AFL chairman throws support behind twilight Grand Final

Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett has unloaded on the AFL Commission after Chairman Richard Goyder backed a twilight Grand Final.

AFL Commission supremo Richard Goyder has thrown his support behind the prospect of a “twilight” Grand Final.

UPDATE: Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett has unloaded on the AFL Commission after Chairman Richard Goyder backed a twilight Grand Final.

Kennett slammed the Commision, saying clubs had not been involved in any decision to change the start time for the biggest sporting event in the country.

“The level of governance at the AFL … they should’ve been put up before (chair of the banking Royal Commission QC) Ken Hayne, I tell you,” Kennett told the Herald Sun today.

“They’re appalling. I’m totally disgusted at the way they’ve performed.”

AFL Commission supremo Richard Goyder has thrown his support behind the prospect of a “twilight” Grand Final, declaring: “We should give it a go.”

The AFL Commission will revisit one of the game’s most contentious topics next week, with a decision on the timeslot for this year’s Grand Final to be announced on Thursday.

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Kennett said he had no read on that decision – because they hadn’t spoken to him.

“I don’t have an opinion on a day-night Grand Final because it hasn’t been brought to my attention recently,” Kennett said.

“I see all the linking and establishing of the fact by the AFL Commission but as usual they haven’t consulted the presidents, who are the stakeholders and shareholders in the company, which is not unusual.

“There’s no recognition of good governance at all, there’s no recognition of the shareholders, they just leak, they set the scene and instead of consulting us first they go and talk through the press.

“They’re useless. I have no idea (when the Grand Final will be played).

“No one at the AFL talks to me about it.”

Footy fans and players are united in their desire to keep the Grand Final’s 2.30pm start.

Close to 70 per cent of Herald Sun readers today reacted to Goyder’s comments by declaring in an online poll they want the Grand Final to remain in the afternoon.

That vote follows 75 per cent of players surveyed last season rejecting a twilight or night decider. A whopping 97 per cent of players did not want to play the Grand Final at night.

More than 70 per cent of Herald Sun readers voted for a day Grand Final when asked the best start time in each of 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2015.

Outspoken Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett.

Mr Goyder, one of Australia’s most influential businessmen, said a later start from the traditional 2.30pm bounce would open up a prime-time entertainment package at halftime as night fell.

“Then you could really put on a real show,” said Mr Goyder, a former Wesfarmers chief executive and current Qantas chairman, as well as chairman of the AFL Commission.

“While we’re all traditionalists, a twilight Grand Final with the right entertainment would be amazing.

“We asked the club captains last year and the majority of them said they’d love a twilight Grand Final. Everything has to line up — you have to take the fans with you and there has to be good reason to do it.

“But, at the right time and for the right reasons, I think we should give it a go.”

Richard Goyder said a majority of club captains were supportive of the time change.

The comments constitute the strongest support yet for a twilight Grand Final, but it is unclear if it could happen this year. But Mr Goyder said he believed TV broadcasters were keen for the change and said twilight would better cater for children and families than a night Grand Final.

“I don’t think twilight would be an issue for the kids,” he said.

They are some of the things we take into account ­because of all the great experiences people have had taking their kids. They remember that,” Mr Goyder said.

Channel 7 and Foxtel have the AFL rights until the end of 2022. The later timeslot could be introduced for the start of a new rights deal.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan will present the commission with a recommendation on whether the Grand Final should stay an afternoon match, move to a twilight start or become a night game.

Goyder said the later start would open up a prime-time entertainment package at halftime as night fell. Picture: Mark Stewart

Mr McLachlan would not be drawn on what his advice would be, but said a later start time was inevitable “at some point in the future”, while ­conceding the majority of fans wanted the game’s showpiece event to remain in its trad­itional time.

He described a twilight ­final as an “incredible slot”.

The AFL this week reported a profit increase to $50.4 million last year, up $1.6 million from 2017.

Goyder said footy fans opinions should be considered. Picture: David Caird

Mr Goyder said the opening of Perth’s Optus Stadium, consolidated profitability of clubs, the broadcast rights agreement, a successful finals series and the new collective bargaining agreement with the AFLPA for AFLW players had all been ­significant in a year where the game’s all-time attendance records were broken.

He also revealed he closely studied the successes and failures of other sports to help shape his thoughts on what the future AFL should look like.

“The AFL is now a fairly sizeable enterprise and we’ll certainly have a balance sheet by the time I’m done,” he said.

Brisbane Lions chief executive Greg Swann said his club was happy with a twilight Grand Final.

Including reporting from The West Australian

Do you think AFL Grand Final should be moved to a later timeslot? Let us know in the comments?

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Originally published as AFL chairman throws support behind twilight Grand Final