AFL chief executive-elect Andrew Dillon says he prefers the traditional AFL grand final time of 2.30pm ahead of twilight or night options.
The decider returned to its usual timeslot in 2022 and fan sentiment will likely again win out over the commercial push for a twilight start.
Dillon, announced as Gillon McLachlan’s successor on Monday, was asked what he believed was the best starting time.
“Best time? 2.30pm,” he told Fox Footy’s AFL 360 as part of a series of ‘fast money’ questions.
There is consistently commercial pressure to push back the opening bounce for better TV ratings.
Record-low ratings accompanied a return to the traditional afternoon timeslot last year, when Geelong thrashed Sydney in the first season decider played in Melbourne for three years – albeit that was after two previous years when the Victorian capital dealt with lockdowns.
Dillon had earlier hinted at his press conference he had preferred returning to a day decider in 2022 after night and twilight grand finals in the previous two COVID-19 affected seasons.
He attended all three of those matches.
“I went to my first grand final in 1976,” Dillon told reporters.
“I’ve been to two drawn grand finals, I’ve been to a grand final at Waverley, and I was fortunate enough over the last three years to go to a grand final at the Gabba that was at night, one at Optus Stadium that was a twilight grand final, and last year back at the MCG for a day grand final.
“They’ve all been amazing. I haven’t been to a bad grand final. But last year’s grand final was really good.”
© AAP 2023
