AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan. Picture: AFL Photos

AFL boss Gillon McLachlan says Saturday night's Toyota AFL Grand Final is the perfect way for the League to 'unemotionally' assess having an evening premiership decider in the future.

The Gabba clash will begin under lights at 6.30pm local time having been shifted outside of Victoria for the first time in history due to the state's second wave of COVID-19. 

GRAND FINAL PREVIEW Tigers v Cats, stats that matter, who wins and why

Speaking alongside the all-Australian entertainment line-up for the clash on Thursday, McLachlan said the AFL would see how the night game goes before deciding whether to shift the traditional timeslot into the future. 

"We'll see. What it does now in a way that's unemotional – out of Victoria, a different state – I think people feel that it's a good time to have a look at it," he said.

03:59

"We'll see where we get to on the final siren on Saturday night. I think everyone then will be able to have an objective view, having looked at it from start to finish. It's going to be a beautiful lead-in to the game and there'll be something at half-time and a winner hopefully after double extra time. 

FIRST BOUNCE What time does the Toyota AFL Grand Final start?

"Then everyone can judge a night Grand Final on its merits. That's another part of this year, that we get to actually objectively have a look at it without all the overlay of the traditional element to the MCG on Saturday."

Watch AFL On Demand

A free entertainment destination showcasing the best of AFL

Watch Now

The AFL has selected an all-Australian musical offering for the clash, with DMA'S, Cub Sport, Thelma Plum and Andrew Stockdale from Wolfmother set to play at the Gabba before the game. Local band Sheppard will then take on the half-time entertainment.  

While the potential of thunderstorms are predicted for Brisbane around the first bounce, McLachlan said he was unconcerned about wild weather, even referencing former US president George Bush's approach. 

"Hopefully 2020 has shown we have a plan pretty much for everything. Obviously, there's a lightning policy but we're not going to need it," he said.

"Absolutely certain it is going to be a perfect evening, it's going to be clear skies and 28 degrees, there's going to be no rain, no lightning and even if it comes, as George Bush famously said, we're going to get nature to co-operate with us. 

DANGER v DUSTY Superstars to collide for rare Grand Final gift

"It's been that sort of year. Forget what the meteorologists are telling you, it's all rubbish. It's going to be perfect and we're not worrying about the weather at all. We've worried about enough this year."