Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin can see the benefit of expanding the floating fixture to include multiple rounds at the end of the AFL home-and-away season to avoid dead rubbers in marquee timeslots.
The Demons host Sydney at the MCG on Friday night in a contest that will have no bearing on the make up of the top eight, with both sides well out of finals contention.
It is one of five standalone night matches Melbourne was scheduled to feature in this season as reward for last year’s rise up the ladder.
“This year’s performance clearly hasn’t been to the level that we would’ve liked, so I can understand why they may think that (we don’t deserve another Friday night match),” Goodwin said.
“In the end, it’s an opportunity for us on the national stage to play well.
“I can certainly see why it (expanding the floating fixture) would be something that they would look at.
“But at the same time, we got this fixture based on our performances last year.”
The AFL has left the final home-and-away round as a floating fixture in recent seasons in order to work out schedules that will maximise supporters’ interest leading into finals.
This year’s final round fixtures were finalised more than three weeks out, giving clubs plenty of time to prepare for their matches.
“Once you know, you can plan your weeks accordingly,” Goodwin said.
“The floating fixture for round 23 hasn’t impacted if you know early enough.”
Despite them being out of the finals equation, Goodwin insisted there was still plenty for Melbourne to play for over the last two weeks of the home-and-away season.
First-year rookie Kade Chandler will make his senior debut against Sydney and Goodwin implored his players to show more fight after they failed to make the most of a positive start in last week’s defeat to Collingwood.
“As a club, we want to build a winning culture and build behaviours that are going to be sustainable for a period of time,” Goodwin said.
“There’s plenty to play for every time you step out on the field and that’s what we’re looking for in a response this week.”
Diminutive forward Chandler was recruited from South Australia in last November’s rookie draft.
“He’s full of spirit and energy and is looking forward to playing his first game,” Goodwin said of 19-year-old small forward Chandler.
Melbourne are second bottom with just five wins in 2019 while Sydney are 15th having managed only six wins.
