HAWTHORN premiership coach Alastair Clarkson has launched an attack on the AFL’s pre-finals bye, arguing it threatens the integrity of the game.

While the Hawks won’t be a part of the finals action for the first time since 2009 this season, Clarkson said yesterday the bye weekend at the end of the home-and-away season severely disadvantaged teams in the top four.

STARS DROPPED: THE BIGGEST SELECTION STUNNERS IN 2017

RETIREMENT BOMBSHELL? GAZ MAY WALK IF NO CATS TRADE

FACEBOOK POST: LUMUMBA TAKES ANOTHER SWIPE AT PIES

“I think it’s unbelievably challenging for the top four teams given that they have deserved top-four status. I think it’s an enormous disadvantage finishing top four, winning your first final and then you’ve played one game in three weeks leading into a prelim,’’ Clarkson said.

“So that’s why anyone in the top eight can win it, just like we saw last year. The first time in 20 or 30 years that we changed our top-eight system and ironically it’s the first time that someone from outside the top four wins the (grand) final. I don’t think there’s a coincidence in that.

“That’s why if any team from fifth to eighth gets a roll on, look out.

“I don’t think it’s good for the game ... the integrity of the game is the most important part and there is not integrity in finishing top four if it’s a disadvantage for you.’’

The pre-finals bye was introduced for the first time last season to discourage finals-bound teams from the mass resting of players before the finals. The previous season in 2015, North Melbourne and Fremantle were heavily criticised for resting their players en masse in the final round.

media_camera The Western Bulldogs were able to win the premiership from seventh last season. Picture: Getty Images

The Western Bulldogs went on to win the premiership from seventh position on the ladder last year.

The AFL said yesterday the pre-finals bye had not been in place long enough to determine what impact it had on finals outcomes, but believed it gave players the best opportunity to prepare physically for the finals.

“We have had one season where the pre-finals bye has been in place, so we don’t have a representative sample yet of its impact,’’ league spokesman Patrick Keane said.

“But we do believe it enabled players to prepare well physically for the finals series, with a break from their previous match in Round 23.

“We also believe it enabled the AFL to heavily promote the upcoming finals matches and that was reflected in stronger attendances across the early part of the finals, albeit there were outstanding match ups that no doubt also contributed to the interest in September last year.

“At this point, we think there’s great anticipation around the upcoming finals this year and we hope that all teams feel they are able to prepare well going into the most important games of the year.’’

Clarkson suggested teams would start to target a finish outside of the top-four if the clubs at the top of the ladder were disadvantaged.

“Part of the game is survival of the fittest and if you’ve worked hard to deserve top-four status, you shouldn’t be disadvantaged come finals, you should be advantaged, otherwise what’s the point?’’ Clarkson said.