AFL should have introduced twilight grand final and it’s only a matter of time, writes Jon Anderson

THE AFL today announced the starting time for this year’s grand final. And Jon Anderson writes the game has lost out.

2016 AFL Grand Final match between the Western Bulldogs and the Sydney Swans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Melbourne, Australia on October 1, 2016. Bob Murphy & Easton Wood with Luke Beveridge &Picture :Wayne Ludbey

IF the players want it, and they are the key stakeholders given it’s their stage, then there is no good reason not to go with a twilight Grand Final.

And the majority of players do want it, even if a majority of supporters aren’t as convinced. But give them time and in four or five years, when a twilight grand final will have been introduced, most of those will be asking ‘why didn’t this happen years ago?’.

AFL DAILY: LIVE FOOTY NEWS AS IT HAPPENS

TEAMS: SEE THE ROUND 2 LINE-UPS

Sadly that isn’t the case and the traditionalists have won out. For now. Because next year or the one after will see a twilight grand final get up — and the game will benefit..

Sometimes you just have to re-educate the masses and ease them into change. My only reservations were based around the standard of play being affected given twilight conditions can sometimes bring a higher degree of moisture.

Jon Anderson says the players are the ones who put on the show, and they want a later start to the grand final. Picture: AAP

Those who perform say that isn’t a major hurdle, so the time was right to switch on the lights.

There is an atmosphere at that time of the day that is sometimes lacking two hours earlier and when I think of great global sporting finals, most are played at night. Because they work better.

What are the arguments against it? That football traditionally is a game played in the day and as such our showcase match should be played in the same time frame?

That one doesn’t wash anymore given half of each round is either twilight or night, as are finals. So tradition no longer holds up.

Others point to inebriation being an issue with an extra couple of hours to kill before the game starts.

I would have thought that extra time would allow most to reschedule their day, just as they do before a normal home and away night match.

Grand Final breakfasts become Grand Final brunches and you leave the ground in plenty of time to head out to dinner.

Sadly, it’s an opportunity lost when change was the way to go.