The AFL grand final will be played at Perth’s Optus Stadium but only if the Melbourne Cricket Ground can’t due to COVID issues.
AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan made the announcement at a hastily arranged press conference on Wednesday afternoon.
McLachlan said the Adelaide Oval had been considered as a venue too, but Optus Stadium’s superior capacity saw it come out on top.
Due to the AFL’s agreement with the MCG and the Victorian government, the league is not able to simply relocate the grand final if it wishes, the Victorian government itself must declare the MCG unsuitable to serve as the grand final venue.
Last year’s grand final, played at the Gabba in Brisbane, was able to be moved due to Melbourne being in lockdown at the time.
While the current COVID situation is highly volatile, it appears the AFL will not be able to take the decider away from the MCG if Melbourne exits lockdown before the day of the grand final.
However, with the Victorian capital highly unlikely to be capable of hosting a crowd of any real size by the end of September, it’d be a surprise to see the decider played at the home of football.
The AFL’s official statement reads as follows.
The AFL has today announced that Optus Stadium in Perth is the preferred contingency venue should the 2021 Toyota AFL Grand Final not be able to be held at the MCG.
With the blessing of the Victorian State Government, the AFL had been working with the Western Australian, South Australian and Queensland Governments on relevant contingency plans to host the Grand Final if the MCG is unable to host it.
Presentations considered five key criteria – Safety, Integrity, Fans, Financial and Legacy, all in the lead up to the code’s biggest game.
Optus Stadium in Perth ultimately was chosen as the preferred contingency based on the combination of the five key criteria and the ability to accommodate the greatest number of supporters.
Adelaide Oval remains as a strong backup and the Queensland Government, which did not provide a formal presentation, has also offered their support if required after hosting the 2020 Toyota AFL Grand Final, and most of the competition last year.
The 2021 Toyota AFL Grand Final is scheduled for the MCG on Saturday 25 September.
“On behalf of the AFL I would like to thank the Victorian State Government for their support and understanding as we continue to plan our 2021 Finals series.
“The support of all State Governments and health officials throughout the season has allowed our game to continue throughout some really challenging circumstances.
“The Western Australian Government and Premier Mark McGowan have provided the AFL with a great backup plan, with Optus Stadium
giving fans a great opportunity to attend if the match needs to move.“The end of the 2021 Toyota AFL home and away season capped off a sensational season of footy, and our focus now turns to delivering fans the best finals series possible and we are off to a great start with four sold out matches in Week One.”
“We will continue planning for the Grand Final to be held at the MCG, however today’s announcement provides us some clarity on a contingency if required.”
The AFL team will continue to work with the WA Government on the contingency plans.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
Kane Corned reckons that you could configure AO to hold 53000, and he'd know what he's talking about. Marshall offered a max of 30000, Gill said no. At 53000 you could eat each other's chips without moving your head. All jokes aside, there has been over 50000 in at least once so it's doable but too dicey. MM could pull the pin the day before and Perth Stadium would be empty. The rest of Australia had better be good.
Al
Guest
The country will be in a better place once the AFL stops getting preferential treatment over the rest of the population.
Dave
Roar Rookie
Unfortunately, with the way Victoria is tracking with the latest Covid outbreak, it seems unlikely that the game will held at MCG. Bearing in mind as well, crowds at the MCG have certainly not been a regular thing this year unfortunately either. The AFL will most certainly be aiming for maximum turnover of profits, which will only come from ‘bums on seats’. WA as a whole state have done a remarkable job in consistently having zero to very very few Covid cases, Optus stadium is a good ground with around a 60K capacity I believe, so pretty much a no brainer for my mind, and WA is certainly deserving of hosting the game as well in my opinion.
DarwinDee
Guest
As a Dees fan I honesty couldn't care less where the GF is - I'd prefer there to be no Covid restrictions obviously and life was normal but it's not... so if the choice is an empty MCG or a full Optus I'm happy with a full Optus. My opinion may however be swayed by the fact I can get to WA unlike most Melbourne supporters!!
