The AFL Grand Final Is Officially Coming To Perth

After weeks of speculation AFL Chief Executive Gillon McLachlan today announced that the 2021 AFL Grand Final will be played at Optus Stadium, after the Victorian Government declared it won’t be able to host the event at the MCG with a crowd.

It was only a week ago McLachlan declared Perth was the preferred home in the case of Melbourne being unable to, and with COVID-19 cases there still too high today it became official. “It wouldn’t be in the best interest of the community to host a grand final at the MCG in front of a crowd,” McLachlan said, also adding, “To all Victorians, we will back at the MCG bigger and better in 2022.”

“The announcement today gives us the clarity and time needed deliver the competing clubs and fans the best Grand Final experience possible… The stadium in Perth with a capacity crowd of 60,000 in attendance will be an amazing spectacle.”

As far as what time the game will start, McLachlan said he wasn’t sure, but it will likely be later than the traditional 2.30pm AEST start time.

WA Premier Mark McGowan shared a brief update via Social Media following the news, saying: “It will be a spectacular and historic event – and it will be held safely, on our terms, under our strict protocols and conditions, as we have with all sports over this past year. The event will not pose a risk to the WA community and our border controls will not change to accommodate it.”

The AFL Finals series comes to Perth this weekend, with Geelong playing Greater Western Sydney on Friday night in a do-or-die semi-final, with the following weekends preliminary finals also to be played at Optus.

More to come.

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