Tradition has won for now with the AFL sticking with a 2.30pm AEST bounce for this year's Grand Final.

Chief executive Gillon McLachlan confirmed the decision on Friday morning.

The debate about moving the Grand Final to a twilight time slot intensified as the new $2.508 billion media rights deal began.

McLachlan said the AFL had consulted widely with clubs, players and key stakeholders in recent weeks, while also tracking the public discussion.

“There is a wide range of views about our match time for the Grand Final, from those strongly supportive of leaving the start time unchanged to those equally strongly supportive that gains could be made in exposure and further profile of our game with a later start,” McLachlan said.

“After taking in all the feedback from the widespread debate in recent weeks, it was the recommendation to the Commission that there was still not a compelling reason to alter the start time for the highpoint to our season."

The League confirmed on Friday morning the Commission had accepted McLachlan's recommendation to keep the game in its traditional Saturday afternoon slot for this season.

The Grand Final will be staged at 2.30pm AEST on Saturday, September 30.