The end-of-season bye looks set to stay and the AFL is considering moving the Brownlow medal ceremony to the controversial week off.
The league's general manager of clubs and operations Travis Auld conceded the bye had probably been to the advantage of grand finalists the Western Bulldogs in week one of the finals this year as the injury-riddled team had benefited from the extra recovery time.
But Auld all but confirmed another week off after round 23 next year, introduced to stop clubs already assured their spot in the finals resting players in the final round.
"We had no players rested this year, so that's the first thing we wanted to achieve," he said, speaking at a Hawthorn in Business lunch on Wednesday.
Auld said the week off had highlighted the EJ Whitten legends match and the women's all-star exhibition game.
"It's hard to see it leaving," he said.
Auld said he was not yet sure if the Brownlow medal ceremony, traditionally held on the Monday night of grand final week, should be moved to Saturday or Sunday of the bye weekend.
The Brownlow Medal count used to be held on the Monday night after the final home and away round until it was moved to its current spot in 1978.
A survey showed all of this year's AFL coaches disliked the bye at the end of the home-and-away season, although as the finals approached 'Doggies coach Luke Beveridge admitted he was grateful his players had the break.
"I've changed my tune," Beveridge said last month.
"I think when it was initially floated I liked the idea of continuity and survival of the fittest and last man standing.
"But there's no doubt that, maybe that out of all the teams in the eight, it suits us a bit better."
