DAY BY DAY

AFL rejects twilight Grand Final ... for now

THE AFL Commission has decided against moving the Grand Final from its traditional afternoon timeslot — but the change to a twilight event is inevitable.

Speculation had grown about a possible move from the traditional 2.30pm opening bounce to a twilight or night Grand Final.

But AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said the league’s commission decided to stick with the status quo — for this year at least.

He said the timeslot would be reviewed annually and predicted it was just a matter of time before a twilight Grand Final was trialled.

“But when inevitable is, I’m not sure,” McLachlan said.

“Someone will change it one day. Whether it’s next year or in 10 years, I’m sure at some point there will be a change.”

McLachlan said the decision about the Grand Final timeslot could have gone either way at yesterday’s commission meeting in Perth.

But tradition won out, much like late last year when it was decided the centre bounce would be retained.

One of the defining images from last year’s Grand Final was Richmond star Jack Riewoldt jumping on stage in the post-game celebrations to sing along with American rock band The Killers.

“He would have been exhausted if it (the game) was much later,” McLachlan joked.

“That sort of stuff was amazing. The spectacle at night for certain parts of it could be amazing and better than where we are now.

“But there are aspects that are better where it is and that’s the balance. There will be a lot of people happy to keep it where it is.”