Perth to host the 2021 AFL grand final if Victoria’s Covid-19 crisis rules out the MCG

Eddie MGuire has warned Melbourne footy fans to prepare for a Perth grand final as the Covid crisis forces a big call on the AFLW season.

Former Collingwood president and footy powerbroker Eddie McGuire fears time has run out for the MCG to host this year’s AFL grand final.

On a day that AFL boss Gillon McLachlan declared Perth Stadium would host the premiership playoff if Melbourne is ruled out, McGuire said Victoria’s stubborn Covid cases numbers and lockdown presented too much of a challenge for the game to go ahead on September 25.

It comes as the AFL announced on Thursday it was delaying the start of the coming AFLW season because of the ongoing Covid-19 crisis — pushing it back from December to January 6.

AFL general manager of women’s football Nicole Livingstone said the league remained committed to completing a full 10-round season plus finals, an increase from nine rounds in 2021.

The MCG has been empty for most of the year.

Late last month McGuire revealed a bold proposal that he hoped would save the Grand Final in Melbourne in front of a near capacity crowd, which included a “ring of steel” around the MCG, early week testing for fans and players, as well as rapid testing on game day for all those attending the ground.

But McGuire said on Wednesday night the time frame now appeared too tight and the AFL’s biggest game would be played interstate for a second successive year, following the 2020 Gabba grand final.

“I think it is done now,” McGuire said.

“They have all tried to do as much as they could (to play the game at the MCG), but the Covid numbers are just too high and there just doesn’t look to be enough lead-in time.

“Now it looks like being full-scale ahead (for Perth).”

McLachlan said the AFL would make a final decision early next week, but the MCG’s hopes now look forlorn.

PERTH TO BE BACK-UP GRAND FINAL VENUE

Sam Landsberger

Perth has been handed a golden opportunity to host the second ever Grand Final played outside of Melbourne after the AFL Commission placed Optus Stadium on standby for the September 25 blockbuster.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan told club presidents at 3.30pm on Wednesday that this year’s premiership would be won at the 60,000-seat venue in the west unless Victoria pulls off a Covid miracle by extinguishing the Delta outbreak.

The Victorian government holds a contract to host the Grand Final until 2058 and the league needs premier Dan Andrews to sign off on the relocation before it can be rubber-stamped.

“We’ve said we’ll see where we are positioned at the end of the current lockdown period, and that hasn’t changed,” sports minister Martin Pakula said on Wednesday night.

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Perth will host the AFL Grand Final if the MCG is ruled out. Picture: Getty Images

“We understand the AFL needs to make back-up plans. When the time comes, we’ll make a decision that is right for Victoria and right for football.”

It is understood a concession will not come this week despite daily case numbers indicating it is inevitable that the MCG will not be required for a second-straight finals series.

McLachlan wants an answer early next week and will have to compensate Victoria, which last year saw an extra year added to the Grand Final contract and a promise to play two extra games at the MCG in both 2022 and 2023.

“They (Victoria) can speak for themselves but if we are unable to play at the MCG the Grand Final will be at Optus Stadium,” McLachlan said.

Melbourne’s 57-year premiership drought could now be broken by playing an entire September campaign interstate.

But Demons great David Schwarz said supporters should simply embrace success, even if they are watching on TV in lockdown.

The AFL Commission had promised that this year’s Grand Final would return to a traditional 2.30pm AEST bounce at the “G after last year’s night experiment at the Gabba.

But that start time is certain to be pushed back due to the two-hour time difference and McLachlan ruling out a 12.30pm local start time in Perth.

Once the MCG is officially scrubbed the AFL Commission will explore the best timeslot, which could land on a twilight or night fixture to maximise Perth Stadium’s world-class lights and sound system.

Footy-obsessed West Australians sold-out this year’s Dreamtime game in just 17 hours and that Essendon-Richmond extravaganza served as the perfect audition for this year’s Grand Final.

