The AFL continues to cop it over this year’s fixture with Friday’s looming double-header in the firing line.

Sydney Swans coach Dean Cox said his club was very disappointed that the Sydney derby was on Friday — pitted against Geelong’s clash with the Western Bulldogs that starts 30 minutes earlier — while Giants star Lachie Ash said it was a “frustrating” decision and Swans gun Nick Blakey called it “disappointing”.

Now Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield has also weighed in.

“I saw the AFL’s response around it with fixturing, but it doesn’t feel right for me,” Dangerfield said on Fox Footy.

“I think it’s nice to have one show in town, and then everyone tunes into it.

“And you’ve got to earn the right as a player and as a team to feature in those big games.

“So for me it doesn’t feel quite right … I get why big Coxy wasn’t too happy about it.

“As a footy purist, I don’t feel like it’s right.”

The AFL has responded, saying: “Friday night double-headers overall see footy reach more fans and help us unlock more marquee timeslots for non-Victorian teams.”

But Melbourne great Garry Lyon has lashed the double-header, calling it “wrong” and “borderline disgraceful” on SEN.

“This Friday night we’ve got a great game at GMHBA Stadium between Geelong and the Western Bulldogs which is worthy of a Friday night game,” Lyon said.

“But we’ve got another great game with the Sydney Swans on top of the ladder versus the Giants — they hate each other — at the SCG at 7.50pm.

“Then there’s a double header in Round 8, Round 9, Round 10 and Round 11, and it would appear that the AFL just don’t trust the interstate or non-Victorian sides in this instance to be able to carry Friday night footy.

“That’s just not on and if I were the Sydney Swans or GWS Giants or Adelaide and Port in Round 8, (I’d be furious). The Showdown is worthy of a standalone game.

“I don’t know what’s going on with the fixture. There’s an issue.”

The fixture keeps coming under fire in the early part of the season due to the rolling byes, teams having multiple short breaks from week to week, and teams having extended breaks (Hawthorn recently had 18 days between games).

AFL great Dale Thomas has been particularly savage on the fixture, particualrly ahead of Round 3 when there was no game at the MCG on Thursday, Friday or Saturday, despite games being played in Victoria on all of those days.

“I’ve had enough,” Thomas said ahead of the round on Triple M.

“What is going on? ... How does it get to this point? .... It’s ridiculous.

“It seems like they’re almost trying to wreck the product.

“A double-header at Marvel on Saturday and no games at the MCG, the best stadium in the world.”