AFL grand final start time up for debate again as North boss Ben Buckley supports twilight switch

THE AFL is yet to lock in a start time for the 2018 grand final and the man who was once 2IC at league headquarters is a fan of parting with tradition. Do you agree? HAVE YOUR SAY

Daniel Rioli and the Tigers partied into the night after their grand final win. Pic: AAP

NORTH Melbourne chairman Ben Buckley says the AFL should transform the Grand Final into a twilight spectacular this year.

While emphasising it was his personal view, Buckley — a former league second-in-charge to Andrew Demetriou — believes changing the timeslot would significantly boost the TV audiences.

Seven months out from the 2018 Grand Final, the AFL has yet to lock into a time for the premiership playoff, with further discussion to come at a Commission meeting next month.

BAROMETER: VETERAN DEE’S CALF WORRY

SUPERCOACH: WHO TO WATCH IN JLT THIS WEEK

“I know it is a tradition, but I’m supporter of a twilight Grand Final,” Buckley told the Herald Sun. “Everyone has their personal view, and this is mine.

“I would love to see it start in the daytime and finish at night. It is time (for change). People will debate it; but my own view is that it should happen.”

The AFL Grand Final is contracted to the MCG for the next 20 years, but the game’s start time has long been hotly debated, with recent pushes for a night or twilight playoff.

AFL chief executive Gill McLachlan has declared a twilight Grand Final will be played at some stage of the current media rights deal, which has five seasons to run.

Buckley said the move to a twilight match — and prime-time viewing — would “help grow the game and the audience”, with the broadcasters and the MCC supportive of any possible move.

“It is about being able to have more people watch it; the later it is, the easier it is for people to watch,” Buckley said.

A week after playing a twilight preliminary final, the Tigers beat Adelaide in the traditional Saturday afternoon timeslot. Pic: AAP

North Melbourne would be prepared to modify its Grand Final Breakfast, the traditional kick-off to the day’s activities since 1967, to complement the day.

“I’d be happy to make ours a brunch,” he said.

The AFL toyed with making a change last year, with superstars including Patrick Dangerfield and Nat Fyfe supporting a push to a twilight Grand Final.

But in the week leading to Round 1, McLachlan announced the AFL had opted to stay with the status quo for another year.

That could change as early as this year, with AFL chairman Richard Goyder deemed to be more amenable to the concept than his predecessor Mike Fitzpatrick.