AFL could cut back on pre-season games

The AFL could cut official pre-season games from two to one per club amid concerns about the tight schedule.

The league's football operations boss Steve Hocking said it would be discussed on Thursday when the AFL hosts the 18 senior coaches.

Hocking said two games per club seems to be ideal pre-season schedule, but the timeframe is narrow because the AFL wants to minimise the impact on the women's league.

Hocking said apart from one official round, clubs might have unofficial matches among themselves to help prepare for the regular season.

He poiinted to Monday's Collingwood-Carlton match in Morwell as an example of why the pre-season games are important.

"One of the big upsides of the (pre-season) is just taking the game to the regions - it's huge," Hocking said.

"It's actually difficult on the clubs, because you have travel scenarios that are quite unique compared to (the season).

"There's a place for that, it's just how long that goes.

"That's what we have to work out."

Hocking said several clubs had six-day turnarounds between their two official pre-season games.

"Probably coaches will tell us on Thursday that having around a 10-day (break) ... would be their ideal," he said.

"Do we just have one and have clubs play practice matches among themselves? That's all up for debate."

Also this week, the AFL Commission will debate changing the start time for the grand final from its traditional mid-afternoon slot.

Chairman Richard Goyder has backed trialling a twilight start.