Veteran journalist Caroline Wilson has blasted outgoing CEO Gillion McLachlan and the AFL over their handling of the grand final schedule, labelling the organisation’s yearly changes as “insulting”.
The AFL Commission last week confirmed that this season’s grand final will revert to its conventional start time of 2.30pm.
It follows a night grand final at the Gabba in 2020 and a twilight start in Perth last year, as both seasons were torn apart by COVID-19.
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Speaking on Nine’s Footy Classified, Wilson said the AFL should stop toying with the premiership decider by debating its start time each year.
“The AFL has got to stop treating the grand final as its own personal plaything. What other major world or Australian sporting event is tossed around and debated on such an annual cavalier fashion,” she said.
“Every year Gillion McLachlan and the Commission hint that the big day is going to start in a new timeslot, it’s insulting to the clubs, and even worse, football supporters.
“Unlike the last two COVID years, there was no excuse this season and even worse, the Commission took until the second half of May to make a call.
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“This has been one of the least attractive features of Gillion McLachlan’s leadership. Let’s hope the next CEO takes a long view and stops treating the game’s biggest occasion like a political football.”
The expectation had been that this year’s finale, which will be played at the MCG on Saturday September 24, would be scheduled as a twilight match.
“Every year Gillion McLachlan says, ‘It’s inevitable, the twilight grand final is inevitable’. I think it diminishes one of the grand occasions of this Australian sporting landscape to debate it every year,” Wilson said.
Known as a footy traditionalist who earlier backed a return to the 2.30pm kickoff, Wilson said she does not take offence to substituting the start time but feels the decision should remain consistent, at least for a few seasons.
“Just take the long view, say when you’re going to play it and play it,” she said.
“If you’re going to change it, change it for five years – don’t debate it every year.
“It cheapens the grand final.”
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