Sydney’s ANZ Stadium emerges as shock frontrunner to host 2020 AFL Grand Final

As a second wave of coronavirus sends Victoria back into lockdown, murmurs of an alternative venue for the AFL’s GF have emerged.

Despite not hosting an AFL match in nearly four years, Sydney’s ANZ Stadium has emerged as a shock candidate to host the 2020 Grand Final.

Victoria has once again entered the dreaded stage three restrictions after last week’s second wave of coronavirus cases. The dramatic spike has cast doubts over whether the MCG would be capable of holding anywhere near it’s capacity of 100,000 spectators in October.

The most recent AFL Grand Final to not be played at the MCG was 29 years ago, when Waverley Park hosted Hawthorn and West Coast in 1991. Before that, you would have to go right back to World World II.

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Speaking on Channel 9’s Footy Classified, veteran reporter Caroline Wilson revealed Sydney’s ANZ Stadium is a leading contender to host the AFL Grand Final if Victoria’s COVID-19 situation does not improve.

“I think there’s every chance now the Grand Final will leave Victoria,” Wilson said on Wednesday.

“Sydney is framing as the favourite at the moment. Obviously this would be fantastic for the AFL’s push into the northern markets.

“ANZ Stadium seems to be the ground. They were going to tear the stadium down and reconfigure it again. That hasn’t happened for financial reasons.

“Sydney have made a strong push, and Sydney are the flavour of the month with the AFL at the moment, because they’ve done the right thing by the AFL … in letting the players move into Sydney and keeping the AFL season.”

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ANZ Stadium has not hosted an AFL match since 2016.

On Monday, AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan conceded Sydney is the most likely alternative if the MCG is unavailable.

“At the moment we’ve got an agreement to play the Grand Final at the MCG and that’s where we are planning on playing the Grand Final,” McLachlan told The Daily Telegraph.

“However, if it was unable to be played there, for whatever reason, then there’s the prospect of taking it (elsewhere).

“Sydney is an amazing sporting town. It’s got a great venue at ANZ, as to do many other cities in this country.”

Perth’s Optus Stadium — which seats 60,000 fans — has also been touted as another potential venue for the sport’s showpiece event, and Western Australian premiers Mark McGowan has voiced his interest.

ANZ Stadium hosted its maiden AFL game in May 2002, when the Sydney Swans faced Essendon in front of 54,129 fans. But the Sydney Olympic Park venue has not been used in the AFL since the 2016 Qualifying Final between the Swans and Greater Western Sydney Giants.

ABC Grandstand broadcaster Brett Sprigg labelled ANZ Stadium “the Steven Bradbury of potential AFL Grand Final venues” on Thursday.

The 83,000-capacity venue was supposed to undergo an upgrade this year, but the New South Wales Government decided to cancel demolition plans due to financial complications from the coronavirus outbreak.

‘GHASTLY’ IDEA SLAMMED BY GERARD

Although ANZ Stadium has proven an ideal venue for NRL Grand Finals, AFL 360 host Gerard Whateley savaged the “ghastly” idea on Thursday morning.

“Just to confirm how abnormal these times are, the talk of ANZ Stadium — footy’s most despised ground — as the front runner as the Grand Final alternative should the MCG be out of the question,” Whateley said on SEN.

“It’s not even listed in the Bible, the season guide, as an AFL venue. How could it possibly be considered as a possibility for the biggest game of all when it’s not even listed as an AFL venue?

“It’s a ghastly idea. Not because it’s Sydney, but because it’s an awful venue.

“It’s got nothing on Optus Stadium and Adelaide Oval. If there needs to be a rallying, we need to rally for Perth and Adelaide.

“ANZ Stadium, spare me.”

It's a shame our Gerard thinks Olympic Stadium is an "awful" venue. pic.twitter.com/5pFsNT39Ar

— Peter Brown (@SydneyEditor) July 8, 2020

Collingwood president Eddie McGuire also pointed out the AFL Grand Final was still contracted to be played at the MCG.

“The economic impact of having a Grand Final anywhere outside of Victoria for a one-off season is big money,” McGuire said on Footy Classified.

“If we can get 75,000 into ANZ Stadium or 60,000 over in Perth or whatever the case may be, you’re talking about what could be an extra $50 million for that coming back in.”

When asked for his two cents’ worth on Wednesday, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison could not have shown less interest.

“To be honest, where the AFL grand final is being played at the moment is one of the furthest things from my mind,” Morrison bluntly said.

“The AFL I’m sure will sort that out and states and territories will sort that out.

“Right now we’re dealing with a pandemic outbreak in Victoria.”