Geelong and GWS “home” finals

[tigers_of_old_08]

Hello,

I’m new to the game and something doesn’t make any sense to me…

Can someone explain why Geelong can’t play a home final at their home ground, which holds 40k, yet GWS get to play a home final at their home ground which only holds 25k.

Simple. NSW doesn’t have the MCG — the home of footy and the biggest stage in the Southern Hemisphere. Finals are about showcasing the game at its premier venue, not squeezing 40k into Kardinia Park when you can pack 100k into the ‘G.
Geelong’s just unlucky their backyard isn’t big enough for September.

 

[PenfoldsFan]

But it doesn’t. Does it. Being better everywhere than everyone else is what makes us make the top 4.

Deal with it you sook.

Zzzzzzz got one.

 

[StackedHunch]

It's amazing how socially conditioned Cats fans have become to start parroting an argument about something they'd never have demanded a decade ago. All because Melbourne taxpayers had the temerity to expand their stadium and give them an armchair ride through H&A.

 

[Hoops]

Not if it were the Giants who won hosting rights it wouldn’t. If that means I miss out on tickets so be it. It would be held at Engie prelim finals have been held there

Time will tell, but I think I'm right. As I have been told by numerous people on big footy, its the state not the club that host the final.

 

[Ralll]

I'd guess if Geel played a Freo type in the lower bracket they would get a home final, and if GWS played a big 4 team in the upper bracket it would move to the SCG.

 

[Mr MysteryGuest]

Hello,

I’m new to the game and something doesn’t make any sense to me…

Can someone explain why Geelong can’t play a home final at their home ground, which holds 40k, yet GWS get to play a home final at their home ground which only holds 25k.

The real reason is God hates geelong and is tired of seeing them win, do he forces the AFL to make play on the MCG against their will

 

[Stopher]

I honestly think Geelong would benefit from having ALL home games at Geelong, not just the ones that are convenient most of the time.

If they insist that even home games against Collingwood must be played at their own ground, it'd make it much harder for the league to shove them off to the G come finals time.

There's always been a big claim that they generally make more $$ from Geelong home games, as opposed to the Melbourne-based 'home' games. There has to be a critical number of attending fans involved here.

 

[The_Todd07]

I honestly think Geelong would benefit from having ALL home games at Geelong, not just the ones that are convenient most of the time.

If they insist that even home games against Collingwood must be played at their own ground, it'd make it much harder for the league to shove them off to the G come finals time.

There's always been a big claim that they generally make more $$ from Geelong home games, as opposed to the Melbourne-based 'home' games. There has to be a critical number of attending fans involved here.

Cats make loyalty pledge

Cats make loyalty pledge

www.foxsports.com.au

This article is from 2009 so it's obviously a bit old but it still gives a pretty good idea of the numbers involved.

Back then we needed 80000 at the G to make $700000, so about $9 per person. In Geelong we made $25 per person so earned about the same from 25000 fans. This is due to us controlling all revenue streams, not just getting a cut from ticket sales.

If you take the 2009 ratio of GMHBA v MCG, with 40000 seats, the MCG isn't big enough to make the same money.
Even with only 30000 at GMHBA, you would need close to 90k at the G and our biggest ever home and away crowd was set this year at 88k. Relying on setting records just to match the money made by a ok crowd in Geelong, doesn't seem like a sound financial decision.

It's not unreasonable that GMHBA is even more lucrative than 15 years ago because with a physically bigger stadium, comes more signage and therefore more sponsorship, there also more room for consessions etc

If anyone is pushing Geelong home games at the G for financial reasons, it's the AFL not Geelong

 

[Colonial]

Colonial thoughts?

As far as I’m aware, and haven’t seen anything otherwise besides opinion, it can still hold AFL and cricket games.

 

[Colonial]

Love that the Hawks are so outraged, more than Cats fans, but will happily take a home ground GF.

 

[bigdog54]

More than happy to play our finals at the G.
As far as I can see it’s actually neutrals who tend to try and make a fuss about this, not Geelong supporters.

Yep and your coach

 

[ray_purchase]

Hello,

I’m new to the game and something doesn’t make any sense to me…

Can someone explain why Geelong can’t play a home final at their home ground, which holds 40k, yet GWS get to play a home final at their home ground which only holds 25k.

Geelong get gifted a finals spot every season from their home ground advantage.

The least they can do is play on the MCG in finals.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

As far as I’m aware, and haven’t seen anything otherwise besides opinion, it can still hold AFL and cricket games.

It can’t after the latest configuration, the stage prior you are correct. Now the stadium is in a set position basically. It can’t hold AFL anymore not that we need it in Sydney. Should just develop Engie to holding 30k.

 

[PhatBoy]

Geelong get gifted a finals spot every season from their home ground advantage.

The least they can do is play on the MCG in finals.

We get gifted it by being better than most teams everywhere

If Melbourne could get some gifted players it might play finals more often.

