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From the VFL
ABC TV’s Head of Sport Iain Knight today announced that the ABC will cover live on ABC1 (free to air) the VFL Grand Final to be held on AFL Grand Final Eve at Telstra Dome on Friday, September 26.
AFL Victoria Chief Executive Officer Peter Schwab congratulated the ABC on their decision to show the VFL Grand Final live.
“Since our decision to celebrate Australian Football’s 150th birthday by holding a ‘Celebration of Victorian Football’ on AFL Grand Final Eve featuring the TAC Cup and VFL Grand Finals, we have been working with the ABC to formulate a broadcast strategy for the VFL Grand Final,†Schwab said.
“In a bold move, the ABC will contribute to our celebrations of ‘150 years of Australian Football’ by replacing a number of its popular Friday night programs with coverage of the VFL Grand Final from 7.30pm.
“AFL Victoria believes the hype of AFL Grand Final week celebrations and the fact it will be AFL Grand Final Eve, will provide a huge statewide and Tasmanian television audience (from 8pm) for the VFL Grand Final.
“While we expect both the TAC Cup and the VFL Grand Finals to attract a significant crowd being AFL Grand Final Eve in Melbourne, this live telecast will provide all Victorians, no matter where they live in the state, an opportunity to watch the best Victorian footy has to offer to ‘whet the appetite’ of footy fans for the AFL Grand Final the next day,†Schwab added.
The VFL (previously VFA) have had a long association with the ABC with their Saturday afternoon broadcasts, and the ABC has been associated with broadcasting Australian Football right back to 1958.
“We are looking to attract a 30,000 plus crowd to Telstra Dome to celebrate Victorian football on AFL Grand Final Eve and would hope that the ABC are rewarded for their decision by attracting a massive TV audience,†Schwab said.
