AFL 2021: Grand Final to be moved from Melbourne with Perth in box seat to host decider
Victorian footy fans will be robbed of the chance to watch the Grand Final live again this year. Here's when the dreaded scenario will be announced.
AFL News
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The AFL is only days from officially moving the Grand Final away from the MCG as it locked in a pre-Grand Final bye that will result in a two-week lead-in to the season decider.
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan confirmed on Friday there would be no finals in Victoria in the first two weeks of September, as the state’s Covid numbers grow into alarming territory.
The AFL boss said he was still talking with the Victorian government daily about the chances of an MCG Grand Final.
But an official decision to move the game is only days away and with little prospect of a quick turnaround in numbers it means the AFL Grand Final seems certain to be in Perth.
WA premier Mark McGowan says his state will not throw millions at the AFL over the game, but if the league effectively hires Perth Stadium it could recoup over $10 million from ticket sales alone.
McLachlan confirmed the Herald Sun’s report that the game would not be played in front of no crowd, which could push back the game a week in the event of a Covid outbreak in the week of the contest.
He said the league would not wait until the end of the current Melbourne lockdown — September 2 — to make a decision to cut ties with the MCG for this year’s Grand Final.
“We continue to talk with the Victorian government. I think the (Covid) numbers every day are important. It doesn’t feel like a great day today. I think there is a public acceptance the first couple of weeks we won’t be having crowds in Victoria but there is a hope of the last Saturday in September.
“There is a lot of planning that goes into this game. The conversation would have to come to a head in the next days. Probably we have got up to a week, but we have a great partnership with the Victorian government.
They are supportive of us progressing discussions with other states and we are having pretty grown-up transparent conversations. I think when we get to a point where we have to call it one way or the other we will.”
McLachlan made clear the AFL would only bring forward the Grand Final to September 18 if it was held in Melbourne, meaning a bye before the Grand Final to allow teams out into the community will take place.
“We want to keep momentum up, there is not a lot of upside in stopping but we have also kept the Grand Final date on the same date. If it was in a non-Victorian jurisdiction we would work hard to get everyone out of quarantine and have the best build-up we could. There is advantage in that.”
He said the AFL would never play a Grand Final in front of no crowds.
“Correct, I am unapologetic about that,” he told 3AW radio.
“There are 800 players and staff and 15 million supporters leaning in all year and it needs to give it justice for the biggest sporting event in the country and it needs to be with supporters because they make the game.”
WHAT A PERTH GRAND FINAL COULD LOOK LIKE
Western Australian premier Mark McGowan has encouraged the AFL to slot in a pre-Grand Final bye to allow its participants a week as “clean” footballers if the state does win the season decider.
But he has warned the AFL he has no intention of paying a massive fee for the contest after last year’s bidding war.
McGowan made clear on Thursday his preferred outcome was Victoria getting its Covid outbreak under control to help safeguard the country.
But he seemed notably more upbeat about the prospects of the game after chiding from AFL great Jason Dunstall that he lacked enthusiasm.
“Jason Dunstall … I can’t believe he’s criticising me. I used to love that guy,” he joked.
The WA bid for the Grand Final includes no wives and partners or children and makes clear the AFL would not be allowed to have a collection of the usual hangers-on including presidents of non-competing clubs that usually populate the AFL Grand Final.
He said if the league did use its bye either side of preliminary finals in Perth it would allowing the participating clubs 14 days of quarantine before having the run of the town in Grand Final week.
It would allow the AFL to reconsider events including Brownlow Medal night and even a Grand Final parade on the day before the decider.
“That has some logic to it, that has logic to it (to allow) people to be properly tested, quarantined and the like,” he said.
“We want the AFL to complete their season and we stand ready to help as long as they abide by the restrictions we have in place.
“They don’t want to be responsible for a Covid outbreak, they don’t want the images they had last year of people frolicking around in resorts and going to nightclubs in Queensland, and we don’t want that either.
“We put a plan to the AFL that they will consider but it’s very Covid-safe, so in terms of people coming out of NSW we are saying no, in terms of big financial grants, we are saying no.
“We are a great state which is safe and will continue to be safe but we will work with the AFL to achieve good outcomes. All of those details are to be worked out in the future between WA and the AFL, but we will just do what is safe and that’s in the interests of the AFL.”
The AFL expects to hold a hybrid Grand Final event that could have players in one base in Melbourne or Perth and then smaller gatherings across Australia depending on Covid lockdowns.
The league has already cancelled its Melbourne Grand Final parade but if players had quarantined for 14 days in Joondalup the league might be able to reinstate it in Perth.
Scott’s ‘logical argument’ for Geelong crowd
— Josh Barnes and Jay Clark
Geelong coach Chris Scott has declared there is a “logical argument” that his side should be playing in front of fans at GMHBA Stadium this weekend and in the finals.
