AFL byes announced

The 2011 AFL season will have 19 rounds of eight games and five rounds of seven games to fit new club Gold Coast into the fixture.

The AFL said on Tuesday night all 17 clubs will have two byes to enable a 22-game season to be completed across 24 weekends.

The addition of the Suns provides 11 extra games across the season - 187 games in total - plus finals.

Chief operating officer Gillon McLachlan said the AFL considered other options, including the idea of playing 23 rounds of eight games and one round of three games.

"The fixture we will use provides the best spread of byes across the competition for the season," McLachlan said.

"This mix will enable the byes for all teams to be spaced as best we can through the season."

McLachlan said it was likely three of the rounds in which only seven games are played will take place early in the season.

This will allow several feature matches to be scheduled around the Easter and Anzac Day period.

Next year's fixture will be released in late October, although the AFL has already announced Gold Coast will have a bye in round one and play their first home-and-away game against Richmond at the Gabba in Round 2.

The awkward fixturing of a 17-team competition will only be an issue for one year, with Team GWS joining the AFL in 2012.