AFL grand final: Palaszczuk vows we’ll safeguard it for a year

Annastacia Palaszczuk says hosting the AFL grand final in Brisbane would be ‘a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity’.

Annastacia Palaszczuk says hosting the grand final would be a once in a lifetime opportunity. Picture; Twitter.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says hosting the AFL grand final in Brisbane would be “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity”.

Ms Palaszczuk said if Queensland won the event, the state would “safeguard it for a year” for Victoria.

The Premier defended dozens of AFL players and their families coming to Brisbane from Melbourne, across the state’s closed borders, saying the industry had a locked-in COVIDsafe plan.

LIVE: Two new cases of COVID-19 confirmed overnight. I'm at the Cairns Convention Centre where the expansion phase of the $176m project is now underway. #covid19au #qldjobs https://t.co/bSGvPadhDS

— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) September 1, 2020

She spoke after the AFL’s most treasured prize, the premiership cup, left Melbourne bound for Queensland, in the surest sign this year’s decider will be held in Brisbane.

It was not quite on the league’s last flight out of city — the AFL chartered three flights north for the last wave of superstars, families, executives and support staff.

Gary Ablett Jnr, his wife Jordan and son Levi were 3pm departures, nestled among a swag of Geelong Cats personnel keen to support a leading premiership contender.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan and his family were on the final flight out of a city that prides itself on being the home of Australian football.

But not in 2020. And that was enough to leave Collingwood president Eddie McGuire, who was accompanied by a son, a little choked up.

“I’ve really felt a bit emotional today, about the fact that today we’ll probably find out that the grand final officially is not going to be in Melbourne for the first time ever,” McGuire said.

“It was hard enough when it went to Waverley in 1991, far less going to where it ends up.

“It’s quite emotional today because the people of Melbourne and Victoria have just been such a major part of football always, and we’re sort of doing it on location this time.”

Queensland has been the biggest saviour of this AFL season.

While there are no sure things in sport, it would be a major surprise if the grand final were not held at the “G” next month. The Gabba, that is, not the MCG.

Collingwood President Eddie McGuire and his son. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Mr McLachlan met the AFL Commission on Tuesday to finalise arrangements for the finals series after Western Australia, South Australia, NSW and Queensland made premiership pitches. Mr McLachlan will announce the winning bid on Wednesday from the AFL’s quarantine hub on the Gold Coast.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the state had worked hard to accommodate the league in what has proven a remarkable effort to outrun coronavirus and continue the season.

The Queensland bid focused on the future. The AFL is seeking to grow the code from Coolangatta to Cooktown but needs more ovals and goalposts to set the Sherrin flying.

“We know when the AFL first floated the idea of a hub, we welcomed that idea and worked with the Chief Health Officer to make that happen,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“Since then we have hosted nearly the entire AFL ­competition.”

Geelong player Gary Ablett and has wife Jordan, with their son Levi. Picture: Alex Coppel.