By Peter Ryan and Jake Niall
The views of AFL CEO-elect Andrew Dillon were considered when the AFL Commission decided on Wednesday that the start time for the 2023 grand final would remain at the traditional 2.30pm start.
According to a senior AFL source who preferred anonymity as he was unauthorised to speak publicly, the AFL Commission, which has the final say on the timeslot, concluded that the rituals and history that surround an afternoon start should be maintained.
Chris Scott and Joel Selwood hold up the 2022 AFL premiership cup.Credit: AFL Photos
The source said the build-up to the game and the celebrations that followed an afternoon match were well established and there were still some logistical hurdles in the way of a twilight grand final.
However, there was an acknowledgement that there would be some advantages in how the game and entertainment could be presented if it was moved to later in the day.
The AFL also confirmed that the Brownlow Medal count would once again be held on the Monday night of grand final week after being held on a Sunday last year due to the Queen’s funeral.
The senior AFL source said the 2023 decider, to be played at the MCG on Saturday, September 30, would not have earned the AFL any more money if it had been moved to a later timeslot and the review also found that the ratings for a day, twilight or night grand final were not dramatically different.
The AFL has been able to compare the ratings for the 2020 and 2021 grand finals played at the Gabba and Optus Stadium respectively with last year’s day match. They also considered the natural dip in ratings that occurred after half-time in last year’s one-sided decider between Geelong and Sydney.
The announcement to maintain the status quo was expected after Dillon indicated a preference for an afternoon grand final soon after he was appointed.
Senior industry sources also said it would be difficult for departing CEO Gillon McLachlan to introduce a twilight grand final in the year he was departing and it would be a brave move for Dillon to make that call in his first year.
Twilight decider: the 2021 grand final in Perth.Credit: AFL Photos
Melbourne has never hosted a night grand final. In 2020, the decider was played at night in Brisbane and in 2021 it was played in a Perth twilight slot because the MCG was unavailable due to COVID lockdowns.
An AFL Fan Association survey revealed that the afternoon grand final was preferred while opinions among participants have varied.
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