THE AFL Players Association has lashed out over the AFL apparent failure to fixture two mid-season bye weekends next year.

The League last week confirmed that the controversial pre-finals bye – dubbed the "celebration of football" weekend – would return in 2017.

However, according to the AFLPA, that has decreased the chances of two byes during the season, which is the players' preference.

The AFL scrapped the second mid-season bye in 2015 due to the timing of the cricket World Cup in Australia.

"We acknowledge that with the AFL's decision to have a week off after round 23 next year, the return of two in-season byes in 2017 is unlikely," AFLPA boss Paul Marsh said.

"Should this eventuate, it would be an extremely unsatisfactory outcome for the players, who have stressed the importance of these rest periods given the demands of the modern game.

"Scheduling two in-season bye rounds in 2017 is achievable both from a logistics and timing perspective, even with the end of season break.

"It appears that in this instance the AFL has favoured unspecified and unproven commercial goals over a genuine player welfare issue.

"Two in-season byes will remain our primary fixture request as it's the best structure for the players and, in our view, the game."

Marsh's comments come after the League hailed its "celebration of football" a success following record finals TV ratings since the top-eight system was introduced, as well as the fourth-highest match attendances in history.

A women's All-Star exhibition game and the EJ Whitten Legends match were features of the AFL-free weekend, while the week-off helped the battered Western Bulldogs recover in time for a fairytale run from seventh to win the flag.

The AFL declined to comment on the fixture for 2017, but it is understood the League was satisfied with the way the 2016 season structure worked.

The AFL is set to release the full 2017 fixture on Thursday, with round one details already confirmed.

Arch-rivals Carlton and Richmond will again kick off the season at the MCG on Thursday, March 23, while the Western Bulldogs will begin their premiership defence against Collingwood the next evening.

Another highlight will be Essendon's banned players making their long-awaited comebacks against a new-look Hawthorn in a Saturday night blockbuster.

Meanwhile, the Grand Final will return to the last Saturday in September for the first time in three seasons and be held on the 30th.