Shepp News |
Echuca coach Cameron Stewart has voiced his discontent with the number of byes in Goulburn Valley Football League.
Speaking after Echuca’s sixth consecutive defeat on Saturday, Stewart said the constant byes were a hindrance on his side’s efforts to overturn its poor form.
When asked if the upcoming bye would give the Murray Bombers a chance to freshen up, Stewart said his belief was the byes were counter-productive and served only to lengthen the season beyond that of the AFL.
‘‘To be completely honest, the byes are a complete waste of time,’’ Stewart said.
‘‘You don’t get anything out of it.
‘‘The AFL is the elite competition, and those running the league want their grand final to be played the day after the AFL’s.
‘‘What? The GVFL has to be the last grand final in Australia? Let’s smarten up a bit.’’
Stewart said the byes were not to blame for the Murray Bombers’ winless start to the season, openly criticising the will and effort of his players, but questioned why the competition needed so many split rounds.
‘‘It staggers me that we have three or four split rounds,’’ Stewart said.
‘‘You can shorten the season up and not have all these byes.’’
There are five byes in the GVFL this season, including the bye this weekend for interleague fixtures.
Split rounds have been used to overcome fixture issues caused by clubs requesting fixtures on public holidays such as Good Friday and Anzac Day.
Stewart is not the first coach to express their unhappiness with the amount of byes, with several others having said their displeasure with the amount of byes during the past couple of years.
