Equally the grand final debate has been an easy distraction in dull times like these when no football to speak of has taken place and the game's biggest talking points have been drugs, untried new rules, allegedly overpaid executives and Gillon McLachlan's now-secret salary.
To analyse why McLachlan told a briefing of senior journalists and commentators that the decision had not been made is not a complex exercise. Yet again he grabbed plenty of headlines, yet again he opened up the debate. And he injected a sense of drama into the AFL's season launch. McLachlan's address followed after further build-up to an announcement by his chairman. The chief executive's speech was something of a personal love letter to football combining his passion for the game from boyhood along with its traditions with the need to be bold and challenging when progress demanded it.
The only time McLachlan's predecessor looked at moving the start time was after the Collingwood-St Kilda draw of 2010 when a David Leckie-led posse of Seven bosses figuratively gang-tackled Demetriou and his chairman Mike Fitzpatrick in the Olympic Room at the MCG pushing for a twilight replay. But Demetriou succumbed to tradition, saying at the time that once the Saturday day final was gone it would never return. He said that about the centre bounce, too.
Not one club president or CEO was consulted. It is the commission's right to make these historic calls of great significance but surely the 18 clubs must be part of a decision like this. The public might be softening thanks to the AFL's media strategy but supporters still largely oppose a move. So do the players.
Ditch the behind posts and put a crossbar on the goal posts, that'll attract rugby supporters, then use a round ball for the soccer fans, before you know it we'll have a truly inclusive indigenous game, then sit back and watch the world beat a path to our door.
when did the twaddle of 'launches' official organisation launch and official team launches start