AFL 2020: League boss concedes an MCG Grand Final was “challenging” as four states lobby to host it

The venue for the 2020 AFL Grand Final will be announced next week as four states lobby for the first ever decider to be played outside of Victoria.

The venue for the 2020 AFL grand final will be announced next week.

Speculation on the venue for the game has been continuous since the coronavirus pandemic spiked in Victoria in recent months.

State governments in NSW, Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland have all been lobbying to host the decider, which will be played outside of Victoria for the first-time ever.

They have all pledged to make official submissions to host the game, with the Gabba in Brisbane the frontrunner after Queensland opened its borders to allow teams to play out of hubs in the sunshine state.

The MCG has a contract for the grand final until 2057, but AFL boss Gillon McLachlan conceded on Friday that hosting the match in Victoria was “increasingly challenging.

“It [the decision] will be next week,” McLachlan told 3AW.

“We have been pretty consistent [saying we will be] waiting until the end of August.

“Wherever we land will be in concert with them [the Victorian government].

“It is increasingly looking challenging in Victoria … and we are having conversations with others.

“We‘ll have a decision by the end of next week, whether it’s Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, I’m not sure.”

McLachlan said it was likely the Brownlow Medal would follow the grand final interstate.

“Not certain but likely,” he said.

We haven’t made a decision but probably likely they go hand in glove (the Brownlow Medal count to happen where grand final is).”