VFL Park was, almost, home of the AFL Grand Final

You can’t think of the Australian Football League or AFL Grand Final without marvelling at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). 

There’s nothing like the roar of a packed MCG crowd, the sound of the first bounce, iconic siren, and walking home with a hot jam donut in your hand. 

Aussie rules grand finals have been played at the MCG since 20 September 1902 when the 'Pies enjoyed their first premiership victory over the Bombers. 

But did you know that in the 1980s, the Victorian Football League (VFL) (now the AFL) considered moving the grand final from the MCG to VFL Park in Mulgrave (now Waverley Park)? 

Historic records reveal the Cain Government stepped in. 

History of grand finals being played elsewhere

The 1940s saw a 4-year departure from grand finals at the ‘G, with the MCG serving as a military camp during World War 2. 

Crowds instead flocked to Princes Park and Junction Oval. That was until grand finals resumed at the ‘G in 1946, where the ground was greeted by another Essendon match in front of a crowd of more than 73,000 people. This time, Essendon saw victory over Melbourne. 

Cabinet records from 1983 reveal the Government’s objection to the move

The Register of Cabinet Decisions, opened for public access in January 2026, lists every Cabinet meeting held between 1982 and1992 throughout John Cain Jr and Joan Kirner’s terms as Premier. 

In a February 1983 meeting, the Victorian Cabinet expressed concerns that a VFL Park expansion would lead the VFL to host grand finals there from 1984 onwards. Cabinet agreed that:

‘…the Government does not believe that a city of Melbourne's size can support two sports stadiums of 100,000 + capacity. That the Government believes that the VFL grand final must remain at the Melbourne Cricket Ground…’

It appears the decision did not come without some budget allocation to ensure this didn’t happen. The Government pledged to support improvements to the MCG, from installing lights for the night games we now know and love to upgrading the toilets. 

They also vowed to support an increase in seating capacity over a 10-year-period. 

Negotiations between the Government and VFL

An agenda and briefing paper from the same meeting reveal negotiations at the time:

‘…The issue of the location of the VFL grand final is important. The Government has no control over this and the VFL’s agreement to its continuation at the MCG will be subject to negotiation.’

The Government noted that surveys proved public support for keeping grand finals at the MCG, and that funding sources for the Southern Stand should be explored to expand seating. 

And so, talks continued and even extended beyond the scope of the grand final to reflect a wider societal push to remove unequal access to public spaces:

‘…any change to membership arrangements…should include negotiations over the removal of discrimination against women.’ 

Changes to MCG policies on women

Premier John Cain Jr was well known for his opposition to the MCG’s policy on not allowing women in member’s areas of the stadium. 

Paul Strangio, Emeritus Professor of Politics at Monash University says Cain: 

‘…spurned invitations where his wife, Nancye, could not accompany him, and threatened action unless (sporting) clubs abolished these archaic practices.’

This included the MCG. 

Changes to the MCG in 1983 and 1984

Cain got his way. 

Not only did the VFL keep the grand final at the MCG, but the ground also opened their members pavilion to female guests, and lights were installed (despite strong opposition – see our 2019 blog for more on the light installation debate). 

In 1990, redevelopment of the Southern Stand began. According to the MCG website:

‘Part of the agreement stipulated that a minimum of 45 AFL matches, including the grand final, preliminary final and at least two other finals, must be played at the MCG annually for 40 years from 1992.’ 

Explore the Cabinet records

Discover this fascinating moment in the MCG’s history through our collection of Cain and Kirner Cabinet records, opened on 1 January 2026.