2021 AFL Grand Final moves to Perth
AFL Grand Final locked in for Optus Stadium in Perth on September 25.
- Published by David Knox
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- Filed under Coronavirus, News
The 2021 AFL Grand Final will take place at Optus Stadium in Perth due to the ongoing pandemic.
AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan confirmed the news this afternoon.
The match will take place on Saturday 25th September at “a time to be determined.”
“We will be back at the MCG bigger and better in 2022,” said McLachlan.
“You have stuck by our game all year, and I know how hard it has been, especially how challenging it has been for the community of football.
“It has been a tricky season, not only for the AFL, but for all your leagues.
“I want you to know that priority of the AFL to have you back up and running for next season as you have our support.”
He is yet to finalise discussion with Seven, but acknowledges it is likely to be later than 2:30pm given the time difference.
It isn’t clear how many fans will be allowed into the WA stadium nor quarantine rules for teams.
Victorian Sports Minister Martin Pakula said “it wouldn’t be responsible” to rush crowds back to the football in time for an MCG Grand Final, and the decision had been made in the best interests of the game.
“The Grand Final should be played in front of fans if it can be,” he said.
“I want Victorian footy fans to know that we will be compensating for the agreement,” he said.
“We have been guaranteed extra premiership matches from 2022-2026.
“More football will be taken to regional Victoria.
“There will be a guarantee for WAFL matches at Victorian venues over a 3-year period starting with the 2021-2022 season, and the 2022-2023 AFL drafts being held here in Victoria, given the expectation that this year’s event may be a virtual one.”
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7 Responses
If an AEST 7:30 bounce happens, and the ratings are as good as people predict, expect a stronger argument for a night grand final in the future- tradition be darned!
Extremely disappointing again for Victorians
Hope its in HD on 7 as a lot of places still have 7mate in SD ! e.g. ACT
I don’t care where or when. I just want to see the mighty Dees in the Grand Final!
AFL GF will run simultaneously with the NRL Preliminary Finals and the RU Test between AUS-ARG. WA is two hours behind Vic. I think 7 will have a shortened 30 min bulletin at 6pm (AEST) before a pre-game of the AFL GF. This includes the retiring players as well as the entertainment (which is yet to be determined). A 7:30PM bouncedown will boost the Primetime shares up. I think Channel 7 will have huge numbers for this year’s AFL Grand Final.
Given WA is 2 hours behind timezone wise, Seven no doubt is pushing hard for a primetime slot on the east coast. Possibly 5.30pm bounce time in the west being 7.30pm in the east. Seven will no doubt still persist with 60 minute slot for 7News 6.00pm to 7.00pm.
Yeah they won’t start at 11:30am in Perth to make it 2:30pm eastern, however any time from 4:00pm to 5:30pm Perth Time would make Channel 7 happy I would think. As that will mean a 6pm or 7:30pm start eastern time and in Primetime for Ratings to push those percentage shares up like last year.
For mine I think 4:30pm would be the go Perth Time, makes it 6:30pm eastern and Seven could then run News prior to it from 4:30pm to 5:30pm to segue into all the Pre-game stuff, even though the News wouldn’t get Primetime percentages up though it’d still get good numbers.