The annual debate about a night or twilight Grand Final will be brought forward this year, with a decision on the 2019 premiership decider to be made next week.
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said on Monday the AFL commission would address the matter as part of its official season-launch gatherings in Melbourne late next week.
"There is a recommendation going to the commission next week," McLachlan said.
"We aim to have a decision next week."
The Grand Final has not started later than 2.55pm, and in recent years has had a 2.30pm bounce down.
While McLachlan has regularly said a change to the time slot would not be driven by financial pursuits, a twilight or night Grand Final would be commercially lucrative if it was to be "sold" to the host broadcaster Channel Seven.
Seven and pay TV rights holder Foxtel have the AFL rights until the end of 2022.
"The issues, the debate, it is always the same – managing progression with tradition, you balance those two up," McLachlan said.
"The core of the debate is no different … I think it (a twilight or night Grand Final) is inevitable, but that is a view for some time in the future."
Using next week's season-launch commission meeting to make a ruling on the start time of the Grand Final means the annual debate will be brought forward from the May or April meetings which have normally formalised the start time.
"Our broadcasters are important but this is a decision for supporters," McLachlan said. "The question is: could it be better by moving it a couple of hours?
"Twilight is an incredible slot, on the other hand the tradition and history is so important. It won't be a money thing."
McLachlan on Monday also announced the AFL would:
- Appoint a mental health manager to be based at AFL headquarters and work closely with all clubs. That person would report to football operations boss Steve Hocking;
- Be unlikely to change the current structure of the 22-game AFL season;
- Continue to review its Illicit Drugs Policy as part of its overall review and work on mental health.
"We believe, fundamentally, that clubs are best placed to deal with mental health of players," McLachlan said.
"It (the appointment of a mental health manager) will help co-ordinate set practices and be a point of contact for the clubs.
"This is as significant an issue we have in the game … within our industry it is not just about the players, it goes broader than the playing group."
Regarding the fixture, McLachlan indicated the push from some to reset after 17 rounds – with clubs to then be bracketed within ladder placements 1-6, 7-12 and 13-18 for the final five games – would fail.
"There would be a risk of having six clubs disconnected from the competition," he said of the 13-18 group which under that proposed system would be ineligible to play finals.
On Nick Riewoldt's recent comments that illegal drug use in the AFL was "out of control" and that players were "taking the pi.. because the system allows it", McLachlan said he had not felt the need to follow up privately.
"He is a respected figure in the game and we are always listening," McLachlan said. "It's an opinion that is important but there are a lot of opinions that are important."
