Erom the AFL website
A LACK of available grounds is among the key reasons why the VFL will not bring forward the start of its 2014 season to match up with the AFL's earlier start.
Next year's AFL season will kick off on Friday March 14, which is one week earlier than this year.
However, a number of VFL clubs won't play their first games until the weekend of April 5-6.
During the gap, players not selected by their AFL clubs will have to make do with finding form and fitness in VFL practice matches.
"We won't be changing our fixture," AFL Victoria's state league and talent manager, John Hook, told AFL.com.au.
"We always want to finish our season a week before the AFL Grand Final. We work out our fixture by getting that date and working backwards.
"It's very difficult to get community grounds too. In fact, it wouldn't be possible. That's another major reason.
"The AFL is struggling to get hold of the MCG, so what hope have we got of getting hold of community grounds that have cricket on them."
At this stage, VFL clubs Williamstown and the Box Hill Hawks will play their round one matches on the weekend of March 29-30.
That's to free up dates for the clubs to participate in the Foxtel Cup.
But both the ovals used by the Seagulls and the Hawks have tenant cricket clubs.
"They're both struggling to work out whether their grounds are going to be available," Hook explained.
AFL.com.au enquired about the proposed 2014 fixtures for the WAFL and SANFL but had not received a response at the time of publication.
Twitter: @AFL_AdamMcNicol
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