The AFL Grand Final will be held at Optus Stadium.

As Victoria continues to battle the latest outbreak of COVID-19 in the community, the AFL has officially announced that Perth will, in fact, host the 2021 AFL Grand Final at Optus Stadium.

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan today has addressed the media in Melbourne to announce that Western Australia will be hosting the 2021 AFL Grand Final at Optus Stadium.

“Western Australian footy fans are as passionate as any in the country, and the stadium of 60,000 will be an amazing spectacle,” states Mr McLachlan.

While the official time of the game is yet to be determined it is expected with the time difference between Perth and the east coast, the Grand Final is expected to be a twilight game.

The Grand Final start time is expected to be between 5pm and 5.40pm AWST which would then coincide with primetime on the east coast, allowing the AFL to make the most of the TV ratings. Plus it will allow the AFL to make full use of the Optus Stadium’s lights system to put on one hell of an extravaganza.

In a further coup for Western Australia, the Brownlow Medal night is also likely to be held in Perth on the weekend before the Grand Final on Sunday the 19th with the AFL having moved the end of season bye to the week before the Grand Final.

Preparations are also underway for a Grand Final parade which would be held on Friday, September 24 and will go down St Georges Tce.

Further Perth news on SoPerth.com.au.