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Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury suggested yesterday that he would be open to a nighttime AFL grand final after attending the Super Bowl.
I can see how this appeals to people and appreciate what a spectacle it could be, but I think it’s a bad idea.
First of all, why throw 115 years of tradition out the window? What excuse would the AFL use – “We’re doing it because we can”?
I fear that this will happen eventually.
Perhaps a twilight grand final at 4:40pm wouldn’t be so bad – the Hawthorn v Adelaide 2012 preliminary final in the 5:15pm time slot wasn’t terrible.
But what we will miss most with a night grand final is the whole grand final ‘day’ feel. For many of us, it’s the biggest day on the calendar, and a day we cherish every year.
I’d like to think we want to keep alive the grand final day BBQs, the task of chosing the first goal kicker and Norm Smith Medallist, and then the all-important 2:30pm bounce.
Again, I must ask both Pendlebury and those in favour the age-old question: “If it ain’t broke, why fix it?”
I see this as another ‘bright idea’ from the USA and it’s far too much of a glitz and glamour concept.
Why do we seem to want to blindly follow the Americans? Our big day doesn’t require over-hype and sparkly things.
Here it’s about the game; the main event. And this should not be overshadowed by annoying sounds and bright lights.
It’s a game, not an amusement park.
Is daytime not ideal for younger children as well?
I’m not taking a pot-shot at Pendlebury or Collingwood, because they’re not the first to raise the idea.
But please keep the day grand final in tact. After all, it’s the way it should be.
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