AFL grand final 2020: decider to be played at Gabba, at night
In playing the game at the Gabba, the AFL will achieve two firsts: a decider outside of Victoria, and at night.
The potential to further the development of Australian rules in Queensland was a key factor in the AFL’s decision to host the grand final in Brisbane next month.
On a historic day for the indigenous code, AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan announced the Gabba will host the first grand final played outside Victoria on October 24.
In another first for the competition in an extraordinary year, the decider will be held at night in what could prove a pointer for future grand finals at the MCG, though the start time is to be confirmed.
The Gabba will host at least 30,000 fans, while live sites will be built from the Gold Coast to Cairns in what the AFL is billing as a “festival of football”.
Pre-finals bye locked in
The league has not confirmed the start time due to complications from daylight savings but the first bounce will not occur before 6.30pm in Melbourne.
The AFL has extended its deal with the MCG by one year, until 2058, as compensation for missing out in 2020.
The finals series itself will begin around 10 to 14 days after the end of the home-and-away season this month, with the AFL implementing a pre-finals bye.
The AFL is also planning a tour of regional Queensland with its prized jewel, the premiership cup, which was flown to the state on Tuesday.
McLachlan, who will spend the next fortnight in the AFL’s quarantine hub on the Gold Coast, said the decision to favour Queensland was only finalised on Tuesday following a meeting of the league’s Commission.
It’s official. The Gabba will host the @AFL Grand Final on October 24 in front of a crowd of 30,000. @7NewsBrisbane pic.twitter.com/tot2HmO2ny
— Joel Dry (@JoelDry7) September 2, 2020
WA’s border limits scuppered its hopes
While South Australia, which will host the grand final should a contingency venue be needed, and Western Australia submitted bids, the case for Queensland proved compelling.
“The Queensland presentation was world class and, while the 2020 Toyota AFL Grand Final will be the centrepiece, an extensive promotional campaign for the sport of Australian football, including multiple regional locations throughout Queensland, will bring fans closer to footy in the lead-up to the event and provide a lasting legacy,” he said.
In recent years, the AFL and Queensland Government have forged a tighter relationship, in part because of the growth of women’s football in the state.
McLachlan said the potential to create a legacy in what has been a coronavirus-riddled season was vital when deciding to host the game in Brisbane.
Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s government goes to an election a week after the grand final but McLachlan believes the investment in the state will be long-lasting.
“The financials around the game largely stand on their own two feet and the partnership and the legacy arrangements we have with the government around community football, both in programs and infrastructure, they are multiple years,” he said.
“I’ll let the Queensland Government speak for themselves, if they choose to do so, but they are partnerships with us where they will be investing, as we have done for a long time now, but invest in community football, AFL football across the board and in the facilities.
“It is why we are growing so fast in Queensland and we are loving it.”
It is a bitter blow for Western Australians in a season where the Eagles are a clear contender for the premiership.
Final may be played in the west
The AFL is still hopeful of hosting a final in Perth in the opening week of the finals series should the Eagles earn the right for that to occur.
“They were not a distant third but the challenge there — it is obviously an amazing venue and they can get to a similar capacity — but they have the toughest borders in the country,” McLachlan said.
“In the end, to play any finals there, including the grand final, it would have to be a seven day hard quarantine before we could play the game.
“I think everyone understands, then, the challenges of playing a grand final with that as the quarantine. It is entirely consistent with the position of the government over there and the health officer and they are unapologetic about that.”
He discussed the decision with West Coast chief executive Trevor Nisbett earlier on Tuesday.
“He is very direct, Trevor, and we have a great relationship,” he said.
“He knows if we can, we would like to play our home finals at Optus, but he is also a footy guy who understands what is possible with the seven day hard quarantine in Perth to protect the health of the community.
“He knows the challenges and we will do our best job to see, in week one, if we can get a final there. Trevor understands.”
Port Adelaide sits on top of the ladder. McLachlan said finals will be held in South Australia under the current arrangements with state authorities.
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