THE AFL could look to extend the party to all 18 clubs in the lead up to Grand Final days in future, with CEO Gillon McLachlan impressed by the Super Bowl's celebration of American football.
McLachlan is in Phoenix for Super Bowl XLIX where he is casting a close eye on the running of one of the world's largest sporting events.
Attention has traditionally been focused on the two combatants in the build up to the AFL Grand Final, but McLachlan told SEN he liked the way all teams were celebrated at the Super Bowl.
"The one thing you take out of coming here is they're actually celebrating all 18 teams, all the players … the focus really is not about the (New England) Patriots and it's not about the (Seattle) Seahawks at this function," McLachlan said.
"If you look around, it's all about aspects of the game and celebrating different parts of it.
"That's quite an insight, obviously it's about the two competing teams in the Grand Final, but it has been a journey and there's been 18 teams playing all year and all of Australia watches it.
"How we [celebrate] that I don't know, but that's an insight I've taken out of today."
A major difference in the scheduling of the Super Bowl to the AFL Grand Final is the starting time of the respective games.
While the Grand Final has always been a day time spectacle, the Super Bowl kicks off late in the afternoon or early evening, as is the case this year.
Debate continues as to whether the AFL should follow suit, but although McLachlan was open to the discussion, he said he enjoyed the tradition associated with an afternoon Grand Final.
"The game's first … rather than what's going to deliver you the best pre-match entertainment," he said.
"I'm not saying we wouldn't look at it … I'm a bit of a traditionalist at heart and we've been playing in that slot and our day's been built around that.
"I sort of like that."
McLachlan also said the League was unconcerned with James Hird's Federal Court appeal against the legality of the AFL and ASADA's joint anti-doping investigation, which was dismissed on Friday.
Hird must now weigh up whether to take his battle to the High Court, although that is considered unlikely.
McLachlan said he was focused on the Anti-Doping Tribunal hearing in relation to infraction notices issued to 34 past and present Essendon players and one former employee of the club.
"Given the decision made the first time it (Hird's appeal) was obviously a long shot – it was what it was," he said.
"I really don't want to comment on it too much other than to say, this is about the Tribunal decision, that's the focus, that's where we've been looking anyway for the last weeks.
"The formal part of the thing will be done by the 18th of February, and then it's going to be about how long it takes to make a decision."