 

[Sykes_]

Again I ask, why did nobody ever seem to care when St.Kilda and the Dogs were forced to host interstate teams in finals at the MCG instead of Marvel, but every time it's Geelong in the same situation, it's suddenly a problem?

I can have a crack at this one…

At least Saints and Dogs still got to play in their home city. Geelong have to play “home” games in a totally different city against teams located in that city… I know, it’s mind boggling

 

[BallaratBulldog]

Dogs should request home finals at Ballarat.

 

[Hawkk]

I can have a crack at this one…

At least Saints and Dogs still got to play in their home city. Geelong have to play “home” games in a totally different city against teams located in that city… I know, it’s mind boggling

To be fair, it used to be much, much worse. Below are the finals Geelong ‘hosted’ at VFL Park.

PF 1995 Geelong v Richmond
SF 1994 Geelong v Carlton
EF 1991 Geelong v St Kilda
SF 1980 Geelong v Richmond
EF 1976 Geelong v Footscray

That’s about a 2.5 hour trip in heavy traffic! Playing a Geelong v Footscray game at Waverley was especially brutal — but it drew a decent crowd (50,606)

 

[Gavin Excell]

To be fair, it used to be much, much worse. Below are the finals Geelong ‘hosted’ at VFL Park.

PF 1995 Geelong v Richmond
SF 1994 Geelong v Carlton
EF 1991 Geelong v St Kilda
SF 1980 Geelong v Richmond
EF 1976 Geelong v Footscray

That’s about a 2.5 hour trip in heavy traffic! Playing a Geelong v Footscray game at Waverley was especially brutal…

Waverley was the pits
And that bloody car park

 

[FootyLad0]

Geelong get gifted a finals spot every season from their home ground advantage.

The least they can do is play on the MCG in finals.

Our MCG record is almost as good as our Kardinia record.

Seems more like a skill issue from other teams

 

[Colonial]

Geelong get gifted a finals spot every season from their home ground advantage.

The least they can do is play on the MCG in finals.

Really? Giants never have an issue there.

 

[Sykes_]

Simple. NSW doesn’t have the MCG — the home of footy and the biggest stage in the Southern Hemisphere. Finals are about showcasing the game at its premier venue, not squeezing 40k into Kardinia Park when you can pack 100k into the ‘G.
Geelong’s just unlucky their backyard isn’t big enough for September.

This mentality is why this will never truly be a national competition - it’s the VFL until they do the right thing and start sharing the GF across states like the Super Bowl does.

 

[Blackhawk42]

I'd guess if Geel played a Freo type in the lower bracket they would get a home final, and if GWS played a big 4 team in the upper bracket it would move to the SCG.

Nah.

Geelong and Marvel tenants are only getting 'home' finals at those locations if all finals in week 1 are played in Melbourne.

As for GWS playing at the SCG, that would be well beyond the situation Geelong and the Marvel sides find themselves in.
Those clubs at least host home games at the MCG during the season proper, so the 'maximise the crowd' reasoning isn't the only one at play.
GWS only plays at the SCG in their away fixture against the Swans once a year. It wouldn't matter if they were hosting Collingwood in a preliminary final. It would be at the showgrounds.

 

[Seeds]

Hello,

I’m new to the game and something doesn’t make any sense to me…

Can someone explain why Geelong can’t play a home final at their home ground, which holds 40k, yet GWS get to play a home final at their home ground which only holds 25k.

Whats even more bizarre is the gws and the scg are in the same city.

Geelong and the mcg are not.

 

[Gavin Excell]

Nah.

Geelong and Marvel tenants are only getting 'home' finals at those locations if all finals in week 1 are played in Melbourne.

As for GWS playing at the SCG, that would be well beyond the situation Geelong and the Marvel sides find themselves in.
Those clubs at least host home games at the MCG during the season proper, so the 'maximise the crowd' reasoning isn't the only one at play.
GWS only plays at the SCG in their away fixture against the Swans once a year. It wouldn't matter if they were hosting Collingwood in a preliminary final. It would be at the showgrounds.

The Geelong v Freo final in 2013 from memory was because all 4 finals were being played in Victoria
Mathematically it's big odds that situation occurring. You still could schedule finals at MCG but would require AFL having a Sunday final which they seem reluctant do any more

 

[Seeds]

Nah.

Geelong and Marvel tenants are only getting 'home' finals at those locations if all finals in week 1 are played in Melbourne.

As for GWS playing at the SCG, that would be well beyond the situation Geelong and the Marvel sides find themselves in.
Those clubs at least host home games at the MCG during the season proper, so the 'maximise the crowd' reasoning isn't the only one at play.
GWS only plays at the SCG in their away fixture against the Swans once a year. It wouldn't matter if they were hosting Collingwood in a preliminary final. It would be at the showgrounds.

So?

Geelong being forced to play home games at the mcg along with home finals just makes the unfairness to geelong even worse.

Experience at the ground is not what makes home ground advantage. Its amount of your fans vs the opposition. Its travel time. Both are worse for geelong at the mcg then gws playing at scg. Regardless of how many times a year they play there.