The 2020 AFL grand final has arrived - here is when Gilang and Richmond will face off, and how you can see it
It’s been the better part of two AFL seasons since Alex Rance last laced up the boots in Richmond’s backline.
But the retired champion will still have his fingerprints all over a small part of another premiership if the Tigers overcome Geelong on Saturday night.
Despite leaving the club at the end of last year, Rance has continued to be a mentor to emerging star Noah Balta, who has stepped up to replace the five-time All-Australian in the back half.
The 2020 AFL grand final is here, with Richmond and Geelong set for the final award at the end of the most turbulent season in recent memory.
As you might expect, a lot has changed this year. The grand final has been sent to Brisbane due to Melbourne's coronovirus status and the AFL have taken the opportunity to schedule the first night decoder in league history.
Everything you need to know before the big game.
“(Rance’s retirement is) a blessing in disguise but I’ve taken the opportunity and hopefully the Tiger fans like me just as much.”
Balta was taken at pick 25 in the 2017 draft as a versatile key position player who could fill roles at both ends of the ground.
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has finally settled on playing Balta in defence, and that stability has done wonders for his game.
“Last year when I had my 13 games, I was going into the games not sure, not having clarity on where I was going to play and it’s hard to prepare yourself for games like that,” Balta said.
“So this year it’s a lot easier, it’s pretty straightforward, I know what I’ve got to do and it’s fun playing.”
When is the 2020 AFL grand final?
Saturday, October 24 at 6.30pm AEST — that's Brisbane time.
Here is when the first bounce will be held in your time zone:
Victoria/New South Wales/ACT/Tasmania: 7.30pm AEDT
South Australia: 7.00pm ACDT
Northern Territory: 6.00pm ACST
Western Australia: 4.30pm AWST
Where is the 2020 AFL grand final?
At the Gabba in Brisbane.
The grand final has been forced out of Melbourne for the first time ever and after a lengthy bidding process, the AFL settled on the Gabba as its venue of choice.
Much of the season has been played in Queensland this season, with many teams from around the country forced into hubs on the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.
Who is in the grand final?
Richmond and Geelong.
The Tigers finished third on the ladder and the Cats fourth, and interestingly both teams lost their first qualifying finals — to Brisbane and Port Adelaide respectively.
But, having earned a double chance by way of finishing in the top four, both sides rallied to reach the grand final. Richmond is looking for its third premiership in four years, while Geelong is after its first since 2011.
Can I get AFL grand final tickets?
No, it's all sold out now.
For the first time in more than 20 years, a small number of general admission tickets went on sale earlier in the week, but all were snapped up remarkably quickly.
The Queensland Government has capped the attendance at 30,000 people and all of those seats have now been filled.
How can I watch the grand final?
Channel 7 has the rights for the TV broadcast, and the game will be on the station's main channel across the country.
ABC Grandstand will have live radio commentary, while you can follow the game online in our live blog.
What is the weather forecast for grand final day?
The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting a possible shower on Saturday afternoon, and says there is a chance of a thunderstorm from the late morning.
The max temperature for the day is expected to be 29 degrees, but will likely drop to around 23 degrees by game time.
