Preview 2020 Fixture

[MrChow]

If the GF is at the Gabba, Adelaide Oval, or Perth it will benefit whoever’s home ground that is.

Why not just make it a neutral ground?

For fairness though, in the last set of games BNE and GC should have to go to Perth for a hub, and WCE and Freo back to Qld.

Yes it costs the AFL more, but otherwise the home ground advantage will be through the roof.

It would be fair that teams play 1/3 of games at home, 1/3 on neutral grounds, and 1/3 away.

If for some reason we finish 3rd and have to go to either Perth or BNE in the first round of finals, after either of these clubs have not travelled for 10 or so weeks, this would suck balls.

No doubt the WA Government will change the rules so that teams could fly in/out for finals, if it advantages WCE. There recent attempt to get all the finals there, is probably an attempt to soften the hard stance to compromise with the public about AFL teams flying in/out for finals.

 

[Holden Hillbilly]

Neutral ground? Preparations and tickets sales are usually weeks ahead.

 

[gbear]

If the GF is at the Gabba, Adelaide Oval, or Perth it will benefit whoever’s home ground that is.

Why not just make it a neutral ground?

For fairness though, in the last set of games BNE and GC should have to go to Perth for a hub, and WCE and Freo back to Qld.

Yes it costs the AFL more, but otherwise the home ground advantage will be through the roof.

It would be fair that teams play 1/3 of games at home, 1/3 on neutral grounds, and 1/3 away.

If for some reason we finish 3rd and have to go to either Perth or BNE in the first round of finals, after either of these clubs have not travelled for 10 or so weeks, this would suck balls.

No doubt the WA Government will change the rules so that teams could fly in/out for finals, if it advantages WCE. There recent attempt to get all the finals there, is probably an attempt to soften the hard stance to compromise with the public about AFL teams flying in/out for finals.

Premiership sides are good enough to win regardless of where the game is being played. If Port are good enough to win this year, it will not matter where it is played.

 

[TeeKray]

No doubt the WA Government will change the rules so that teams could fly in/out for finals, if it advantages WCE. There recent attempt to get all the finals there, is probably an attempt to soften the hard stance to compromise with the public about AFL teams flying in/out for finals.

No chance, would make a mockery of their tough guy stance. The Premier said this weekend he doubts the border will even open before the end of next year. Either all the finals will be in Perth or none of them - and it'll be none.

 

[gbear]

Should have 2 more games at home out of the 4 remaining fixtures yet to be scheduled. My guess port will play Sydney and North Melbourne at AO. Would love to face both Collingwood and Essendon, but I doubt the AFL will oblige. I imagine the next condensed game fixture will be announced by weeks end or early the following week.

 

[Marmozet]

It'll probably be North and Sydney at AO and Collingwood and Essendon at Gabba/Metricon

 

[Footy Matt]

Premiership sides are good enough to win regardless of where the game is being played. If Port are good enough to win this year, it will not matter where it is played.

Got to disagree with this. Something as simple as the bounce of the ball, the weather, or one incorrect umpiring decision can decide a premiership on Grand Final day. Where the game is played definitely plays a part. Maybe when there is one clear dominant team then they’ll win regardless, but in a tight season you could be good enough but still not win it due to a number of factors, and many teams in the past have missed out on premierships which really they deserved. The competition, especially at the pointy end of the season is too tight to not acknowledge that things like which ground games are played on play a role in deciding the premier.

 

[Jason K]

Premiership sides are good enough to win regardless of where the game is being played. If Port are good enough to win this year, it will not matter where it is played.

It matters if it's in WA because only West Australian would be able to attend. Would be criminally wrong. Has to be in QLD or SA, or Sydney if the boarders are relaxed between NSW and QLD/SA

 

[Chewy316]

One thing I hadn't considered until Channel 9's report last night was Telstra have a massive digital rights agreement with the AFL, so the idea of the grand final being played at Optus Stadium in Perth could be one of those conflicting minefields. WA is already up against it given their hard border stance anyway, but I think the sponsorship issues put this all in the too hard basket.

Still think it will be held at the Gabba but Marshall should be giving it a good push to have it here. Need to up the crowd numbers back to 25k & hopefully are able to increase it more provided there is no community transmission for the time being.

 

[MrChow]

Premiership sides are good enough to win regardless of where the game is being played. If Port are good enough to win this year, it will not matter where it is played.

Yeah sure - because you are only a premiership side if you win the Grand Final, and you must follow what the AFL decides. And no doubT PAFC must have a play anywhere mentality to give themselves the best chance.

However, In a game of mms having the familiarity of playing on one’s home deck could be the difference of just one goal. In a tight one, that’s one flag.

Having less travel days is extra time for recovery/ ice baths, or fatigue from waking up at 4am to get to a game.

This is not about excuses. This is about ‘wishing’ the AFL prioritised fairness in all decision making.

Clubs shouldn’t have to lobby for this, through fans or ex player media personalities or club presidents, or players, or coaches. It should be at the heart of the mission statement of the AFL, and fixturing. So, Clubs can get on with attempting to win flags without all the b-s**t.

 

[PowerBaz]

Like with most things, it took South Australia a little longer to catch on.

