The AFL has announced the 2022 grand final will start at 2:30pm on Saturday, September 24.

There had been some talk that the game would move to a twilight match, after the 2020 and 2021 matches played in Brisbane and Perth were held later than the traditional slot.

"Prior to the start of this season, we emphasised that after two really challenging years, we all yearned to return to the footy rituals and routines that set the rhythms of our lives, to continue to focus on getting back to football and going to football as we know it," AFL chief executive officer Gillon McLachlan said.

"That return-to-rituals principle underpinned our decision making in ratifying a traditional start time — the prestige, nostalgia and atmosphere of the day grand final is something we all know and love."

Speculation around the match moving to a later slot had gathered momentum in recent weeks, after the 2020 match was held at 6:30pm local time in Brisbane, while the 2021 match was held at 5.15pm local time in Perth.

Due to COVID restrictions, the 2022 grand final will be the first to be held at the MCG since Richmond defeated the GWS Giants by 89 points in 2019.