DarwinDee
Guest
Not just people from Sydney that think that...
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
The AFL are like Rome safe in their Victorian citadel but fearing the Teutonic hordes to their north. Except it's SA & WA to their west.
DTM
Roar Rookie
This cosy agreement the AFL made with the Victorian Government is causing some issues. No one saw Covid coming but to sign a contract to hold the GF of our national game at one venue for 50 years was short sighted to say the least. Now we have the Victorian Government holding the AFL to ransom, stopping them from organising the event elsewhere - until the last minute. Perhaps this is being done to undermine the show piece that an alternative location may put on. Weakness by the AFL and arrogance by the Victorian Government.
J.T. Delacroix
Guest
Exactly. We should all be thankful that it’s going ahead anywhere.
Gary
Roar Rookie
'Dry, rock hard surface'... hasn't the surface improved since the first season? There certainly isn't as many injuries as a few years ago, probably time to move on. Given that the craypot has very similar dimensions to the MCG, Melbourne might feel more comfortable on this ground than Port or Brisbane... Geelong play enough on the MCG to be just as familiar as Melbourne. And, Perth Stadium will be a neutral venue.
Brian
Guest
5:15PM AWST 7:15PM AEST
Marty
Roar Rookie
It’s official. https://www.thebelltowertimes.com/afl-confirm-2021-may-be-the-first-grand-final-to-be-played-in-a-cave/?fbclid=IwAR1PrXQiNC7BmWuYbaYIlG7NJdyIvYMQ8_HeacMyeprTvVaBlRCIMYT7fUU
Chris
Guest
Give Perth the Grand Final and let's be done with it. Covid 19 should be gone by September 2022 and things can be readjusted. Western Australians do things rather well, so let's stop all this patronising talk and determine this year's Premiership there in style. There's just one snag, the members want to see their beloved Melbourne lift it at the G. By playing the game on a dry rock-hard surface like Optus it gives Port Adelaide and Brisbane a slightly better chance than the establishment would like. Elementary my dear Watson!
donnietaco
I highly doubt their aim is to match the profits of a full MCG, more like they just want a spectacle, a full stadium for the GF and this is the biggest one outside of Melb/Syd in a city that has had zero covid transmission for months. I like that it's a guaranteed neutral venue for whoever's in it.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
Forget which Sydney oik said once. “if you don’t live in Sydney,you’re just camping out’ Does it mean though that if Perth Stadium holds 60,000 and the MCG holds 100,040, that the AFL will jack the ticket prices up in proportion? As in 2019 Restricted viewing or standing room (cheapest) $155 now $250? Reserved seating (most expensive) $422 now $700? When you counted fares ,accommodation and elbowing the Members aside, it was over $2000 each to be in Melbourne in 2018. Lots of people would pay half that gladly. A WA mate of mine has been a Collingwood member since 1980 just to get into the MCG in the finals – he cares about the Pies, just not much lately…
Marty
Roar Rookie
Better give the cave a bit of a tidy up before the big day. Don’t want those sophisticated Sydney types thinking we’re a bunch of knuckle dragging hicks now do we?
Alchemist
Roar Rookie
So he's made a decision without actually making a decision.
Kane
Roar Rookie
Just start the game at 2.30 wherever it is played and the rest of the country will celebrate it whatever time it is wherever we are.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
So effectively it will be at Optus, almost impossible for Victoria having at least 60k in the ground by the 25th. Be interesting to see what happens from here, if they have a parade in Perth, what time the game is etc. Maybe McGowan could even give us a public holiday? :shocked:
Gary
Roar Rookie
It would be pretty ordinary to force a 12.30pm localtime start, earliest would surely be 2.30pm local (4.30pm AEST). The AFL might even use it as another opportunity to trial the evening slot... could be anywhere from 6pm-8pm AEST start. I guess they won't formally announce until definitely not at MCG.
.kraM
Roar Rookie
Guessing it will be twilight in the west, prime time in the east.