Fremantle coach Ross Lyon says the AFL must consider scrapping the pre-finals bye after Sydney's thumping preliminary final win over Geelong.

The week off before the finals - in addition to another break as reward for winning their qualifying final - meant the Cats had played only one game in the 27 days leading into Friday's 37-point loss at the MCG.

Geelong leave the field after losing the Second Preliminary Final. Credit:Getty Images

Geelong looked far from switched on in the game's early stages, giving up eight unanswered goals and Lyon says it's clear the extra time off hurt their performance.

"Once you break that cycle, it's impossible to replicate an AFL senior game over that period of time," he told Fox Footy on Saturday.