HAWTHORN coach Alastair Clarkson believes the pre-finals bye has hurt the integrity of the competition and given top-four teams a disadvantage if they win their opening qualifying final.

The AFL last year introduced the pre-finals bye, which was celebrated after the Western Bulldogs became the first team to win the premiership from seventh on the ladder. 

The week off leading into finals means a top-four team that wins its qualifying final in the opening week plays just one match over a three-week period leading into a preliminary final.

Clarkson, who led the Hawks to an historic three-peat of flags from 2013-15 from the top four, said the bye meant any one of this year's top-eight teams could win the premiership.

He even suggested teams could stop aiming for a top-four finish late in the year if this year's premier again came from outside the top four. 

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"I think it's an enormous disadvantage finishing top four and winning your first final and playing one game in three weeks leading into a prelim," Clarkson said on Thursday. 

"It's unbelievably challenging for a top-four team, given they have deserved top-four status. That's why anyone in the top eight could win it.

"I don't think it's good for the game.

"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 the finals."

Fourth-placed Greater Western Sydney and second-placed Geelong were each knocked out in preliminary finals last year after winning qualifying finals and playing one match in three weeks.