THE AFL has decided to leave the Grand Final in its traditional 2.30pm AEST timeslot this year.

The season decider at the MCG will be played on Saturday, September 29.

The decision was made at an AFL Commission meeting in Perth on Friday. 

Chief executive Gillon McLachlan said he still believes the game will one day move to a later start. 

He said the AFL would continue to review the start time for the Grand Final on a year-by-year basis. 

"I think that going into the meeting I thought the decision could have gone either way, but in balance everyone was very comfortable to keep it where it was," he said.

"Heritage and tradition prevails.   

"When inevitable is I’m not sure, someone will change it one day, whether it’s next year (or) in 10 years I’m sure at some point there’ll be a change."

Part of the argument for a twilight Grand Final was the potential for a half-time spectacular featuring a big-name international act, but as yet the League has given no hint as to who it's after to perform this year. 

"The spectacle at night for certain parts of it could be amazing and better than where we are now, but there are aspects that are better where it is and that's the balance," McLachlan said.

"I know there'll be a lot of people happy that it's staying where it is."

McLachlan indicated a decision would continue to be made annually around March or April.