By MARK CASHMAN

The Sydney Rugby Union are working towards playing the Shute Shield grand final at night in a radical move that is designed to appeal to a larger television audience.

Brookvale Oval is the likely venue on Saturday October 31 and if all things come together all grades could be played there throughout the day in what will be a genuine festival of footy.

“All things being equal it will be at Brookvale Oval and it will be at night,” SRU chairman Phil Parsons told SWR Sports this week.

“Northern Beaches Council have been very supportive of the move and we will continue to work closely with them.

“The 7pm time-slot is the thinking (for kickoff) that we have at the moment. It’s obviously late in the year to be playing footy so a game at night means we will get a better game.

“Obviously our broadcast partners will be part of the decision making process but they are happy with the product that we have delivered so far.”

Parsons added that night finals could be on the agenda for the entire playoff series.

“It has been an unusual year with everyone coping with Covid-19 and all its ramifications but we can see the opportunity to do something completely different,” he said.

“We are yet to settle on exactly what that will be but if any year is the year to mix things up this is the one.

“It’s a chance for the Shute Shield to set itself apart from anything else that is out there.”

IMAGE: ADAM MCDONALD / MANLY MARLINS