The blockbuster clash between Geelong and Melbourne on Saturday night will be the third AFL game played in front of empty stands in Geelong since the region was let free from the latest Covid lockdown.
With the AFL keen to play its finals series in front of fans, the Cats could be forced to pick an interstate venue for a “home” final despite relaxed restrictions in regional areas of Victoria.
The state government has refused to budge on crowds at AFL matches – or at local sport – outside of Melbourne
Scott told the media on Thursday morning he “would encourage you to make that argument” about playing finals in Geelong in front of fans “as strongly as you possibly can”.
But the outspoken coach said the Cats wouldn’t get caught up in the rules.
“I would like to think that the way we have led our club at least internally in the footy department over the last 18 months is to not get frustrated by things that seem at least illogical and just fall into line,” he said.
“I wouldn’t like to be the one charged with trying to navigate through this situation to keep the community safe.”
If it loses to Melbourne on Saturday night, Geelong will miss the chance to “host” a qualifying final but the Cats will be the home side for either a semi or a preliminary final.
Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield said he would rather play finals in front of fans than at empty home grounds with “no soul”.
Cats winger Isaac Smith also said it would do the competition an “injustice” to play finals in empty grounds.
Scott agreed with his players and said the AFL was right to pursue crowds over home grounds.
“I think it is an appropriate decision to prioritise getting people to the game,” he said.
“I don’t think the AFL has completely worked out where they stand on it because there is a lot to consider.”
Victorian clubs desperate to control own finals destiny
– Jay Clark
Melbourne will resist the temptation to rest any of its superstars in Saturday night’s top-of-the-table clash against Geelong as the club ramps up its bid to break the game’s longest premiership drought.
Gun trio Max Gawn, Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver have carried an enormous load playing every game this season and all trained on Wednesday in preparation for the top-of-the-table battle against the Cats.
Coach Simon Goodwin said the Demons wanted to maintain their momentum heading into September and earn the right to nominate where they would play their qualifying final in front of a crowd next weekend.
But the final decisions for the first week of finals won’t be made until Sunday as Melbourne, Geelong and Western Bulldogs all look to avoid taking on Port Adelaide and Brisbane at their own home grounds.
The AFL has ruled out playing finals at the MCG and Marvel Stadium in front of empty stands, and will give Victorian teams that earn a home-ground advantage a strong say in choosing a neutral interstate venue.
Melbourne has an excellent record at Adelaide Oval but would not want to play Port Adelaide in front of a parochial South Australian crowd, while Geelong would face an ambush if they chose to play Brisbane at the Gabba.
It is unclear whether the Cats will receive permission to have crowds at GMHBA Stadium next weekend as it qualifies as a regional venue rather than Metropolitan Melbourne, which is in lockdown.
Tasmania (Hobart and Launceston) and Perth Stadium are the two other options outside Queensland and South Australia.
Melbourne will likely be bolstered by the return of star fullback Steven May, Jack Viney and Tom McDonald for the clash at GMHBA stadium on Saturday night as the Demons gear up to try and win their first flag since 1964.
Even though the AFL this week scrapped the pre-finals bye, Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin said he wouldn’t be resting fit and available players or playing any selection games in the last round of the season.
Rather, he said the clash against the Cats would provide a “full audit” of where the club sat against another premiership heavyweight.
“After that we know we are going to be stepping straight into finals. We want to continue building momentum,” Goodwin said.
“We won’t be resting players unless they’re sore.
“Building a winning culture and mindset means a lot to me. If that means we end up winning the minor premiership, then it’s an outstanding achievement.
“We’ve got bigger things we want to achieve.”
Melbourne hasn’t won a minor premiership since 1964 and can lock in the McClelland Trophy with a win over Geelong.
Goodwin said a fortnight ago he wanted finals to be played in front of fans but for now was most focused on “finishing as high as we can”.
“We’re pretty clear there is a hunt for crowds around Australia,” he said.
“That choice has been taken away, in terms of playing in front of crowds (in Melbourne next weekend).
“If at any stage in the finals series there comes a chance, when the MCG is available and we can play in front of fans … we’ll take that opportunity.
“We’ll come up with (another venue) what is best for us as a footy club. They’re things we will discuss after this weekend with the hierarchy of the club.”
‘Overdone’: Shock Welcome to Country take
The former Geelong forward and proud Aboriginal man has very strong feelings about “overdone” Welcome to Country ceremonies.
Will $5m fix Carlton’s horror injury woes?
Carlton’s injury troubles in 2024 have been well documented – but new data shows just how far back the club’s woes extend. A review is underway, as is a new multimillion-dollar project.