AFL greats Mick Malthouse and Brent Harvey have joined Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson in calling for the league to scrap the pre-finals bye.
This is the second year the AFL has had the week off between round 23 and the opening week of the finals.
It was introduced to stop finals-bound teams resting large groups of players in round 23.
The Western Bulldogs exploited the bye week superbly last year, becoming the first time in nine years to win the premiership from outside the top four.
Malthouse, a three-time premiership coach at West Coast and Collingwood, said at Monday's launch of the finals series that there are other solutions.
The AFL announced Malthouse as presenter of the Jock McHale Medal to the premiership coach, while Harvey, the games record holder, is the premiership cup ambassador.
It was already known that controversial former Essendon coach James Hird will present the Norm Smith Medal to the player voted best afield in the grand final.
"I wouldn't have the bye - the thing I would have, the last round of the year should be played identically, all over the country, the same time," Malthouse said.
"So no club is aware, outside of the information you get at quarter-time and three-quarter time by your coaches, 'listen, we need to step on the accelerator, because over in Adelaide they're three goals in front'.
"By having a bye, you really do rob the top-four sides of any advantage.
"I know they have the double chance, but I'm not 100 per cent sure the sides that win this weekend will like having another week off - it's quite drawn out."
Malthouse does not agree with the rationale for having the bye.
"I'm a bit confused why we have (it) - if it's because of Fremantle's last game a couple of years ago where two thirds of the side were rested, action could have been taken then and that would have eliminated any sort of problems," he said.
Harvey, a 1999 North Melbourne premiership player, retired at the end of last season.
"The fact that teams who finish outside that top four can rest players and prepare for the finals, probably in a way they couldn't do a few years ago, it disadvantages the top four," he said.
"For me, my whole career was based around continuity - with training and playing.
"One week off, you're advantaged because your body probably needs that rest.
"But you don't need a rest two weeks after you've already had a bye."
Clarkson, a four-time premiership coach at Hawthorn, said last month the post-round 23 bye should be scrapped because it affects the integrity of the finals system.
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