The 2017 AFL International Cup men’s and women’s grand final will be played as curtain-raisers to the round 22 AFL matches on August 19 of this year.
The men’s grand final will be played prior to the Collingwood-Geelong Cats match at the MCG while the women’s grand final will be prior to the Carlton-Hawthorn match at Etihad Stadium.
AFL Head of Community & International Development, Grant Williams, said playing both grand finals at AFL venues would give greater exposure to the competition.
The sixth International Cup will be held in Melbourne, from Saturday August 5 to Saturday August 19, 2017. The carnival will include both men’s and women’s competitions.
The AFL International Cup is played every three years.
The PNG Mosquitoes are the men’s defending champions, after beating Ireland back in 2014 in a thriller 6.9 (45) to 6.6 (42). Canada are the defending women’s champions.
“We anticipate the fixtures will be released in early July,” said Williams.