AFL Commission makes decision on grand final start time

The AFL Commission has met and reached a decision on the start time for this year’s grand final after a push by broadcasters for a night or twilight event.

Andrew Dillon. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Gillon McLachlan’s last grand final as AFL chief executive will be played in its traditional afternoon 2.30pm slot this year.

The AFL Commission voted on Wednesday to stick with the same start time as last year’s grand final between Geelong and Sydney, but McLachlan said the league would continue to review the start time of future premiership playoffs.

It comes as the AFL also confirmed the Brownlow Medal count will return to its normal Monday night time this year after being moved last year so it would not clash with the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

McLachlan has long been an advocate of a mid-afternoon slot for the grand final and has held firm against a strong push in recent years from some stakeholders for a twilight or even a night grand final.

The 2023 AFL grand final will be a daytime event. Picture: Jason Edwards

Andrew Dillon, the man who will replace McLachlan at season’s end, said at a press conference late last month to announce his new role that he too favoured a day grand final.

McLachlan said: “The AFL Grand Final is the biggest and best sporting event in the country. It is our game’s biggest moment, and this year the bounce of the ball will again be at 2:30pm.”

“The Commission will continue to review the start time for future Grand Finals.”

“The AFL’s role is to deliver the best possible game experience, both for fans at the ground and for the millions watching the broadcast, and together with our broadcast partner … we remain committed to creating an amazing event, both in the build-up during the week and culminating in 100,000 fans at the MCG.”

McLachlan said the fans had played a part in the Commission’s decision, saying the league’s research was that the 2.30pm time slot was the one the majority of supporters wanted.

“The fans this season have been incredible with more than three million fans attending matches across the first nine rounds – the biggest and loudest crowds in the history of the game to this point of the season - and come the last Saturday in September, it will be by far the biggest event of the year,” McLachlan said.

The Brownlow Medal will return to Monday night this year with the event taking place on September 25.

Commission to discuss grand final, Voice to Parliament

– Jon Ralph

Essendon is set to become the latest AFL club to endorse an Indigenous Voice to Parliament as the AFL Commission works on the league’s position at a meeting this week.

The AFL commission is set to consider two topics of significance, with the start time for the 2023 Grand Final set to be decided by the commission this week.

AFL chief executive elect Andrew Dillon made clear when he was announced in the job that he strongly supported a day grand final.

Dillon said he was at heart a traditionalist who had a preference for day grand finals but that it was “ultimately a decision for the entire commission”.

The league is still hopeful Alastair Clarkson and Chris Fagan might appear at a mediation session next Tuesday as it attempts to broker a peace deal for the Hawthorn saga.

Clarkson and Fagan have repeatedly denied any wrong doing.

Andrew Dillon has made clear he supports a day grand final. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

It comes as it also makes clear to the Tasmanian government that there is no 19th licence without a stadium deal given the strong stance of the league and 18 clubs.

Amid that busy agenda, the league has asked all clubs to form a position on the Voice and has also liaised with its National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Council.

The league seems likely to support the Voice given the large number of Indigenous players who bless the game, with AFL champion Eddie Betts already throwing his support behind a yes vote for the referendum.

That referendum will take place between October to December this year and would make changes to the constitution to better represent the country’s First Nations peoples.

Richmond on Monday joined Collingwood and West Coast to put out statements supporting the First Nations Voice to Parliament being enshrined in the Constitution.

The Tigers said on Monday they recognised and respected people’s right to form their own views but the “lived experience of the club” meant it supported the Voice.

Essendon, which has worked hard to boost its Indigenous representation on and off the field in the past year, is also expected to make a statement in support of the Voice.

While former prime minister John Howard this week said sporting bodies should stay out of politics, AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan made clear in March the league was keen to make a stand on social issues.

“We lead the community on social issues,’’ McLachlan said.

“And those who yell at us to stick to football don’t understand who we are and what we mean in the community – we don’t lecture or tell others what to do. We simply say to everyone in this country that we represent you, or we aspire to. We make it known what we stand for, the AFL and our clubs.”

AFL clubs were told by the AFL to make a decision on their club’s stance on the voice by May 8.

Originally published as AFL Commission makes decision on grand final start time