Perth's Optus Stadium to host 2021 AFL Grand Final if fixture moved from MCG

With the AFL Grand Final likely to be held away from Melbourne for the second consecutive year, Perth’s Optus Stadium has been lined up to host the match if Victoria’s lockdowns prevent the MCG from staging the showpiece fixture.

Speaking at a press conference on this afternoon (Wednesday), AFL Chief Executive Gillon McLachlan advised that he expects a further announcement tobe made next week confirming the venue, with the Victorian Government set to make a decision if it can proceed or not.

The AFL had previously committed to playing the finals series in front of crowds, with the first weekend of the finals will be played at Adelaide Oval and UTAS Stadium in Launceston.

The AFL is keen to maximise the crowd attendance for the Grand Final, boosting commercial returns for the league that has suffered huge losses over the past two seasons.

The 60,000-capacity Optus Stadium is considered the frontrunner to host the 2021 Grand Final, although the Adelaide Oval is also seeking to host it.

The AFL said presentations for each option considered five key criteria - safety, integrity, fans, financial and legacy, all in the lead up to the code’s biggest game.

Optus Stadium in Perth ultimately was chosen as the preferred contingency based on the combination of the five key criteria and the ability to accommodate the greatest number of supporters.

Adelaide Oval remains as a strong backup and the Queensland Government, which did not provide a formal presentation, has also offered their support if required after hosting the Grand Final and most of the competition last year.

Last year was the first time the game had been held outside of Victoria, with the Gabba hosting the fixture in front of 29,707 spectators - 70% of its capacity.

With both Victoria and NSW remain in lockdown, with crowds not permitted to attend sport, while Queensland’s stadiums are at 75% of capacity.

Optus Stadium is currently able to be filled to 100% of its 60,000 capacity, however, there is a risk that the Western Australian Government will block fans attending should Covid cases pop up in the week leading up to the game.

The Perth venue hosted the ‘Dreamtime in the West’ fixture between Essendon and Richmond earlier in the season that was relocated from the MCG, with a crowd of 55,656 in attendance.

The AFL scrapped the pre-finals bye this year, with the finals kicking-off this weekend after the home and away season wrapped up on Sunday.

Instead, the week off may be used in the week prior to the Grand Final (which will still be played on Saturday 25th September), or even the Preliminary Finals should they also be played in Perth, to allow for a quarantine period.

The Victorian Government agreed to relocating the Grand Final to Brisbane last year, on the condition another year was added to the existing contract, ensuring the game would be played at the MCG until at least 2058, while the ground was guaranteed an extra two contracted games in each of the 2022 and 2023 seasons, taking the minimum number of AFL games at the MCG in each year to 45.