A LOOK AT THE 2020 AFL GRAND FINAL BIDS
QUEENSLAND
Why the bid won: Queensland has looked after the AFL better than all the other states this year, housing the majority of clubs in temporary hubs since the season restart. All clubs will have completed their two weeks of quarantine in Queensland or South Australia by the end of the home-and-away campaign and the Gabba is slated to welcome about 30,000 fans at the grand final (the ground’s capacity is 42,000). The AFL views Queensland as a growth market and has received commitments of support from the state government that will help grow the game long-term.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
The bid: Runner-up to the Gabba and remains on standby if there is a significant COVID-19 outbreak in Queensland. Clubs are allowed to travel between South Australia and Queensland without having to quarantine and there are no doubts over Adelaide Oval as one of the best football venues in the country. A crowd of about 25,000 would be allowed to attend the grand final in the event of a late shift.
Why it was unsuccessful: It was a close-run affair, but McLachlan said Queensland’s work to accommodate the competition and its clubs from the season restart was “probably the overriding factor”. South Australia is a traditional football state and would not have the same growth benefits as Queensland.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
The bid: A full crowd of 60,000 may have been allowed on October 24 at Optus Stadium, which WA Premier Mark McGowan has repeatedly claimed to be the best major venue in the country.
Why it was unsuccessful: A seven-day “hard” quarantine for anyone entering WA presented a significant scheduling hurdle for the AFL. McGowan was unwilling to budge on the restrictions, which will also likely prevent West Coast playing home finals at Optus Stadium beyond week one.
NEW SOUTH WALES
The bid: ANZ Stadium is the second biggest stadium in the country but would likely have been at 25 per cent capacity (about 20,000), as Bankwest Stadium was for the recent A-League finals.
Why it was unsuccessful: The Victorian government and Melbourne Cricket Club, who both had a say in where the grand final would be moved to, were opposed to Sydney taking the marquee event. ANZ Stadium was never a venue loved by the AFL and hasn’t been used by the league since 2016. Never really in the hunt.
