Port Adelaide assistant Michael Voss calls for AFL grand final to be moved around in major shake-up for spectacle

Power assistant coach Michael Voss has taken the twilight grand final debate to a whole new level with his ‘extremist view’ on the AFL’s biggest day, as he gave an update on Ollie Wines’ and Paddy Ryder’s Round 1 hopes.

Travis Boak and Michael Voss at Port Adelaide training. Picture: Sarah Reed

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Port Adelaide assistant coach Michael Voss believes a radical overhaul of the grand final — rather than just a time change — would help grow the game.

While giving an update on some Power stars’ Round 1 hopes, the Brisbane premiership captain and Brownlow Medallist said changing the timeslot from an afternoon game to twilight was a minor tweak — stopping to have it at the MCG every year would benefit the game much more.

It would mean some legal wrangling, because the MCG has a contract to host the game’s biggest day until 2057.

But Voss was firm in saying a different arrangement — similar to that of the NFL’s Super Bowl in the US, would help grow the game.

Michael Voss celebrates with the 2002 premiership cup after his team Brisbane beat Collingwood at the MCG.

“I probably have more of an extremist view,” Voss said. “I sit in the basket where the grand final should be played in different states every year and states should bid for the grand final.

“It would improve the infrastructure of our game throughout the country.

“I only see massive positives in being able to do that.

“So if you’re asking me whether we change the timeslot — I think I’d be OK with that.

“The grand final has gone beyond being an AFL game.

“It’s an event.

“People come to it and it doesn’t matter where it is played; people would go to it.

“If we can increase that spectacle … north of the border I’ve seen the NRL move its timeslot and it’s a great spectacle.

“There’s wonderful opportunities how we could make it better — why wouldn’t we look at it.”

Michael Voss has given co-captain Ollie Wines just a slim hope of playing in Round 1. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Meanwhile, co-captain Ollie Wines looked sharp in training at Alberton on Thursday but Voss doubted he would be ready for Round 1. Wines is yet to introduce physical contact into his training.

“Slim,” was Voss’s way of describing Wines’ chance of playing in Round 1. “I would have thought we’d still stick to the time frame.

“I’ve heard nothing to the contrary.

“He does look good out there … now it’s just a matter of when we introduce some contact and that’s probably the last progression before he plays.”

Ruckman Paddy Ryder, who has undergone surgery to a depressed cheekbone, would be given until the final practice session ahead of the club’s season opener at the MCG against Melbourne next Saturday before a decision is made between him and the club doctors.

“That’s over to the doctors,” Voss said. “It’s out of our hands now.

“There are a few boxes he’ll have to tick to satisfy the doctors to ensure he’s OK.

“The footy part is secondary because as you said, he can run, jump, still tackle.

“We have to be mindful that it’s a contact injury so we’ll obviously take precaution where it’s needed.

“The doctor and him have to have that conversation.

“Once that’s passed from them it’s over to us as a match committee and I think we can put his name on the board.”