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The league plans a change of schedule for the AFLW GF
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The league plans a change of schedule for the AFLW GF

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The AFL is seriously considering holding the 2024 NAB AFLW Grand Final in the evening, a first for the men’s and women’s competition.

Players line up before the qualifying final between Melbourne and Adelaide on November 4, 2022. Image: AFL Photos/Getty Images

THE AFL is seriously considering the possibility of a first-ever night Grand Final for this season’s NAB AFLW decider.

While a final decision has yet to be made, it is understood that the League has recently been sounding out clubs and key stakeholders over the possibility of the 2024 NAB AFLW Grand Final being held under lights in a primetime position for the first time. time.

Although the date of November 30 has been setThe venue for the Grand Final remains unknown, as AFLW rules dictate it be hosted by the highest-ranked qualifier, although clubs have realized there is now a chance the season’s main event could be played at night, regardless of where it is held.

It would also likely mean that the finals campaign features a series of finals from Friday to Saturday throughout the semi-final and preliminary final weekend to ensure adequate breaks before a potential Grand Final on Saturday night, similar to what occurs in the male competition.

The potential for a night Grand Final arises as the League continues to assess the AFLW’s position on the calendar, with the AFL also considering an earlier start to its 2025 campaign.

The possibility of the season starting earlier would allow for greater crossover between matches with the men’s competition, as well as a shorter turnaround between their respective Grand Finals.

The AFL has been flexible in the timing of its AFLW Grand Finals throughout the competition’s eight seasons, with four so far held on a Saturday and three, including the last two, on a Sunday.

Last year’s decider between North Melbourne and Brisbane took place at Ikon Park on a Sunday at 2:30pm AEDT, the latest kick-off time in AFLW history so far, but still in the traditional AFLW time. late.

The AFL has explored the potential of a night or dusk Grand Final for its men’s competition but has only experimented with hosting its main event under lights during the Covid-19-disrupted 2020 and 2021 campaigns.

The 2020 Grand Final, held in Queensland, was played at night, while the 2021 decider in Western Australia was played in twilight at 5:15 pm local time.