AFL 2021: Follow the latest news on which venues will host finals
A historic first is firming as the league considers the layout of the finals. See how the first week of finals is set to look.
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Tasmania is in a strong position for a historic week one final as the league prepares for a Sunday elimination final next week and games across three separate states.
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said on Friday the league hoped to release its week one finals fixture on Sunday night.
The league will play a Friday night qualifying final, a 3.20pm Saturday clash, a Saturday night contest and a 3.20pm Sunday fixture.
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At this stage, the Herald Sun understands the league hopes to play one game in Tasmania in either Launceston or Hobart, with the other three games to be shared between Adelaide Oval and Brisbane’s Gabba.
The league has never played a final in Tasmania despite 105 home-and-away games in Launceston and Hobart.
The winner of the Melbourne-Geelong clash will likely be given their choice of whether to play a Friday or Saturday night contest and their choice of venue outside of Victoria.
McLachlan confirmed on Friday there would be no finals in Victoria in the first two weeks.
If Melbourne chose the Friday night they would be playing their third six-day break in a row after a Monday Perth game in Round 22.
The minor premier is usually keen to play a Friday qualifying final off the pre-finals bye to maximise their chance of an eight-day break leading into the Grand Final.
But this year with a likely pre-Grand Final bye the minor premiers — likely Melbourne or Geelong — could play a Saturday final next week and still be guaranteed a 14-day break leading into a Grand Final.
The league will attempt to pair the 1 v 4 final in a timeslot close to the 5 v 8 match-up given the loser of 1 v 4 will play the winner of the 5 v 8 contest.
But if Sydney faces off against Greater Western Sydney as expected it would be a strong contender for a Tasmanian day game.
As the sixth-placed team Sydney would have fourth preference of home finalists in regards to its venue of choice.
Tasmania has strong appeal given the government will allow 10,000 fans and a sterile corridor that only requires teams to record a negative Covid test and fly in and out on a single day rather than up to 60 hours of quarantine.
The league will hope to work around club preferences for venues while being aware the sixth-placed side will have less right to demand a venue than the minor premier.
Brisbane (Gabba) and Port Adelaide (Adelaide Oval) would be allowed to host home games in week one and two of the finals.
But Victorian teams playing home games against the Lions or Port Adelaide will not have to play at the home venues of the non-interstate sides.
If the Dogs won a home final they would request to play at Adelaide Oval given their players enjoy the venue and have won three of the past four games there, including two against the Power.
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