The board had discussed moving to a twilight start similar to the NRL on the back of financial benefits.

But after deliberations, the game has decided to honour its history, for now.  

"We’re going to keep it where it is," McLachlan said on ABC radio.

“The last three weeks, what’s been put out there is to have a chat. There hasn’t been anything really scientific about it but in the end we feel 2.30pm is what we want to do in 2017 because of a heap of issues."