By Peter Douglas
AFL Yarra Ranges is set to cash-in on the AFL grand final long weekend, revealing the Division 1 grand finalists in 2018 will play on the Friday public holiday.
In an attempt to address a decline in grand final attendances, AFL Yarra Ranges will become one of the first leagues in Victoria to move away from the traditional Saturday afternoon timeslot.
The league failed to maintain a strong attendance this year for the league’s premier match, played out between Olinda Ferny Creek and Woori Yallock, with the league citing the popularity of the AFL preliminary final and other local grand finals held in the region.
AFL Yarra Ranges general manager Aaron Bailey said the move showed the league was being pro-active in its attempt to draw bigger crowds.
Mr Bailey hopes the change will see the league’s showpiece clash become a major event for the Yarra Ranges region.
“We want to make the AFL Yarra Ranges grand finals a key event on the football calendar in the eastern region; the move to the Friday public holiday is designed to create a showcase of our premier competitions,” he said.
“In 2017, we saw a decline in our grand final attendances through a contribution of factors, including the AFL preliminary final and other local grand finals in our region.
“Given the AFL Yarra Ranges is a progressive organisation … the opportunity is there to be the first competition to trial this. The commission and staff see this as a meaningful move for 2018.”
Mr Bailey said the change aims to create opportunities for more of the football and netball communities to be available to attend.
In 2018, the grand final will be held on Friday 28 September.
This season, Olinda Ferny Creek defeated Woori Yallock in the Division 1 grand final, claiming its first premiership in the top division, winning 18.17 (125) to 3.6 (24).
Meanwhile, the Division 2 grand finals will take place the weekend before, with this year’s decider to be played on Sunday 23 September.
All Division 1 finals will take place on Saturday (except the grand final), while all Division 2 finals will be played on Sundays, including the grand final.
In announcing the 2018 fixture, Mr Bailey said the Worksafe Community Championships will be held on 19 May, with AFL Yarra Ranges taking on South East Football Netball League.
The splitting of senior divisions’ final rounds will again occur on the weekend, with the AFL Victoria Community Cup (Country versus Metro) to be played, providing all Division 1 clubs with a bye.
