A VENUE for the AFL Grand Final is likely to be confirmed next week.
The 2020 season decider is set to be forced away from its traditional home of the MCG due to the impacts of the global COVID-19 pandemic, with Queensland and Western Australia both making plays for the game's showpiece decider.
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However, with the finals structure as well as the date and venue of the Grand Final still unknown due to the ever-changing nature of the COVID-19 situation, a number of significant events on the AFL calendar are still to be confirmed.
Collingwood president Eddie McGuire earlier this week suggested that a decision on the Grand Final's location would be known next Tuesday, but AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan has clarified that it could fall at any time next week.
"I don't know if it's Tuesday, but it will be next week," McLachlan told radio station 3AW.
"I think we've been pretty consistent … we're aiming for the end of August.
"We continue to work with the Victorian Government and wherever we land it will be in consent with them. I'm not trying to sound naïve, but we've got a contract.
"We're having very fair conversations with the Victorian Government, but it's increasingly looking challenging in Victoria.
"We're having conversations with others and I think all of that will come together and we'll have a decision by next week. Whether that's Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday I'm not sure."
As reported by AFL.com.au earlier this year, the Queensland Government has also made a bid to host the Brownlow Medal as well as the Grand Final due to Victoria's COVID-19 numbers.
McLachlan confirmed that it was indeed likely that the Brownlow Medal, as well as events like the Virgin Australia AFL All Australian announcements and the AFLPA MVP, would be held wherever the Grand Final is located.
"We haven't made a decision, but it's probably likely that they would go hand-in-glove," he said.
"But it's not certain. It's possible you could have all of the teams in Queensland and have the Grand Final elsewhere, I guess. We haven't made a decision on that.
"The structure of the finals and the Grand Final will be the first decision. Next week, that will be decided. Then the other awards and the Brownlow Medal will follow."
