Search

show me:

Flexibility on GF venue unlikely: AFL boss

3 minute read

Perth's first AFL grand final looks set to be a resounding success but league boss Gillon McLachlan doesn't think that means rotating the venue is on the cards.

AFL CEO GILLON MCLACHLAN.
AFL CEO GILLON MCLACHLAN. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty Images

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan doesn't expect rotating the grand final venue to become a trend but other big games could easily be taken to Perth.

Perth's Optus Stadium will host the season decider for the first time, a year after the Gabba did the same, with general public tickets selling out within nine minutes.

The AFL has a contract with the Victorian government for the MCG to host the decider up until 2059 and McLachlan didn't expect that to be revisited.

"In short answer, no. People can always revisit agreements. I don't think there is any discussion or any appetite for the Victorian government to do that," he told ABC Radio Perth.

"What I would say is if you take Dreamtime (this year), it certainly put it in everyone's head that maybe other big games should be coming to Perth.

"There has been discussion about Dreamtime, as an example, would you do that every third year in Perth? What does it mean for other big events?

"Could we do something different to really play into this market? Because when you've got games selling out so easily for non-Western Australian teams, it makes you think a bit differently about it, I must say."

McLachlan said the financial windfall from a Perth grand final compared "pretty strongly" to one at the MCG due to "more corporate infantry."

"It's not the same, but it's a really attractive part," he said.

"It's not the only reason we're here, clearly, but in a COVID ravaged couple of years, touch wood this thing gets away, it will plug some holes, no doubt about that."

McLachlan said he was unsurprised by the momentum and rapid ticket sales of the Perth decider.

"To have an AFL grand final (here), it hasn't happened before, and to have a stadium of the quality and the scale of this one, I think we always thought it was gonna be a huge event and a huge thing," he said.

Think. Is this a bet you really want to place?

For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit www.gamblinghelponline.org.au