The AFL has cancelled the traditional grand final parade due to ongoing uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, but the league is determined to reinstate it next year.
With most of the eastern states of Australia in lockdown and still no certainty about where the grand final will be held, the AFL announced on Tuesday that the grand final parade and the Footy Festival will be scrapped this year.
The grand final parade was also canned last year when the grand final was moved to the Gabba.
“We are really saddened that we are unable to deliver footy fans two of our annual lead up events to the grand final,” the AFL’s general manager of customer and commercial Kylie Rogers said.
“We have explored every avenue, but anything that involves a parade is difficult to deliver under the current challenges that are associated with the pandemic in the community.
“The AFL is absolutely committed to bringing the traditional grand final parade back to the city of Melbourne in 2022 and beyond.”
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick recently said he understood the AFL’s reasoning for needing to cancel the grand final parade, which normally attracts tens of thousands of people through the streets of Melbourne.
“One of the greatest things of the grand final week is that it is a celebration and it’s a people’s event,” Hardwick said late last month.
“It is sad that it will possibly be taken away, but I’m sure they’ll look to rectify it as soon as they can
“Unfortunately it’s the space we’re in at the moment. I’m sure it will be addressed over the coming years when things hopefully settle down.”
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan recently expressed his confidence that the grand final would be held at the MCG despite Victoria’s latest lockdown.
The league has contacted several state governments around Australia, including Western Australia and South Australia, asking them to come up with a plan to host the grand final in case the event needs to be shifted.
AAP
