AFL fixture latest: Eddie McGuire floats early grand final as AFL locks in Round 22 games

The AFL is contemplating a number of finals scenarios that could eradicate the controversial bye and bring the grand final forward, Eddie McGuire says. LATEST

Eddie McGuire reckons the AFL is likely to scrap the pre-finals bye so it can get through the season quicker while Covid continues to cause fixture hurdles.

And the former Collingwood president says if the grand final cannot be held at the MCG, the league will look at it being in SA if Port Adelaide is playing in it.

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Clubs are scheduled to have a weekend off on August 28-29 but the league is not ruling out starting the major round then so it can finish the campaign earlier.

The AFL met with club chief executives on Tuesday to discuss its options, as uncertainty remained over how the season would conclude with Melbourne and Sydney still in lockdown.

McGuire said the league was discussing scrapping the week off and if he had to put his house on it, “it’d be bye-bye to the pre-finals bye”.

Where and when the grand final will be held this year is anyone’s guess. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images

“The AFL’s thoughts at the moment is ‘let’s keep rolling, if things open up, let’s keep it going’,” McGuire said on Footy Classified.

McGuire said if the grand final was in Melbourne, which seemed dependent on having a crowd, it would be a week earlier on September 18.

But if it was held interstate – Perth or Adelaide would likely emerge as favourite if it was not at the MCG – there could be a bye after the preliminary final to allow people to relocate then quarantine if necessary ahead of a September 25 decider.

“They would look at Adelaide if Port Adelaide were there … but if it’s a neutral, you probably end up in Perth,” McGuire said.

Eddie McGuire says the AFL is considering a number of scenarios for the grand final. Picture: AAP

“They’re still aiming to get it in the MCG, providing you can get a crowd in there.”

Ex-Fremantle and St Kilda coach Ross Lyon liked the idea of a bye leading into the grand final, which would allow the Brownlow Medal to be held on the vacant weekend.

“If I had a choice, full stadium in Perth,” Lyon said.

“They would fill it and it would be incredible.”

Essendon great Matthew Lloyd favoured no bye at all.

Fixture reveal: Tigers cop dreaded Marvel for Giants do-or-die

Hawthorn will host Western Bulldogs in Launceston on Saturday after the AFL successfully negotiated fly- fly-out arrangements for the two clubs.

The league had put the MCG on standby for the clash but were able to secure permission form the Tasmanian Government to play the game in front of a crowd.

Both teams will travel to the game and return home to Melbourne on Saturday night in a charter plane.

But the league is still waiting on final approval from the Queensland Government to play Brisbane v Collingwood under lights at the Gabba and Gold Coast versus Essendon at Metricon Stadium on Sunday.

Greater Western Sydney will host Richmond at Marvel Stadium on Friday night to kick start Round 22, with the race for eighth spot still wide open.

It’s the biggest game of the year for Richmond and GWS. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Port Adelaide will host Carlton in the twilight game on Saturday at Adelaide Oval, while North Melbourne will meet Sydney Swans on Saturday night at Marvel Stadium.

Melbourne tackle Adelaide at the MCG on Sunday, and the Western Derby will take place in the late game on Sunday in Perth.

AFL fixture and broadcast chief Travis Auld said it should be a thrilling finish to the season.

“We are really looking forward to Round 22 with all nine matches influencing the make-up of the finals,” Auld said.

“The Friday night match between the GWS Giants and Richmond has both teams playing for a place in the top eight. That also applies to the WA Derby between Fremantle and the West Coast Eagles on Sunday which is really exciting for fans across the country.

“It is a tight race to the finish and while the pandemic will continue to challenge us over the coming weeks, as an industry, we will continue to adapt as we navigate those challenges.”

Collingwood, Essendon and Carlton will all have to quarantine in the lead-up to their games and pass COVID-19 tests upon arrival interstate and upon their return to Melbourne.

Auld is also keen to continue to safeguard the pre-finals bye in the face of severe challenges and travel restrictions across the country.

“We will continue to make changes that best manage the current environment, progresses our season and protects the health and safety of those in our game and the wider community,” Auld said.

“As we have done throughout the pandemic, we will work closely with respective State and Territory Governments, all AFL Clubs and other key stakeholders while ensuring the health and safety of the community remains paramount.”

The AFL advised AFL supplementary protocols are currently in place for Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, Gold Coast SUNS, GWS GIANTS, Hawthorn, Melbourne, North Melbourne, Richmond, St Kilda, Sydney Swans and Western Bulldogs.

Crowds wait on Moorabool Street to enter the Polly Farmer gate to GMHBA stadium. Picture: Mike Dugdale

EARLIER: How crowds could attend some Vic finals

Geelong remains at the front of the queue to welcome back Victorian footy fans although no crowd will be allowed at this weekend’s Round 22 match between Geelong and St Kilda at GMHBA Stadium.

Metropolitan Melbourne’s lockdown was extended by seven days on Thursday as public health officials declared it was still too risky to allow country-based supporters to return to the Cats’ regional venue.

But premier Daniel Andrews confirmed that GMHBA Stadium could be governed by softer settings than the MCG and Marvel Stadium if public safety was ensured and there was no added risk to the spread of the virus.

The potential for Geelong’s ground to operate at a greater capacity than the MCG would appear to greatly strengthen the Cats’ hopes of hosting finals at their fortress.

They can lock in a home qualifying final by beating St Kilda and Melbourne at GMHBA Stadium in the final two rounds of the season, but mystery once again surrounds the AFL’s policy for determining finals venues.

Next week’s heavyweight clash against the Demons would take on far more significance if both clubs were fighting for a home qualifying final.

St Kilda defender Callum Wilkie will look to stand big Cat Tom Hawkins this Saturday but the game is likely to be played at an empty GMHBA Stadium. Picture: Michael Klein

Former Cats president and respected football administrator Colin Carter said the potential for the state government to set similar crowd capacities at the MCG and GMHBA Stadium would have to carry weight.

“It probably shifts the dial a bit — whether it actually shifts it permanently I’ve got no idea,” Carter told the Herald Sun.

“If you’re looking at factors that might tilt the decision, that’s one.

“But those decisions are based on multiple considerations and I’m not sure what the other ones are.”

Carter said Michael Jordan’s Netflix documentary The Last Dance highlighted that home ground advantage was “not immaterial” in world sport.

He said the AFL’s finals policy would eventually evolve to reward the best teams although it was still burdened by historical factors stemming from when the competition expanded nationally.

“My position has always been that clubs should have the right to determine where their home games are being played, and finals are what you fight for to get a home ground advantage,” he said.

Fans could return to GMHBA Stadium for finals even if the MCG is empty.

Some club officials and players believe the higher-ranked club will be given their choice of venue in the event that crowds can’t attend.

Kardinia Park Stadium Trust would also welcome non-Geelong games, and Sydney could host its elimination final at the regional ground it has a 4-1 record at since 2016.

It was expected that stage five of GMHBA Stadium’s redevelopment would rule the venue out of action after the first week of September.

But it is understood those construction papers have not yet been signed and so a start date has not been locked in.

Andrews said Sport Minister Martin Pakula was leading his government’s talks with the AFL.

“The public health team work with the events sector to try and make sure that events happen in a safe way and that if we can have crowds safely we will,” Andrews said on Wednesday.

“In terms of there being different settings (for regional venues), well, again, if it’s safe to have different settings then we probably would.

“But it’s just a matter of doing whatever is safe.”

Originally published as AFL fixture latest: Eddie McGuire floats early grand final as AFL locks in Round 22 games