Friday September 20
First Preliminary Final, Hawthorn v Geelong Cats at the MCG, 7.50pm (series ticket match)
Saturday September 21
Second Preliminary Final, Fremantle v Sydney Swans at Patersons Stadium, 5.45pm
AFL Chief Executive Officer Andrew Demetriou said the AFL had determined that the match at Patersons Stadium would start at 5.45pm local time for a 7.45pm broadcast to the Eastern States after examining all possible homeward flight options for the visiting team.
Mr Demetriou said the Sydney airport curfew did not allow for evening flights out of Perth after a standard-time day game, while any potential flight for Carlton as the winning team from today’s semi final at ANZ Stadium had to be an overnight flight, due to flight schedules.
“We are greatly appreciative of the work of our partner, Virgin, to explore all available options for flights back to either Sydney or Melbourne in the lead up to tonight’s result being known, and for ensuring the best outcome for the Sydney Swans as the team travelling home from Perth next week,” Mr Demetriou said.
The preliminary final was therefore scheduled as a twilight-early evening game, regardless of whether Sydney or Carlton won, to maximise the number of people who could watch the match on television, before a post-match overnight flight for the visiting team to return home, should they win through to the Grand Final.
Hawthorn was previously placed to host the first preliminary final on Friday night, on the basis that it had finished top at the end of the premiership season and then won its first final. There was no consideration to swapping the Friday / Saturday matches as this would have affected the respective breaks for the winning semi final teams, Geelong and the Sydney Swans, into the preliminary finals.
Ends
Patrick Keane
AFL Media Manager
