Following the roaring success of the weekend’s remarkable twilight Preliminary Final, there remains a chance that the Grand Final could move into that timeslot.

The day versus night Grand Final debate has bubbled along for years with traditionalists eager to stick with the 2:30pm slot, while others would like to see a night time start.

But in between is the twilight slot of around 5pm (give or take 30 mins) which has hosted 10 prelims over the last 15 years, including the extraordinary Hawthorn v Brisbane contest which was won in dramatic fashion by the Lions in front of 97,835 fans.

AFL CEO Andrew Dillon was asked by Gerard Whateley if that twilight slot provided the best presentation of the game.

“With that game we saw everything, and then you get the best of the daytime for the first half and under lights for the second half,” Dillon said on SEN’s Whateley.

Could that slot play host to a future Grand Final? Dillon says there are three main elements the AFL will consider.

“Look, I think at some stage that might be the case, but we will work through with our broadcasters, with the venue, with our clubs, and importantly the fans, and the fans showed out in force for the Preliminary Final on Saturday,” he added.

“But we would have had a similar number if it was at night, and we probably would have had a similar number if it was at 2.30.

“So when we're making our decisions, we're always looking at what's best for the footy, what's best for the fans, and what sets us up best for the future.

“They're the three filters that we'll put over it.”

At the culmination of that game, Hawks co-captain James Sicily and fellow defender Tom Barrass demonstrably approached umpire Hayden Meyer who had made a massive (and correct) decision at the death.

Meyer had rightly called Jarman Impey for holding the ball with Hugh McCluggage kicking a goal from the ensuing free kick which put the Lions back in front.

Both Sicily ($10,000) and Barrass ($5,000) were fined for their actions, with Dillon insisting that type of behaviour could bring about a suspension next season.

“We fined them because they’re the provisions under the rules and regulations as they stand,” the league chief said.

“I think it would be something we might look at in the off-season just to make sure that’s absolutely the right level of sanction.

“I’m not saying that’s the reason why but all of these small things can maybe add up. We need to respect our officials, we should be doing that, and it’s not good enough.”

Is suspension a possible outcome for similar instances in future?

“I think having that option - you may not want to use it and hopefully you wouldn’t have to use it - but having it there as a safe gap is something we might be looking at.”

Dillon also touched on the length of the game which has been a talking point in recent times.

The possibility of shortening the game when Tasmania enters the league in 2028 is on the agenda, but Dillon has made it clear that 20 minutes will remain the base for the length of a quarter.

“We talk a lot about that,” he said.

“But one of the things when you’re wanting extra scoring, the break between every goal adds a minute. So if we want scoring you will have slightly longer quarters.

“I think it’s when you’ve got the 20 minutes you want as much of that as being in-play rather than standing around waiting for boundary umpires to get set, or ruckmen to get in place.

“You can cut little bits off, but we want 20 minutes of play and I think what we saw on Saturday was amazing.”

Is your guiding principle 20 minutes?

“It is for me, and it’s just making sure you’ve got that when the ball is in play for that period of time,” Dillon said further.

“So getting rid of that dead time in between when it’s time off, making sure that’s as short a period as possible.”

The league's chief touched on a number of other topics with Gerard Whateley.

Listen to the full chat below: