PLAYERS are remaining steadfast in their desire to have two byes throughout 2017, as the battle lines heat up between the AFL Players Association (AFLPA) and AFL as to what next season’s fixture will look like.

But St Kilda great Nathan Burke is of the firm belief that there should be no mid-season breaks at all.

The AFLPA is intent on keeping the two byes, but players are calling for both to fall mid-season. This season, the second bye will fall in the week between the home and away season and finals.

Four-time Hawthorn premiership champion Jordan Lewis told Fox Footy’s AFL 360 he hoped the AFLPA would play hardball and satisfy the players’ fixturing desires.

“I don’t see the point in having a bye just before the finals, it does not make sense to me.” he said.

“The AFLPA have been quite strong in having two byes during the season if we’re going to have two byes at all. I would be happy if the AFLPA didn’t budge and players are quite strong on that.”

Lewis said it was paramount players had breaks throughout the season to ensure all games were played at the highest level.

“People will sit back on the couch and say ‘what are you sooking about’? But until you’re involved and part of the pressure, a week off is not going to hurt anyone,” he said.

“Fans get a rest, players get a rest, coaches get a rest … If there’s going to be two byes, why not have it during the season so then when everything’s coming into the finals, everything just flows on, rather than having another bye before the finals and then trying to generate that excitement again — it just doesn’t make sense.”

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Richmond forward Jack Riewoldt agreed, saying the overall product would improve if two byes were staggered throughout the season.

“The second bye at the end of the season was probably a little reactionary to what happened to North Melbourne in the game against us,” he said.

“My preference — and I know a lot of players’ preference — would be to have both during the season. With the players rejuvenated and the coaching staff rejuvenated, I reckon you’re going to get a better end to the season and a better product for the fans and the viewers.”

But Burke said there should be “no bye at all”.

“I’m a little bit out on my own,” he told Fox Sports News’ Rush Hour.

“The season is a marathon, it comes down to the clubs being able to manage their players and which teams can manage their players the best, rather than having enforced byes. It’s not up to the AFL to rest players, it’s up to individual teams to rest players.

“I wouldn’t have any byes at all, but we’re probably going to get one. So have one in the middle of the season and don’t have one at the end of the season coming into the finals. If you need some, one’s enough. If not, keep playing on.”

Burke also said the players shouldn’t be entitled to receive a percentage of AFL revenue, saying more money should be pumped into resources for clubs.

“They get paid well enough. Sure there’s lots of money going into the game, but we have to make sure that the clubs are healthy,” Burke said.

“I’d rather see more money go to the clubs to make sure they can actually manage the players better, so they’ve got the appropriate staff there, appropriate equipment there, appropriate facilities there.

“If we keep handing out more money to the players, where’s the money that’s going to help build facilities and help the players achieve their best out on the field?”