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Swans CEO confirms desire to scrap pre-finals bye
Sam Watson • April 2nd, 2025 10:00 pm
Sydney Swans CEO Tom Harley has confirmed he has written a submission to the AFL regarding the removal of the pre-finals bye.
Channel 7’s Caroline Wilson said the Swans ‘hate the pre-finals bye’ on Tuesday night’s edition of ‘The Agenda Setters’, which prompted Harley to put forward a submission to Andrew Dillon and the AFL.
Since being introduced in 2016, some have claimed the pre-finals bye disadvantages sides who finish in the top four - like the Swans in 2024, who headed into last year’s preliminary final playing once in 27 days.
Speaking to SEN’s Sportsday, Harley said he believes the primary principle of the finals series is to “provide the best team of the year, the best chance to win”, and the current structure “isn’t in line with those values”.
“We’re certainly advocates for shifting the structure and removing the pre-finals bye,” Harley said.
And he also shared his desire for the pre-finals bye to be moved before the Grand Final.
“If you want to have the best spectacle possible… you get the best players available, playing in the best teams… and by instilling a pre-Grand Final bye you can really create that event.”
“We wouldn’t have to have a remote Brownlow Medallist accept his award, if you’re a non-Victorian team making it through to the grand final, you’ve got 14 days as opposed to seven days to prepare all the logistics.”
“So, I think the opportunities are endless when it comes to a pre-Grand Final bye.”
Brisbane have also voiced their displeasure with the pre-finals bye, with Chris Fagan’s letter to the AFL commission after the 2023 Grand Final touching on the issue.
It’s expected all clubs will share their thoughts on moving the pre-finals bye when they meet in Adelaide for Gather Round next week.
Listen to Harley's full interview on Sportsday below.
