Victorian Sports Minister Martin Pakula is not yet ready to concede the AFL Grand Final to Perth, despite his state’s current Covid-19 situation.
It would mark the second year the Grand Final has been played at the MCG – held in Brisbane at the Gabba last year because of Melbourne’s virus situation at the time.
“Look, the Grand Final is clearly very challenging, you know, we’ve got this current lockdown running until September 2, I think the Grand Final is scheduled for September 25,” Mr Pakula told reporters today.
“And, you know, I think it probably goes without saying that right now, it looks problematic, the idea that we would have tens of thousands of people gathered in one place that soon. Having said that, contrary to reports, we have not waved the white flag yet.”
Asked when Melbourne will wave the white flag, Mr Pakula said, “you are assuming that we will”.
“And I am not prepared to make that assumption. Look, what I have indicated broadly to the AFL is, at the end of this current lockdown period, so, around early September, we will see where we are,” he added.
“And we will have a grown-up conversation with them about that then.”
