2020 AFL Grand Final won’t be played in its traditional Saturday afternoon timeslot
The Grand Final will not be played in its traditional Saturday afternoon timeslot, with the league set to give one of racing’s biggest days first crack. But when will the AFL’s biggest game take place?
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The AFL Grand Final will not be played in its traditional Saturday afternoon timeslot in 2020.
The AFL has moved its tentative Grand Final date from October 24 to October 17 with plans to squash Rounds 9-12 into 19 consecutive days, starting on Wednesday July 29.
That new date puts it on a collision course with the Caulfield Cup. However, Victorian sports Minister Martin Pakula confirmed the spring racing carnival would get priority.
“If the AFL Grand Final happens to be on 17 October, or on any of our feature race days, the AFL will work around racing - whether that means putting it on at night, or the Sunday - but it definitely will not go head-to-head with the race meeting,” Pakula told RSN on Thursday morning.
“I’ve been having conversations with the AFL on an almost daily basis.
“I did speak to Gillon (McLachlan) this morning and reobtained the commitment from him that they definitely won’t go head to head with one of our major classic race days.
“The Caulfield Cup will get clear air as it should.
“It’s July, it’s at least three months before the Grand Final. A lot can change.”
Brisbane boss Greg Swann says Queensland should be allocated the AFL Grand Final after having made a “serious contribution’’ to the survival of this year’s competition.
The AFL on Wednesday made the Sunshine State the centre of the football world for the remainder of the season by making it a 10-week home for all Victorian clubs.
Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she told AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan the Grand Final should be played in Queensland — and most certainly at the Gabba.
However, Pakula is not giving up on the game being played in Victoria.
“The Grand Final is still rough(ly) 15 weeks away, could be a week shorter, could be a week longer,” Pakula said on SEN on Wednesday.
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“We have got a lockdown which is currently scheduled to run for another five weeks and an AFL Grand Final that’s not due for 15 weeks.
“We have a contract for the Grand Final to be played at the MCG and if it’s possible for, not just the Grand Final, but for the finals series to be played here in Melbourne and at Marvel (Stadium) then that’s what will happen.
“I am absolutely still hopeful that the match can be played at the MCG and I think if there is any possibility that it can be, that it will be.”
MCC chief executive Stuart Fox also remained hopeful the Grand Final could still yet be played at the MCG
“The MCC is in constant discussion with the Victorian Government and the AFL about the AFL premiership season returning to the MCG at some point in 2020,” Fox said.
“There’s still five weeks to go of the current stage three restrictions and as Victorians, we need to concentrate on adhering to the government’s advice because that will lead us to a quicker return of sport to the MCG.
“The AFL Grand Final is many weeks away and as both the Victorian Sports Minister and AFL CEO have said this afternoon, there is every intention for the match to be played at the MCG.”
Swann told the Herald Sun on Wednesday: “We’ve kept the competition afloat so I don’t see why we’re not in the mix.
“It depends on what happens in September/October and what the lay of the land is, but it wouldn’t be unreasonable to play it here.
“The premier has asked for it and we’ve done all the right things, so why can’t we have the Grand Final?’’
Swann was not aware if the Queensland government would have to bid for football’s greatest day against Western Australia and South Australian governments.
A NSW Grand Final, widely reported to be the frontrunner earlier this week, looks cast.
AFL boss McLachlan said a decision on a venue for the competition’s biggest game had not been made.
“Clearly people will draw bows, but my clearest position is to say that the Grand Final is at the MCG until there are circumstances and reasons that it can’t be, and then we’ll make a decision,” McLachlan said.
The South Australian government released a four-word statement, saying: “Adelaide Oval is available”.
“We all know it’s the best stadium in the nation and we are a passionate AFL state,” an SA government spokesperson said.
Palaszczuk said the AFL approached her this week seeking permission to send the majority of the game’s clubs to Queensland, which she has accepted.
With all Victorian clubs relocating north of the Tweed, Palaszczuk now has her eyes set on bringing the 2020 Grand Final to Queensland as well.
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“Given the choice between not having a season and having it based in Queensland, I think I know what the fans would like to happen,” Palaszczuk said.
“It means more Queenslanders can see more games.
“It’s another tick for the legacy of the Commonwealth Games and the Gold Coast’s Metricon Stadium.
“It’s more fire in the belly for the Suns and the Lions.
“And, as I told Gil, if the season is based here – then the Grand Final should be played here too.”