AFL Grand Final 2020: Decider down to race in two as AFL goes cold on bidder
With the flagship Brisbane Broncos in a mess, the AFL sniffs a big opportunity to take the fight up to the NRL in Queensland by handing the Gabba hosting rights for the Grand Final.
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The Gabba has edged a step closer to hosting this year’s AFL grand final as AFL bosses formulate a strategic long-term plan to steal rugby league’s thunder and dominate the NRL in
Queensland.
The AFL Commission will meet on Tuesday to decide which of the four bidding states - Queensland, South Australia, NSW and Western Australia - will prevail in the fight for one of the biggest events in Australian sport.
Sources close to negotiations rated the Queensland government “strong favourites” to host a
historic decider outside of Melbourne as the AFL shrewdly plots a territorial war
on cross-code rivals the NRL.
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Rugby league has dominated Queensland for more than 100 years but the woeful performance this year of the state’s sporting flagship, the Brisbane Broncos, has opened the door for the AFL to steal scores of NRL fans.
It can also be revealed the AFL’s commercial team have discussed ways to hijack the hearts and minds of Queensland rugby league fans by reaching out to them spruiking the strength of
Australian Rules.
The migration of Victoria’s AFL teams to Queensland due to the COVID saga this year has given AFL powerbrokers a glimpse of the potential for their sport to usurp the NRL in the Sunshine State.
The NRL’s dithering on expansion into Queensland has allowed their fierce sporting foes time to strike - and granting the Gabba a “once-in-a-lifetime” AFL grand final is viewed as the
perfect springboard to invade rugby league.
AFL bosses are keeping the bidders guessing on the winner.
It is understood AFL officials have made two sets of accommodation bookings for the grand final - one for Saturday, October 17 in Adelaide and another for Saturday, October 24 in Brisbane.
The AFL would be unable to play the grand final in Brisbane on October 17 because Australia and New Zealand square-off in a Bledisloe Cup rugby clash on the same night at Suncorp Stadium.
Of the four bidding states, Western Australia possess arguably the finest venue in the $1 billion, 60,000-capacity Optus Stadium - but their strict stance on COVID border access has cost them dearly with the AFL.
That leaves the Gabba and Adelaide Oval to face-off for the grand final and the AFL’s desire to establish a stronger footprint in Queensland could prove decisive.
The Brisbane Lions’ free-to-air broadcast ratings are up 30 per cent this year in Queensland in the very season in which the Broncos _ the NRL’s richest club - are in crisis, having slumped
to the worst campaign in their 32-year history.
AFL heavy-hitters are also mindful of the goodwill factor attached to the Queensland government’s decision to embrace their Victorian teams and keep the COVID-affected competition alive this season.
Queensland tourism minister Kate Jones is hoping the AFL Commission rule in favour of the Gabba on Tuesday.
“An AFL grand final would deliver great benefits for Queensland,” she said.
“Delivering events that will pump millions of dollars into our economy and support local jobs is an important part of the government’s economic recovery strategy to rebuild our
tourism industry.
That’s why we’ve launched a strong bid for the grand final to come to Queensland.
“The fact that Queensland has played such a strong role in ensuring the AFL season is able to continue has put us in good stead.
“I understand an announcement is imminent. We’re waiting to hear back from the AFL.”
Collingwood president Eddie McGuire saying a night grand final in Brisbane was an opportunity not to be missed.
“If it is Brisbane, which is maybe a short half-head in front, Tony Cochrane (Suns chairman) said it would be like a warm-up to the Olympic Games ceremony, they (Queensland) would throw everything at it,” McGuire said.
“The AFL Commission have been too scaredy cat to have a crack at this (night grand final), so this is a chance to do it in a way that doesn’t offend the old football purists.
“This is the opportunity of a lifetime.”
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