AFL confirms Saturday afternoon grand final for next two years
Updated ,first published
The AFL grand final will be played in the daytime for the next two years after the league found there was no “compelling case” for immediate change.
In a statement released on Sunday, the league announced that the start time for the 2026 and 2027 seasons will remain at 14.30 BST, but this may change in 2028 when the Tasmanian Devils enter the competition.
There was discussion about the grand final start time following the recent appointment of new AFL Commission chairman Craig Drummond, with some in the competition and broadcasting industry hoping the big night final would increase television viewership.
The twilight timeslot used for the 2021 grand final in Perth (a nighttime start for viewers in the eastern states) has long been seen as the league’s preferred option to move away from the afternoon, in part due to the time required for presentations and post-game festivities. The 2020 and 2021 grand finals were played away from the MCG as Victoria was in COVID quarantine at the time.
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said the start time for the grand final would be reviewed in two years but making the announcement now for the next two seasons was a way of providing certainty to fans.
“When we make the decisions, we put all our decisions around what’s best for football, what’s best for the fans and what’s best for the competition, and as we sit here now, we’ve made the call in 2026 and 2027 and I think that’s fantastic. It’s the traditional time frame and you look at a day like today – how wonderful,” he said.
He said the decision was not made quickly.
“It was more about the fact that we will have a 19th team in 2028, so we will have a different fixture structure, so there will be a lot of planning around Tasmania coming in and how the season structure will work, and grand final timing could be part of that as well.
“Lock it at 14.30 [in 2026 and ’27]just to give the certainty fans are looking for.
This year’s grand final will be played at the MCG on Saturday, September 26.
Drummond said it was “important to provide certainty to fans and clubs” for the 2026 and 2027 seasons.
However, he did not rule out the possibility of changes in the future.
“As we’ve said, we’re very focused on the fans, the football, the quality of the football product, but we’re not saying we won’t consider re-evaluating that in the future. But at this point, we think it’s really important to give certainty to our stakeholders and so we think two years makes perfect sense.”
Premier Jacinta Allan refused to comment on the timing of the match, instead citing the government’s support for holding an NFL regular season match at the MCG this September.
“No matter what time of day the AFL grand final is, it’s always an exciting event that can only be held at the magnificent MCG in Melbourne and Victoria,” he said.
AFL Supporters Association chairman Ron Issko said fans were being listened to.
“For generations, the grand final at 2.30pm has brought people together not only for the match but also for the shared experience around it. Families and friends can gather for a lunch or barbecue, enjoy the game and still have time to celebrate or unwind afterwards before it’s too late for the kids,” he said.
“Grand final day is more than just the match, it is a uniquely shared experience and the traditional time slot plays a vital role in this.”
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