AFL grand final locked in for Perth

The 2021 AFL expansive final volition beryllium held astatine Perth's Optus Stadium connected September 25, aft it was decided the MCG wouldn't beryllium a viable enactment amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Brownlow Medal relation volition besides beryllium held successful Perth connected September 19 to get the expansive last week celebrations underway.

AFL main enforcement Gillon McLachlan besides revealed the expansive last would statesman aboriginal than 2.30pm (AEST), with a commencement clip inactive to beryllium confirmed.

McLachlan said determination was nary mode they would commencement it arsenic aboriginal arsenic 12.30pm Perth time, ensuring it volition spell up aboriginal than the accepted expansive last clip slot owed to the clip portion quality betwixt Western Australia and the eastbound states.

The AFL brag added determination was inactive a consultation process underway with broadcasters and different stakeholders regarding the perfect commencement time.

McLachlan said that process would beryllium completed quickly, with an announcement expected successful the coming days.

"Throughout the past fewer weeks arsenic the pandemic continues to situation us, we looked astatine each the possibilities for holding the expansive last astatine the MCG," McLachlan said.

Perth's Optus Stadium. (Getty)

"I privation to convey (MCC main executive) Stuart Fox and the MCC for their continued enactment of shot and of america done the process.

"It has go clear, however, arsenic we proceed to navigate done these challenges that it wouldn't beryllium successful the champion interests of the assemblage to big a expansive last astatine the MCG this twelvemonth successful beforehand of a crowd.

"It has present meant that for play 2021 ... (the) AFL expansive last volition beryllium played successful Perth astatine Optus Stadium."

It volition beryllium the archetypal clip the expansive last has been played successful Western Australia and conscionable the 3rd clip the MCG has not hosted the game's showpiece event.

Victoria's Waverley Park held the 1991 expansive last betwixt Hawthorn and West Coast, which the Hawks won by 53 points, and The Gabba successful Brisbane saw Richmond bushed Geelong by 31 points past season.

As a effect of the expansive last being stripped from the MCG for a 2nd twelvemonth successful succession, the MCG's woody to big the landmark juncture has been extended to 2059.

The MCG volition besides big 8 other games betwixt 2022 and 2026 connected apical of the erstwhile agreement.

Richmond skipper Trent Cotchin and manager Damien Hardwick assistance the 2020 AFL premiership cupful astatine The Gabba successful Brisbane. (AFL Photos via Getty Images)

McLachlan acknowledged the resilience of Victorians, galore of whom are devastated astatine the expansive last again being taken distant from the MCG.

"To each Victorians, we volition beryllium backmost astatine the MCG bigger and amended successful 2022," McLachlan said.

"You person stuck by our crippled each year, and I cognize however hard it has been, particularly however challenging it has been for the assemblage of football.

"It has been a tricky season, not lone for the AFL, but for each your leagues.

"I privation you to cognize that precedence of the AFL to person you backmost up and moving for adjacent play arsenic you person our support."

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