accommodate club demands in relation to byes, but it will be a challenge."
The other concern for the AFL in a three-match opening round is not engaging 75 per cent of its supporters in round one.
But if the AFL pushes the grand final to October 1, then the season can start on March 25 and all grounds, except the SCG, will be available.
"The October 1 grand final will be contemplated. It has to be - we need to either start a week earlier or finish a week later to facilitate the extra matches in a 17-team competition," Lethlean said.
"We're also talking to Cricket Australia about whether there is any possibility that the March Shield final could be played at an alternate venue to the MCG if the final was to be held in Victoria. There will be on-going discussions in relation to any viable options available on that."
The AFL won't know for a few more months when Gold Coast Stadium will be available. It is expected to be May or June 2011.
The AFL is also weighing up if it should play six matches during the Anzac Day weekend and possibly five matches the following round.
The issue of who has the bye in the final round is also an issue. The AFL's favoured option is to avoid scheduling final-round matches for teams who finish in the top four in 2010.
