AFL weighing up shock Grand Final switch to allow Origin return, as clubs try to end pre-finals bye

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The AFL is considering moving the Grand Final from its traditional end of September date for at least two years, while two top clubs are pushing to scrap the pre-finals bye.

Nine’s Eddie McGuire reported AFL heavyweights are debating whether to move the game into the second week of October for 2026 and 2027 for several reasons.

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It would allow a renewed State of Origin to launch the season, while also avoiding clashes with several major events in Melbourne over the next two years - the Formula 1 Grand Prix (which clashed with Round 1 this year), the NFL game at the MCG in early September 2026, and the special 150th Anniversary Test between Australia and England in March 2027.

“The season would start with a State of Origin football match, possibly played over two weekends,” McGuire explained on Nine News.

“The grand final move would stop clashes with the Grand Prix at the start of the year, the NFL game for points at the MCG, which would fit nicely into the bye weekend between the end of the season and the finals. And then the following year, the 150th Anniversary Test match between Australia and England.

“But most importantly, it gives players and fans a better start to the season and in the best conditions. It also means at the other end of the season, no clashes with rival codes for the three biggest games, the two preliminary finals and the grand final.

“So the AFL would maximise ratings and commercial activity. It would also be a daylight saving grand final in October 2026, which could lead to a night grand final.”

A total of 29 V/AFL Grand Finals have been played in October, most recently 2020’s which was delayed due to Covid, but also some games which bled into the early days of October because of how the calendar fell like 2015 (October 3) and 2016 (October 1).

A general view of the MCG as teams line up ahead of the AFL Grand Final match between Sydney Swans and Brisbane Lions at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on September 28, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos/via Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

It may not be the only change to the end of season schedule, with Sydney CEO Tom Harley making a submission to scrap the pre-finals bye.

“He has the strong support, ironically, of the Brisbane Football Club, the club that beat Sydney to win the premiership last year. Sydney hate the pre finals bye and they’re not the only club,” Caroline Wilson reported on Seven.

“Sydney went into that game (the Grand Final) having played twice in 35 days, they played once in 27 days to reach the preliminary final in 2016.

“Only two clubs have won the flag from outside the top four this century ... Sydney has been the losers on both occasions. To the Western Bulldogs, the year it was introduced 2016 and last year.

“Sydney believe there is no real advantage now to finish in the top four, certainly not in the top two and Brisbane agree.”

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