CONTENDERS TO HOST THE 2020 AFL GRAND FINAL
* GABBA
Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk thinks her state deserves the grand final for accommodating Victorian clubs for the home-and-away season. While the Gabba’s official capacity is listed as 39,202, the biggest crowd for an AFL game is 37,478 for last year’s qualifying final between Brisbane and Richmond.
* METRICON STADIUM
It seems a long-shot with the biggest AFL attendance at the Gold Coast ground being 24,032, but there is potential to fit many more people in. For the 2018 Commonwealth Games, crowd capacity was extended to 40,000. Not exactly in a commuter-friendly location, but an enjoyable ground to watch football at nonetheless.
* ANZ STADIUM
The Olympic Stadium hasn’t played host to an AFL game since the 2016 qualifying final, but it boasts the biggest attendance capacity apart from the MCG. A potential crowd of more than 80,000 would be tempting for the AFL despite it never being a popular venue for fans or players.
* OPTUS STADIUM
The new home of West Coast and Fremantle has plenty going for it. The glitzy new stadium opened in 2018, it’s ideally located, can host up to 60,000 people and it’s in a traditional Australian rules football state. Looms as a frontrunner.
* ADELAIDE OVAL
With South Australia well on top of the coronavirus situation, Adelaide would be a safe option. Adelaide Oval is a fan favourite and is right in the heart of the city. The AFL would be guaranteed an electric atmosphere with a capacity crowd of about 54,000.
* MCG
The prospect of a grand final away from the MCG for the first time since 1991 is growing more likely by the day. Despite the ground boasting a capacity of 100,024 and the state government signing a contract for the AFL decider to be played in Victoria until at least 2057, the coronavirus situation has just about made it impossible in 2020.