Former premiership Eagle Peter Sumich is calling for AFL clubs to play more official preseason matches to better prepare coaches and condition players ahead of the home and away season. 

Anticipation for the 2025 season ramped up over the weekend as all 18 clubs hit the park last week to fine tune their game plans, round one line ups and get match fitness into the players during the AAMI Community Series.

The AFL regular season kicks off this weekend with four teams taking the park, while the remaining 14 clubs will have to wait until next week to get their seasons underway. 

While fans and media have been given a glimpse into what each team has to offer in 2025, Sumich believes the AFL should be scheduling more official preseason matches.

“I think they should be playing a minimum of two proper games,” he told SportFM ahead of Opening Round.

“There’s no incentive in the sense of points or a cup involved there, because you have to then play at least three to four. 

“I think they should get back to at least playing a couple. The one puts everyone under the pump – even the players, what I’m seeing with injuries.

“Then as well as, the clubs in the sense of not getting the players right for the beginning of the season with the amount of game time they need.” 

The Community Series ran between February 25th to March 2nd, with AFL Clubs also given the option to schedule unofficial match simulations in the weeks prior. 

During that time the AFL also held the Indigenous All-Stars exhibition match at Optus Stadium against Fremantle, which attracted positive feedback about its place in the preseason fixture. 

This reignited talks of a State of Origin-style preseason tournament, which furthers the game time players get into them ahead of the premiership season.

However, on the flip side, AFL Players’ Association President Patrick Dangerfield has recently called for shorter games, reducing quarters from 20 minutes plus time-on. 

The AFL has also extended the season in recent years, including Gather Round and Opening Round and has recently thrown the idea around regarding a wildcard round at the end of the season.

Sumich believes the players could be incentivised to play additional preseason games if there was a prize to play for.

“The players have got involved here over the last probably five to eight years or so, and that’s why it’s dwindled down to what it is at the moment,” he said.

“Players really don’t want to play as many games, and that’s where we’re at. They take it off the pre-season in that sense. 

“We used to play minimum of three, if not up to four, and there was a bit of a competition back in the day. 

“We’re only talking probably 10 or 15 years ago. There was a cup won by a pre-season winner, and all that’s gone out the door because of the players they don’t want to play as many games.” 

With reduced preseason fixtures, it also means new coaches like West Coast’s Andrew McQualter and Sydney’s Dean Cox have less time to implement and tinker with new game plans and lineups ahead of games with premiership points on the line. 

West Coast has played two games over the preseason – one official game against North Melbourne and a three-term scratch match against Richmond two weeks ago.

Sumich says he “feels” for the newer coaches and the lack of time they have to put their new plans into practice against opposition sides.

“McQualter’s bringing a new, virtually game plan to West Coast, and only really having one quality game to implement it. 

“I know they played Richmond in a so-called practice game, or whatever they call it, but at the end of the day, he’s only had one real game against North to implement this. 

“That’s the hard part for a new coach, is putting these things into place with one game. I think that’s not on. 

“I think that’s why coaches probably get frustrated, and then he’s got to use probably rounds one, two, three, four to get things going.

“If he had his two or three scratch matches, he would have been up and going with the game plan. Players understand it a bit better. That is hard, especially a new coach to the club.” 

IMAGES: Melbourne Football Club/ AFL Media