Why a Friday night grand final is the right call, despite a clash with Harry Styles

September 4, 2026 — 3:47pm

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It’s taken 10 years of constantly asking the question. But three rounds into season 11, we finally have the answer. Double-headers.

Footy fans have voted with their feet over the first three rounds, with AFLW attendances up by more than 50 per cent compared with the same stage last season.

The growth has been driven largely by five double-headers, which have drawn crowds as big 20,000, in tier one stadiums.

There could be one more on the way. If reigning premiers the Brisbane Lions defeat Sydney in the men’s qualifying final at the SCG on Saturday, there’s every chance the AFL will scramble to squeeze in another double-header on preliminary final weekend.

If the Lions win they’ll host a preliminary final in a fortnight.

Two of the women’s powerhouse teams, Brisbane and Adelaide, are scheduled to play at Brisbane’s home base in Ipswich the following day.

But the W game could be brought forward by 24 hours, to be played at the Gabba before the prelim.

Former Essendon president David Barham knows all about double-headers. He was the brains behind cricket’s Big Bash. As the head of sport at Network Ten, Barham introduced the concept in the early days of the women’s competition. And it worked. A........

© Brisbane Times