Melbourne Cricket Club CEO Stuart Fox has backed the AFL to return the Grand Final to its traditional daytime slot for the 2021 season decider.
After a COVID019 impacted season, the 2020 Grand Final was moved to Brisbane for a historic first that also saw the first bounce kick off proceedings well into the night.
Fox said that the AFL has no need in copying other codes and should revert to its traditional time slot.
โThe day slot is really special, we donโt need to copy other sports. I donโt subscribe to the thought itโs about lights and entertainment, I think people just love our game so much,โ he said on SENโs Whateley.
โIf we can focus on that more than the bells and whistles and bands, thatโs why our game is so special. The tradition of starting off with breakfast and then lunch and getting our families home at a responsible time, I think theyโre the positives of the game and thatโs why our game has been so special.
โThatโs a personal opinion - the โG is just happy to have it and if the AFL schedule it at night weโre there to host it and wouldnโt want it anywhere else.โ
Victoria has now recorded 34 straight days without a new COVID-19 case, essentially eliminating the virus from it's community.
Fox said that if numbers remained on their current trajectory that strong crowd numbers would be on the cards for Victorians.
โIโm very, very confident that if we can keep progressing forward without too many more outbreaks, I think it sets us up for a stronger return come March or April,โ he said.
โHopefully by then weโre talking 75 per cent or, who knows, even a 100 per cent return of crowds. Lets keep our fingers crossed that we can start in a really positive manner because it has been pretty dormant in Victoria for a long time in terms of the AFL landscape.โ
