Damien Hardwick’s request for AFL clubs to have greater numbers on the interchange bench during this quarantine hub period is set to be denied, according to a report.
The AFL appears likely to cram more games into less time while the Victorian teams are interstate in order to get through as much of the season before teams need to head home for a spell. The next block of the fixture is expected on Monday.
Hardwick called on the AFL to give them extra interchange rotations during this time to help teams deal with consistent four-day breaks.
"You want the stars playing every week," Hardwick said earlier in the week.
"I'd look at an extended bench but smarter men than me have looked at that before.
"I think Steven Hocking will work through that in the coming weeks about what it looks like but the great thing about AFL has been they are very open with what they are looking for and to the feedback we have given them.
"This is a situation we have never seen before. We have to think on the move."
However, a report in the Herald Sun suggests the AFL will stick with 90 rotations and four players on the bench.
Teams have already begun resting players off short breaks, with Geelong sitting Jack Steven on Thursday night and Hawthorn resting Shaun Burgoyne on Friday.
Garry Lyon told AFL Nation on Friday night that he felt six on the interchange bench should be looked at during this short stretch of the season.