Perth Stadium – which can currently host a full house and welcomed more than 50,000 for this month’s WA derby – got the nod over Adelaide Oval because of its greater capacity.

Adelaide Oval seats 50,000 but is currently capped at just 15,000, which will see this week’s qualifying finals played in front of mostly empty seats.

WA premier Mark McGowan banned crowds just hours before West Coast’s sold-out game against Western Bulldogs in Round 15 after the detection of one coronavirus case, which cost the Eagles $2 million.

McLachlan said the AFL had the flexibility to deal with a September outbreak.

“It is not in my contemplation to play a Grand Final without a crowd,” he said.

“We’ll work through the quarantine facilities and restrictions for our players.

“The priority for us is getting as many people in as we can.

“The commercial terms are good in Perth and I think it will help us deal with what’s been an extraordinarily expensive year.”

SEMI-FINAL VENUES STARTING TO TAKE SHAPE

Melbourne will host Essendon or Western Bulldogs at Perth Stadium in front of a likely sellout crowd of 60,000 next week in the event the Demons are beaten by Brisbane Lions on Saturday night.

Likewise, Geelong is set to host its semi-final in Perth next Friday night should the Cats fall short against Port Adelaide in Tom Hawkins’ 300th match this week.

Both the Demons and Cats’ paths to premiership glory will head west regardless of their results at Adelaide Oval this weekend.

If they are victorious in their qualifying finals they are expected to spend their week off in Perth before hosting preliminary finals at Optus Stadium, which has been locked in as the grand final venue should the MCG remain unavailable.

The Demons won their first ever game at Perth Stadium this month when they overpowered West Coast in a match interrupted by lightning.

The Dogs went 2-0 in the west this year while the Cats went 1-0 and the Dons went 1-1.

The Herald Sun can reveal the AFL’s preferred fixture plans for the remainder of the finals series, which are close to being finalised.

While the Demons and Cats would play their ‘home’ semi-finals on neutral territory in Perth, Port Adelaide and Brisbane Lions would play at their actual home grounds and in front of their home supporters if they are in action.

The Power and Lions will be given the green light to host either finals on both semi-final and preliminary final weekend.

The loser of Port-Cats will host the winner of Sydney-Greater Western Sydney next Friday night while the loser of Dees-Lions will host the winner of Bombers-Bulldogs next Saturday night.

The Dons will fly to Launceston on Saturday, meaning they would’ve spent just enough time out of Victoria to be alloMELBOURNE will host Essendon or Western Bulldogs at Perth Stadium in front of a likely sellout crowd of 60,000 next week in the event the Demons are beaten by Brisbane Lions on Saturday night.

Likewise, Geelong is set to host its semi-final in Perth next Friday night should the Cats fall short against Port Adelaide in Tom Hawkins’ 300th match this week.

Both the Demons and Cats’ paths to premiership glory will head west regardless of their results at Adelaide Oval this weekend.

If they are victorious in their qualifying finals they are expected to spend their week off in Perth before hosting preliminary finals at Optus Stadium, which has been locked in as the grand final venue should the MCG remain unavailable.

The Demons won their first ever game at Perth Stadium this month when they overpowered West Coast in a match interrupted by lightning.

The Dogs went 2-0 in the west this year while the Cats went 1-0 and the Dons went 1-1.

 

The Herald Sun can reveal the AFL’s preferred fixture plans for the remainder of the finals series, which are close to being finalised.

While the Demons and Cats would play their ‘home’ semi-finals on neutral territory in Perth, Port Adelaide and Brisbane Lions would play at their actual home grounds and in front of their home supporters if they are in action.

The Power and Lions are certain to be given the green light to host semi-finals, however there are no guarantees for the preliminary finals, which could be played in Perth to help satisfy quarantine measures before the grand final.

