The reasons Perth is shaping as favourite to host AFL grand final
The scene is set for Perth to host this year's 2020 grand final when the AFL Commission meets next Tuesday after hearing bids from WA, Queensland, NSW and South Australia.
Recent developments have Optus Stadium as the clear frontrunner, with even WA Premier Mark McGowan describing the situation as "encouraging".
The AFL could get 60,000 fans at a Perth grand final with the date now set for October 24.
The first decision that favours WA was the AFL's move to schedule its traditional pre-finals bye, paving the way for the grand final to be held on Saturday, October 24.
That date is significant as Mr McGowan has signalled WA could relax COVID-19 restrictions to phase 5 from then, which would see a 60,000-capacity crowd at Optus Stadium, further boosting the game-day atmosphere – as well as AFL coffers – which have taken a a massive financial hit this year.
The final piece in the puzzle is VenuesWest's decision to delay the start of its speedway season at Perth Motorplex – originally scheduled for October 24.
The state-government owned venue operator would not want a clash with the biggest sporting event on the Australian calendar.
Mr McGowan was typically tight-lipped about WA's grand final prospects on Thursday, but gave his strongest indication yet on the state's intentions when he called the AFL's one-week delay "encouraging".
"I can never read what the AFL are going to do. They're a mystery and an enigma," he said.
"It is encouraging that the [new] date is there, but I remind everybody that the AFL grand final is not the priority [for WA]."
WA and fellow frontrunner Queensland presented their cases to the AFL this week, with NSW and SA to follow on Thursday.
While it is likely most finals would be played in Queensland, with West Coast a chance to host some finals at Optus Stadium, the two grand finalists could still play each other in Perth if they remained in quarantine.
"The teams would have to go into the bubble at Crown, they have to have hotel accommodation and they can't mix with with anyone from the public," Mr McGowan said.
The October 24 date clashes with Victoria Racing Club's annual weight-for-age classic the Cox Plate, a day meeting at Moonee Valley, so the grand final would likely be a twilight fixture for the first time in history to avoid the AFL showcase going head-to-head with the NRL grand final on Sunday.
A twilight fixture at Optus Stadium would be some spectacle, given the $1.8 billion venue's state-of-the-art sound and lighting.
The AFL clubs have yet to be told the format for the finals series but it is understood the league wants clubs to have every opportunity to get their best players fit for the four weeks of action.
The home-and-away season would conclude on Sunday, September 20, with finals to start the first week in October and games likely to be played from Thursday to Sunday.