Patrick Dangerfield calls for AFL Grand Final to become a night event after spectacle of NRL GF

WE’RE only a day removed from the AFL Grand Final and Geelong star Patrick Dangerfield has already ignited the debate over what time it should be played next season.

Tom Hawkins (left) and Patrick Dangerfield of the Cats react after Hawkins kicked a goal during the second semi-final between the Geelong Cats and the Sydney Swans at MCG in Melbourne, Friday, September 15, 2017. (AAP Image/Julian Smith) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

WE’RE only a day removed from the AFL Grand Final and Geelong star Patrick Dangerfield has already ignited the debate over what time it should be played next season.

Following Melbourne Storm’s 34-6 annihilation of the North Queensland Cowboys under lights in the NRL grand final, Dangerfield tweeted his preference for a night AFL decider.

It’s time for a night GF AFL.. #NRLStormCowboys #Entertainment #brilliant #gostorm

— Patrick Dangerfield (@dangerfield35) October 1, 2017

“It’s time for a night GF AFL,” Dangerfield tweeted.

The AFL flirted with the idea of a twilight Grand Final this year, before ultimately sticking with the status quo, a 2.30pm start.

“There’s a view from a lot people around the place that you could have a better event of the best day in sport if you did it, say twilight ... move it back a couple of hours and you could have the game at night and the event, for the 100,000 and then into the millions at home, could be better,” McLachlan said in April.

“But, if you’re going to do that, when people generally prefer to not have change, then you’ve got to execute every part of it right.

“In the end, the team were of the view that we couldn’t put a recommendation to the (AFL) commission to move it because a lot of the detail wasn’t hammered home.

“When you’re like that, I don’t want to own a decision where I don’t feel complete conviction about it.”

With one of its most bankable stars already weighing in, there’s sure to be debate over what time the 2018 showpiece will be played.

Dangerfield’s followers did not share his enthusiasm:

Nah. Tradition before commercialism. Game in the day, celebrate in the night.

— Maasy (@NicholasMaas) October 1, 2017

No way, I’m an NRL man, but I love the afternoon time slot for the AFL GF. Wish NRL was the same.

— Troy Dean (@TJDean7) October 1, 2017

No thanks. Game played during day in best conditions is the best possible entertainment. Post game entertainment yesterday was awesome.

— Cam Wood (@woodnutz26) October 1, 2017

Nah mate, see a dad & his boy watching their team during day, it’s all about the families

— Pun Nation (@NationPun) October 1, 2017

nah mate. Love the day. Look at yesterday. Everyone could go have dinner and celebrate with the kids after. At night it'd be to late.

— J.R. (@Straffo) October 1, 2017