Twilight gets the nod for local AFL decider
AFTER a false start in season 2019, AFL Cairns will break new ground this season and play a twilight grand final.
The concept was first introduced 12 months ago but the 2019 showpiece event reverted to a day fixture to avoid a clash with Aussie rock legend Jimmy Barnes, also playing in town that night.
Local clubs voted 6-1 in favour of a 5pm bounce down for the season decider, instead of the traditional afternoon fixture.
“In our research, clubs have been hanging out for that twilight timeslot,” Craig Lees, AFL Cairns’ Football Operations Manager, said.
“It was a no-brainer for the league when we have a vote like we did from clubs.
“If we remember back to the semi-final last year, between Manunda and City Lions, which was played later in the day, it was a great atmosphere and well attended with the lights on.
“It will be a sensational grand final timeslot and we are looking forward to promoting it in great conditions without the wind we usually have in the afternoon.”
Four-time defending premiers Port Douglas were the only club to not vote in favour of a later start for the grand final, a game the Crocs are used to winning often.
The national AFL competition have flirted with a twilight grand final for much of the last decade but is yet to officially make the change, despite ongoing posturing.
The 2020 local season concludes with a top-four final series at Cazalys Stadium, with a twilight timeslot for the Grand Final at 5pm on Saturday, September 5.
The AFL Cairns competition will start in the last weekend of March, with the season brought forward a fortnight to allow for international cricket to be played at Cazalys Stadium.
Clubs for the second year in a row will play 16 matches over 19 rounds in a seeded draw.
“The equalisation formula introduced in 2019 had a great impact on the back end of the season when six teams could have played finals with three rounds to go and two new teams qualified for finals,” Lees said.
The AFL Cairns Women’s fixture will be released in late February with a focus on triple headers with both senior and reserves matches.