The AFL could consider a twilight grand final as early as this year.
League chief executive Gillon McLachlan was coy on Friday when asked if a decision had been made on when this year's game would be played.
The grand final scheduling is one of the AFL's hottest topics.
The fact that McLachlan did not definitively rule out a change from the traditional afternoon timeslot this year inevitably will fuel speculation.
"We haven't even discussed it - it's not out there," he said.
"I have not had the discussion with anyone."
McLachlan was pressed on the issue at a pre-season media briefing.
Asked if he thought it would stay an afternoon game, he replied: "On the basis of history, you'd say yes.
"I'm not trying to be cute about it.
"I haven't even thought about it."
Last August, after the AFL confirmed its new $2.5 billion rights agreement, McLachlan said the commission was split 50-50 on whether the grand final should move to a twilight slot.
But the expectation was it would not happen until the new agreement started next year.
"I can't be definitive, because I haven't spoken to the commission," McLachlan said on Friday about what happens this year.
"I've said, openly, that (opinion) is divided.
"Has anyone put a proposal to me from within the building to play a twilight grand final? The answer is no.
"Eventually, at some in the next period of time ... there will be a change, at some point in the next 10 years."
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