Victoria’s compensation for losing AFL grand final
The Victorian government could ask for more pre-season games in regional centres as compensation for giving up this year’s AFL grand final.
The Victorian government could ask for more pre-season games in regional centres in coming years as compensation for giving up this year’s AFL grand final.
The government and Melbourne Cricket Club privately conceded some weeks ago that there was no chance of the game’s greatest event being held at the MCG and the league could make its call on this year’s venue as early as next Tuesday.
League boss Gillon McLachlan said on Friday that talks were continuing with Dan Andrews’ government over their existing MCG grand final contract and the devastating effects of COVID-19.
“We’ve been pretty consistent – we’re aiming for the end of August (for a decision),” McLachlan said on 3AW.
“I’m not trying to sound naive – we’ve got a contract, we’re having very fair conversations with the Victorian government.
“It’s increasingly looking challenging in Victoria, again without sounding naive about it. And we are having conversations with others. All of that will come together and we’ll have a decision by the end of next week. Whether it’s Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, I’m not sure.”
The league will also announce the coming finals series and whether it would implement a pre-finals bye.
St Kilda chief operating officer Simon Lethlean backed the bye, but said it would come at a cost.
He said the AFL had to consider paying for some finals teams to stay an extra week in hubs as well as “taking on the virus for an extra week”.
Victorian premier Daniel Andrews has confirmed reports that the government and MCC could ask for another year to be added on to the grand final arrangement, which is set to expire in 2057. But a more tangible benefit in the short term would be the AFL agreeing to host pre-season games in regional centres, some of them still reeling from bushfires and battling with the lack of tourism dollars because of COVID-19.
It would be a way of the AFL giving back to Victoria in a way that offers immediate rewards instead of 40 years into the future.
Those negotiations with the MCC, AFL and state government are ongoing, with broad agreement about many of the terms.
If the grand ginal was held in Brisbane — as is widely tipped — it would almost certainly spell the end of the popular grand final parade.
Brisbane could host a 30,000-strong crowd but with contact tracing and fans cordoned off into different sections of the ground.
South Australia maintained its push to host the game, while WA premier Mark McGowan said his state had “played hard to get” in its pursuit.
“If it can’t be held at the MCG, it would be better here, if they meet the health guidelines. And so health guidelines are pretty strict. So it’s really a matter for (the AFL),” he said.
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