AFL COMMISSION Chairman Richard Goyder has declared he wants to give a twilight Grand Final "a go".
Ahead of next week's season-launch commission meetings, at which the Grand Final start time would be discussed and a decision announced on Thursday, Goyder expressed his belief that a later start would make for a better spectacle.
The latest start to a Grand Final has been 3pm (in 1999 when North Melbourne defeated Carlton), and in recent times it has been locked in at 2.30pm, but Goyder enthused that a twilight clash would enable the League to stage a half-time entertainment extravaganza.
"Then you could really put on a real show," Goyder told News Corp.
"While we're all traditionalists, a twilight Grand Final with the right entertainment would be amazing.
"We asked the club captains last year and the majority of them said they'd love a twilight Grand Final.
"Everything has to line up — you have to take the fans with you and there has to be good reason to do it.
"But, at the right time and for the right reasons, I think we should give it a go."
The Qantas chairman and former Wesfarmers chief executive said that staging the Grand Final at twilight rather than at night would better suit families with children.
"I don't think twilight would be an issue for the kids. They are some of the things we take into account because of all the great experiences people have had taking their kids. They remember that," Goyder said.
Channel Seven and Foxtel, who hold the TV rights until 2022, back a change to a later start.
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan will deliver his recommendation to the commission, but his position remains unclear. However, he believes that a later start time is "inevitable" at some stage.
"Our broadcasters are important but this is a decision for supporters," McLachlan said on Monday.
"The question is: could it be better by moving it a couple of hours? Twilight is an incredible slot.
"On the other hand, the tradition and history is so important. It won't be a money thing."
