The AFL is set to stick with a grand final in the afternoon timeslot for at least the next two seasons.
In a big win for traditionalists, the AFL has provided certainty for both this season and next, with a 2.30pm start time locked in on Sunday morning, despite a push for a move to a later time-slot which would carry more broadcast appeal.
“The Toyota AFL Grand Final is the best day on the Australian sporting calendar. It is the biggest moment in our game.” said AFL Commission chair Craig Drummond.
“Everyone who loves footy has a view on the right start time for our biggest game of the year, and for at least the next two seasons it will remain in its traditional afternoon timeslot at the MCG.
“The Commission agreed it was important to provide fans and clubs with certainty now, while also allowing the AFL to continue to plan on our 19th club entering the competition in two years' time.”
In the AFL Fans Association most recent survey, 82 per cent of respondents indicated a preference for a day grand final, with president Ron Issko telling Zero Hanger earlier this month that fans have consistently shown a clear desire to maintain status quo.
“Let's base it on what the fans want, not AFL or broadcasters,” Issko told Zero Hanger.
“I understand the AFL and broadcasters need to make revenue - I get all that.
“So the AFL has got a balancing act. If your mantra is focusing on footy, fans and the future, don't take fans for granted and move the time of the grand final based on results of a survey we haven't seen the data for.”
The family-friendliness of the timeslot has been raised as an important reason to stick with the daytime slot.
“It's been tradition. When you think about the grand final, it's always been Saturday afternoon with only a couple of exceptions,” Issko said.
“What people are used to is getting up and having a routine that they follow and make a day of it and the great thing is the game finishes and you can still celebrate afterwards. It's a whole day event which starts in the afternoon and doesn't finish too late.
“It's a tradition which has been embedded in Melbourne and footy for generations.”
