Brisbane legend Jono Brown calls on AFL to stop delaying inevitable and enter GF twilight zone

AFL legend Jonathan Brown has broken ranks with players, insisting it’s time to ‘just do it’ and cement a twilight grand final crucial to the code’s growth.

AFL legend Jonathan Brown has broken ranks with players, insisting it’s time to ‘just do it’ and cement a twilight grand final crucial to the code’s growth.

AFL commission chairman Richard Goyder has backed moving the grand final from a 2.30pm to twilight start ahead of a time slot decision to be announced by chief executive Gillon McLachlan on Thursday.

AFL Players and critics including outspoken Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett are opposed to any time slot change but Brown can’t understand the resistance.

“Just do it,” Brown told The Advertiser.

“As a spectator the best football I have been to was a twilight preliminary final, Richmond versus GWS two years ago.”

The 2017 AFL preliminary grand final between the Tigers and Giants started at 4.45pm and attracted 94, 258 fans to the MCG.

A twilight start would dramatically increase exposure for the nation’s No.1 sporting event in coveted markets including Sydney and Brisbane while proving a prime time ratings bonanza.

The AFL has watched the NRL enjoy free kicks in the market value of its decider on shifting to night and twilight grand finals from 2001.

“In terms of spectacle the ambience and atmosphere, you are just not going to beat that,” said Fox Footy On the Couch expert panellist Brown.

“Twilight is a great time slot.”

The grand final is weapon that should be used in AFL’s war for code supremacy says Brown.

“I am a great traditionalist in terms of it is all about the product,” said triple Brisbane premiership forward Brown.

“To be honest if we want to keep growing the game and make it more popular for people who aren’t AFL fans or want the reach, the whole package is not only the game but the entertainment around it.

“It is all those sort of things and twilight lends itself to that rather than the day time.”

The AFL commission is expected to endorse a twilight decider but could postpone its implementation until next year due to resistance from change-weary fans.

Brown believes there is no benefit for delaying a twilight show that would turn half-time entertainment into a Super Bowl type extravaganza. Questionable act selections headlined by Meatloaf would be a thing of the past.

“I don't know why we are delaying the inevitable. I don’t know if they are waiting for a big band to play at half time,” said Brown