The loser of Port-Cats will host the winner of Sydney-Greater Western Sydney next Friday night while the loser of Dees-Lions will host the winner of Bombers-Bulldogs next Saturday night.

The Dons will fly to Launceston on Saturday, meaning they would’ve spent just enough time out of Victoria to be allowed to play in Perth should they be pitted against the Demons next week.

Clubs hitting the road for the entire finals series have been given a cap of around 75 people they can take, which is roughly around 40-45 players (entire squads) and 30-35 coaches and support staff.

If the VFL finals series manages to restart in September that means ladder-leader Footscray, Geelong and Casey – three clubs who sit in the top five of the ladder – could be forced to play without any AFL-listed players. The Dons and Dogs will fly to Launceston on Saturday, meaning they would’ve spent just enough time out of Victoria to be allowed to play in Perth should they be pitted against the Demons next week.

Clubs hitting the road for the entire finals series have been given a cap of around 75 people they can take, which is roughly around 40-45 players (entire squads) and 30-35 coaches and support staff.

If the VFL finals series manages to restart in September that means ladder-leader Footscray, Geelong and Casey – three clubs who sit in the top five of the ladder – could be forced to play without any AFL-listed players.

HUGE HINT GRAND FINAL VENUE LOCKED IN

Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin has given the biggest hint yet that the AFL grand final will be played in Perth.

Win or lose the Demons are flying to Western Australia after Saturday night’s qualifying final against Brisbane at the Adelaide Oval.

A loss by the Demons would mean the winner of the Western Bulldogs-Essendon elimination final, which is being played in Launceston on Sunday, would then also fly to Perth.

If Brisbane loses the qualifying final then they would most likely host either the Dogs or Bombers at the Gabba in the semi-final.

Goodwin said his club was readying themselves for an extended stint in the west.

“Win or lose we will be off to Perth, that’s the plan at the moment,” he said. “We start our quarantine bubble tonight and then we’re off to Adelaide on Friday. The information we have got is that we’re heading to Perth on Sunday.”

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Melbourne will head straight to Perth after its final this week. Picture: Getty Images

It’s highly unlikely the AFL would schedule the lead-up finals at Optus Stadium in Perth and not the grand final given all the quarantine issues.

AFL fixtures boss Travis Auld said on Monday that both Optus Stadium and Adelaide Oval had been part of “very compelling pitches” to host the grand final.

Goodwin faces a selection dilemma ahead of the qualifying final particularly surrounding defender Michael Hibberd who was dropped for last Saturday night’s thrilling victory over Geelong.

Hibberd lined up on dangerous Lion Charlie Cameron the last time the teams met back in Round 12 and kept him relatively quiet, conceding two goals from 10 possessions.

Melbourne came back from 20 points down at halftime to win the game, which was played in Sydney, by 22 points.

“He has done some really important roles for us Hibbo throughout the year so he will certainly come into our calculations as we dive into selection tomorrow and see where that sits,” Goodwin said.

“We have got some guys who are really pressing for selection, (Jake) Melksham, Hibberd, (Nathan) Jones, (Aaron) Vandenberg, (Neville) Jetta are all playing great footy in the VFL.

“We have certainly got some options that we can look at.”

Michael Hibberd speaks to Simon Goodwin at training. Picture: Getty Images

Goodwin said his team was much better prepared, particularly defensively, for this finals campaign compared to their 2018 run which ended in a thrashing by West Coast in the preliminary final.

“A lot has changed, personnel has changed significantly through that period,” he said. “We are certainly a lot stronger defensively in the way we play.

“We have been able to prove that over a full duration of a season, we’ve got enormous belief in how we play, we are in a lot better position in terms of our game.

“We feel like we are in good shape but as I said this is a new start, a new season and this game continually reminds you that you have got to go out and earn things, work hard to get what you want and that’s what we will be doing.”

Originally published as Perth to host the 2021 AFL grand final if Victoria’s Covid-19 crisis rules out the MCG