The AFL hasrevealed a number of initiatives it hopes will bring added fairness to the 2013premiership season fixture, which will be released at the end of this month.
Under the newarrangements, this year's top four teams (the Sydney Swans, Hawthorn,Collingwood and Adelaide) will only play the bottom four teams (Greater WesternSydney, Gold Coast, Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs) on one occasion in2013.
The 10non-finalists from 2012 are being scheduled to have a maximum of two returnmeetings against the top eight sides from 2012.
And, wherepossible, the eight finalists from 2012 are being fixtured to have a maximum oftwo return meetings with the bottom 10 sides from 2012.
Next season'sfixture will also include a bye for each club between rounds 11 and 13.
""The AFLwill again schedule three rounds of six matches to provide as much continuityas possible for fans, and with the goal of a team from each state competing ina match in each week through that period,"" said the League's generalmanager of broadcasting, scheduling and legal affairs, Simon Lethlean.
The key dates for the 2013 season are set as below:
Round One - Friday March 22 / Saturday March 23 2013
ANZAC Day - Round 5 - Thursday April 25 2013
Queens Birthday - Round 11 - Monday June 10
Round 23 - Friday August 30 - Sunday September 1 2013
Final Series Week 1 - Friday 6 September 2013
AFL Grand Final - Saturday September 28 2013
