Respected broadcaster Gerard Whateley has slammed the AFL’s “odd” and “inconsistent” Round 20 fixture.

The upcoming round features several highlight matchups, with three state rivalry clashes in Sydney, Perth and Adelaide among them.

However Friday’s Sydney v GWS Sydney Derby (7.50pm [all times EST]) and Saturday’s Crows v Power Showdown (8.10pm) have both been put on the later slots of their respective nights’ double headers.

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Meanwhile arguably the biggest QClash ever between Gold Coast and Brisbane on Saturday afternoon (1.20pm) isn’t on prime time at all, yet Carlton and Essendon, who won’t play finals, play in marquee slot on Thursday and Friday night respectively.

And despite there only being two games on Sunday — Richmond v Collingwood (2.10pm) and St Kilda v Melbourne (3.15pm) — they cross over.

It was much to the dismay of Whateley, who suggested the planning of the entire round didn’t make sense.

“Can I just put up how odd the scheduling and inconsistent with the patterns of the season this is,” Whateley began on Fox Footy’s AFL 360.

“As a starting point, the addiction to Carlton and Essendon in prime time is laid clear.

“The insults to the Giants and Swans and putting the Sydney Derby tucked underneath (Essendon v Western Bulldogs) at 7.50pm Homebush is of no help whatsoever.

“Gold Coast has just played its biggest home game against Collingwood (a fortnight ago). How do you build momentum? Well, how about for the most important QClash ever, we’ll give you the really strange 1.20pm Saturday afternoon, as if trying to thwart a huge crowd.

“It’s just plain weird the West Derby is in the Saturday twilight slot, 2.15pm over in the west.

“And it’s disrespecting the Showdown to have placed it where it is — underneath an all-Victorian clash — when it can carry so much.”

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Whateley was most critical of Sunday’s overlapping games given it’s a rare opportunity for the two matches to get stand-alone slots.

“But the pièce de résistance is what they have done on Sunday. There are only two games, they are both in Melbourne at venues nearby and we haven’t been able to find clear air,” he continued.

“The only 2.10pm start time of the year is Richmond v Collingwood, then we’re going to start St Kilda v Melbourne just to make sure they’re covered right over.

“If your kids brought you this fixture, you would send them back to their room and say: ‘Start again!’”

Melbourne legend Garry Lyon was also critical of the Round 20 fixture.

“Sack ‘em all, Gerard!,” Lyon facetiously said.

“Get that famous saying of yours out from Gather Round. That’s patently ridiculous.

“There’s a lot of things there. The Sunday situation is just mind-blowing.”

AFL ROUND 20 FIXTURE

Thursday July 24

Hawthorn v Carlton, MCG (7.30pm)

Friday July 25

Essendon v Western Bulldogs, Marvel Stadium (7.10pm)

GWS Giants v Sydney Swans, ENGIE Stadium (7.50pm)

Saturday July 26

Gold Coast Suns v Brisbane Lions, People First Stadium (1.20pm)

Fremantle v West Coast Eagles, Optus Stadium (4.15pm)

North Melbourne v Geelong Cats, Marvel Stadium (7.35pm)

Adelaide Crows v Port Adelaide, Adelaide Oval (8.10pm)

Sunday July 27

Richmond v Collingwood, MCG (2.10pm)

St Kilda v Melbourne, Marvel Stadium (3.20pm)