The Australian has reported that a night time start for this year’s AFL grand final is to be discussed by the AFL Commission in March.
The grand final is traditionally played at 2.30pm but no decision has been made for the start time for the 2017 decider, with the match potentially being pushed more than two hours later to a twilight bounce down or later in the evening.
Discussions have reportedly begun with major stakeholders, including grand final broadcaster the Seven Network, which is entering the first season of a six-year $2.5 billion rights deal.
In February last year, AFL chief Gillon McLachlan commented on a time change to the game. “I haven’t ruled it (a twilight or night grand final) out,” he said. “I’ve said it openly — there’s divisions on this. I haven’t ruled it out. At some point in the next 10 years, there’ll be a change.”
The 2017 fixture has other firsts for the league. Last year, the AFL commission gave the green light to scheduling its first ever Good Friday game.
Source: The Australian
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