2025 AFL GF to remain at traditional 2:30pm slot

The AFL Fans association has urged the league to end its annual guessing game around the start time of its biggest game of the season, with the 2025 Grand Final starting time locked in.

The AFL Fans association has urged the league to end its annual guessing game over the Grand Final start time after the league again locked in a 2.30pm Grand Final.

The league on Thursday confirmed the Herald Sun’s report that the league would ignore Seven’s strong lobbying for a later start time as its Commission ratified the afternoon first bounce.

AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon has long been a proponent of an afternoon Grand Final but acknowledged the Seven stance when he said the league acknowledged the presentation benefits of a Saturday twilight or night clash.

Katy Perry performing before the grand final.Picture: NewsWire/Nadir Kinani

The AFL has been urged to chase legendary rock band The Foo Fighters, who begin their tour of Asia only days after the September 27 Grand Final.

Dillon said the AFL Grand Final was the league’s best moment.

“There is nothing like the roar that goes around the MCG when the ball is bounced to start the biggest game of the season,” he said.

“We will continue to work closely with our broadcast partner the Seven Network to create the most amazing sporting event in the country, both in the build-up during the week and on the last Saturday in September.”

Last year the league waited until August to confirm the Grand Final start time, having consistently conditioned the market that at one stage there will be a twilight game.

The two Covid Grand Finals were at later start times, with former AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan once saying a twilight start for the Grand Final was “inevitable”.

AFL fans association president Ron Issko on Thursday called on the league to lock in a day Grand Final for the life of the seven-year broadcast agreement.

“For many years, surveys and polls have consistently shown that around three in four fans prefer a daytime Grand Final,” he said.

“We’re grateful that the AFL has acknowledged the voice of the fans and kept the Grand Final in its much-loved afternoon slot.

“Thank you, Andrew, for listening to the fans. Perhaps we can now look at locking in the day Grand Final through to 2030, so we can avoid this unnecessary annual debate.”

Originally published as 2025 AFL GF to remain at traditional 2:30pm slot