VICTORIANS will have a public holiday for next year’s Grand Final parade.



Premier-elect Daniel Andrews has confirmed the state will have a long weekend for the Grand Final, beginning with a public holiday on Friday October 2.



"It'll be one of the best grand final parades ever," Mr Andrews declared on radio station 3AW on Tuesday night.



"I think it'll be a fantastic opportunity for families to spend time together and to share in what’s an iconic event," he said



"I think that it's just about recognising that families work hard, a lot of people are under a lot of pressure, and it's just the right thing to do."



Mr Andrews has been pushing to introduce the day off since way back in 2011, when, as Labor opposition leader, he called on then Liberal premier Ted Baillieu to introduce what he dubbed 'Grand Final Friday'.



Over the several years since it was first proposed, the plan has been met with varied reactions.



Some critics are concerned Melbourne's CBD won't be as busy without office workers out and about on their lunch breaks, while retailers and restaurant-owners are worried about the cost of paying penalty rates for staff.



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