Essendon's match against Port Adelaide will not be shown live into Melbourne despite the club requesting Channel Seven reconsider its telecast arrangements.

Essendon chief executive Peter Jackson approached the AFL yesterday requesting that it ask Channel Seven to show the Essendon match live into Melbourne.

Jackson said that given the size of Essendon's supporter base and the fact Port Adelaide had won its past three matches, it was more appropriate that the Essendon / Port Adelaide match be shown in preference to the Sydney / St Kilda game.

However the AFL and Channel Seven today told the club that scheduling changes could not be made at this late change.

They said C7 had advertised in its monthly program guide that Essendon v Port Adelaide would be live on C7 and it was too late to change their programming schedule.

Secondly, they said the coverage of the Sydney v. St Kilda game had been promoted in program guides as being free to air.

So Essendon fans wishing to watch this weekend's game live will have the option of watching it on C7 or at the Windy Hill Social Club.

Those watching from home will see the second half live on free-to-air television following the completion of the Sydney v St Kilda match.