AFL Grand Final 2021 start time, venue, where to watch

The AFL Grand Final will be staged at a brand new venue and time this year. Here’s everything you need to know.

The MCG is missing out on the grand final for a second straight year. Picture: Jason Edwards

The AFL Grand Final will be staged at a brand new venue in 2021.

The 2020 decider was played under lights at the Gabba due to the coronavirus pandemic. Staged on October 24, it was the first Grand Final played outside Victoria and the first played at night.

The league announced in March that the game would return to its traditional timeslot and home ground in 2021, but those plans had to be abandoned due to the evolving Delta outbreak in Victoria.

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Plans to return to a day grand final have also been shelved - for one more year.

The game will be played for the first time in Western Australia, starting late in the afternoon to beam into the eastern states at night.

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The day before the Grand Final — Friday, September 24 — is still a public holiday in Victoria.

There will be a bye the weekend before the grand final to give the two winning preliminary final teams time to prepare in WA.

The Brownlow Medal function will also be held in Perth on September 19.

"It has become clear as we continue to navigate through these challenges that it wouldn't be in the best interests of the community to host a grand final at the MCG in front of no crowd," AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said.

But he said the AFL's intention was to return to the MCG for a day grand final in 2022.

AFL GRAND FINAL 2021

Date: Saturday, September 25

Start time: 5.15pm (AEST), 6.45pm (ACST), 7.15pm (AEST)

Venue: Perth Stadium

TV broadcaster: Channel 7