AFL grand final will start at 2.30pm in 2025
The annual push for a night-time AFL grand final was feverish again this year and now league bosses have made a decision.
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Tradition has won out and there won’t be an AFL night grand final in 2025.
Amid ongoing annual debate about shifting the game to a night time, or even a twilight spot, AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon has confirmed the decider would start at 2.30pm.
A day after Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge suggested a night-time grand final could impact celebration time, Dillon said there was no move to shift away from a timeslot that remained the preferred among most fans.
The AFL Commission ratified the recommendation of a 2.30pm start at its meeting in Melbourne on Tuesday.
But the commission will continue to review the start time for future grand finals.
“The Toyota AFL grand final is our competition’s best moment, there is nothing like the roar that goes around the MCG when the ball is bounced to start the biggest game of the season.” Dillon said.
“We will continue to work closely with our broadcast partner the Seven Network to create the most amazing sporting event in the country, both in the build-up during the week and on the last Saturday in September.”
Beveridge, who has been involved in multiple grand finals at various clubs, including coaching the Bulldogs to the 2016 flag, said there was a key reason to play in the day time.
“Having experienced some success on that day whether it be with our club, the Hawks, the Pies at this level, or even at St Bede’s, the simple thing for me is the winning team gets all night to celebrate,” he said.
“Regardless of what the best broadcast time is, but if you play at night time and the game finishes late at night, it would be a shame for the winning team to be too cooked to celebrate it.”
Originally published as AFL grand final will start at 2.30pm in 2025
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