Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson has slammed the pre-finals bye, suggesting it's now an "enormous disadvantage" to finish inside the top four.
The Hawks will miss the finals for the first time since 2009 this season, after losing their opening four matches and starting the season with a 3-6 record.
Despite not featuring in the finals this season Clarkson still had his thoughts on the action coming up this September, and believes any team that finishes between 5th-8th could get on a roll and following in the Western Bulldogs' footsteps from 2016.
“I think it’s unbelievably challenging for the top four teams given that they have deserved top-four status, I think it’s an enormous disadvantage finishing top four, winning your first final and then you’ve played one game in three weeks leading into a prelim,’’ Clarkson told reporters on Thursday morning.
“So that’s why anyone in the top eight can win it, just like we saw last year. The first time in 20 or 30 years that we changed our top-eight system and ironically it’s the first time that someone from outside the top four wins the (Grand) Final. I don’t think there’s a coincidence in that.
“That’s why any team from fifth to eighth gets a roll on, look out.
“I don’t think it’s good for the game ... the integrity of the game is the most important part and there is not integrity in finishing top four if it’s a disadvantage for you.’’
With the pre-finals bye introduced for the first time last season, it was the Bulldogs who benefited the most, as they came from seventh to win the premiership.
Wins over West Coast, Hawthorn, GWS and Sydney in the decider saw the Dogs claim a drought-breaking premiership as both Geelong and GWS - the two winners from the two qualifying finals - both failed to make the grand final.
Clarkson also went as far as suggesting that should another side win from 5th-8th position this season, teams would begin to look at finishing outside the top four in a bid use the momentum to their advantage.
“Part of the game is survival of the fittest and if you’ve worked hard to deserve top-four status, you shouldn’t be disadvantaged come finals, you should be advantaged, otherwise what’s the point?’’ Clarkson said.
“It will certainly be the case this year, if a team wins from outside the top four this year, I’ll tell you where everyone will be targeting their finishing position next year, it will be fifth to eighth, they won’t worry about top four, you don’t want that.’’