The AFL's decision to schedule Essendon and Adelaide on Friday night instead of a Western Bulldogs-Sydney blockbuster has been panned - but it has emerged the governing body is not to blame.
Despite the Bulldogs wish to play against the Swans in the primetime slot, the AFL Players Association denied them the opportunity as they would have been coming off their second five-day break for the season.
With the AFL appeasing the AFLPA, football fans were denied the opportunity to see Bulldogs No.1 draft pick Jamarra Ugle-Hagan make his debut against Lance Franklin and Sydney on football's biggest weekly television stage.
Instead, supporters could only watch the 12th-placed Bombers run our 63-point winners against 14th-placed Adelaide, who recorded their lowest ever score of 2.9.21 in a drab affair at Marvel Stadium.
Former St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt revealed he had contact with Bulldogs players who wanted to play and didn't mind about the five-day break.
The five-time All Australian then slammed the AFLPA for their decision, suggesting they want to 'seem relevant'.
"It’s a disgrace that they’re (Dogs and Swans) not (playing Friday night). I’ve spoken to some Western Bulldogs players, the players were desperate to play on a Friday night," Riewoldt said on Fox Footy.
"There are a lot of stakeholders involved in the game that are seeking value at the moment, the players want to maximise value, they want to be on the big stage, the club the Bulldogs they missed out on fans in Round 1 on Friday night so don’t tell me they wouldn’t love the big stage.
"The broadcasters, they invested a little bit into the game. They want value on the big stage.
"This to me just looks like a situation where the PA want to bang the desk and seem relevant."