But now Adelaide has joined Perth and Brisbane by officially throwing its hat in the ring to host this year’s grand final, the AFL has the perfect opportunity to create unprecedented interest in the journey to the biggest game on its calendar.
Hosting rights for this year’s decider should go to the team that deserves it.
Unlikely to be bound to its contract to stage the game at the MCG because Melbourne is unlikely to see games — let alone crowds — anytime soon, the AFL should announce this year’s grand final will be played at the ground of the highest-ranked preliminary final winner.
If current ladder-leader Port Adelaide finishes top and wins its two finals, Adelaide is the host.
If Brisbane manages to pinch top spot from Port and does the same — or the Power slip up once the real action starts — play the game at the Gabba.
Or if West Coast ends up qualifying for the grand final — and finished the minor round higher than its opponent — give it to Perth.
Most projections have the Power, Lions and Eagles finishing one, two and three after the 17-game minor round is complete so unless the season is completely tipped on its head at least one of them will win a prelim.
If the unexpected happens and a Victorian club like St Kilda, Richmond or Geelong manages to charge up the ladder and earn hosting rights, give them a choice of interstate grounds.
No doubt there’d be some significant logistical hurdles in only having seven or eight days to prepare but if this season has proved anything it’s that the impossible can be made possible — the benefits of this approach are numerous.

Optus Stadium would look spectacular with a full crowd of Eagles fans. (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)Source:Getty Images
Not only does the league reward the best-performed team in 2020 — and its fans — it also avoids a scenario where for example Port finishes top but has to play at Optus Stadium against the Eagles because Perth has already been declared the host.
That’s obviously not any different to the scenario that plays out often in Melbourne (every grand final from 2014-18 saw an interstate team that finished higher on the ladder forced to play at the MCG against a Victorian team) but if there’s an opportunity to be fair this season, why not take it?
The increased attention on ladder positions would add another element to the remaining games in the season.
And the prospect of a full house of diehard supporters — imagine Optus Stadium filled with 60,000 Eagles fans on grand final day — might be the only chance the AFL has of coming close to recreating the scenes we normally see each September at the MCG.
The alternative — for example having the Power and Eagles play at the Gabba — could produce a flat final note to a season that for all the sacrifices made to get it up and running deserves better.

 

[PowerBaz]

The GF IMO will be played in Qld - where the Vic clubs reside and have been getting used to the ovals.

Lets not kid ourselves, they will find a way to extend an advantage to them, make no mistake about that.

 

[Lightning_Rod]

Like with most things, it took South Australia a little longer to catch on.

But now Adelaide has joined Perth and Brisbane by officially throwing its hat in the ring to host this year’s grand final, the AFL has the perfect opportunity to create unprecedented interest in the journey to the biggest game on its calendar.
Hosting rights for this year’s decider should go to the team that deserves it.
Unlikely to be bound to its contract to stage the game at the MCG because Melbourne is unlikely to see games — let alone crowds — anytime soon, the AFL should announce this year’s grand final will be played at the ground of the highest-ranked preliminary final winner.
If current ladder-leader Port Adelaide finishes top and wins its two finals, Adelaide is the host.
If Brisbane manages to pinch top spot from Port and does the same — or the Power slip up once the real action starts — play the game at the Gabba.
Or if West Coast ends up qualifying for the grand final — and finished the minor round higher than its opponent — give it to Perth.
Most projections have the Power, Lions and Eagles finishing one, two and three after the 17-game minor round is complete so unless the season is completely tipped on its head at least one of them will win a prelim.
If the unexpected happens and a Victorian club like St Kilda, Richmond or Geelong manages to charge up the ladder and earn hosting rights, give them a choice of interstate grounds.
No doubt there’d be some significant logistical hurdles in only having seven or eight days to prepare but if this season has proved anything it’s that the impossible can be made possible — the benefits of this approach are numerous.

Optus Stadium would look spectacular with a full crowd of Eagles fans. (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)Source:Getty Images
Not only does the league reward the best-performed team in 2020 — and its fans — it also avoids a scenario where for example Port finishes top but has to play at Optus Stadium against the Eagles because Perth has already been declared the host.
That’s obviously not any different to the scenario that plays out often in Melbourne (every grand final from 2014-18 saw an interstate team that finished higher on the ladder forced to play at the MCG against a Victorian team) but if there’s an opportunity to be fair this season, why not take it?
The increased attention on ladder positions would add another element to the remaining games in the season.
And the prospect of a full house of diehard supporters — imagine Optus Stadium filled with 60,000 Eagles fans on grand final day — might be the only chance the AFL has of coming close to recreating the scenes we normally see each September at the MCG.
The alternative — for example having the Power and Eagles play at the Gabba — could produce a flat final note to a season that for all the sacrifices made to get it up and running deserves better.

Yet we as a state constantly trot out the tired line of "why do big acts always skip adelaide"

 

[JimmyBC]

I think Adelaide & Perth will garner favouritism for the GF from here on.. a GABBA GF would be flat as a tack

 

[TeeKray]

Giving it to the highest ranked team sounds good but the AFL won't do it like that.

It's an absolute bitch of a decision to make. The fact that the 3 grounds in contention are host to arguably the 3 premiership favourites makes it such a critical decision.

I must say, the thought of Port or the Eagles packing out AO or Optus sounds good but it also has the potential to create a Washington Generals scenario for an opposition team that isn't really what you're looking for with a grand final (think the farcical 2016 GF where Sydney were just cast as the team to be beaten).

 

[MitchIn3D]

I think that the GF should be hosted by the home ground of the team that finishes top of the ladder.

Gives a reward for the top team if they do make the GF whilst giving everyone enough time to sort out ticketing and stuff.

It would also create an incentive for teams to finish first, as opposed to just in the top 2.

Edit: This is a position I'd happily take up every year, not just because we're top at the moment.

 

[Grave Danger]

West Coast are preparing to leave the comforts of Optus Stadium after their round 13 clash with Greater Western Sydney.

And coach Adam Simpson doesn't think they'll be back home for the remainder of the home-and-away fixtures.

Eagles preparing to finish season on the road

West Coast are preparing to leave the comforts of Optus Stadium after their round 13 clash with GWS and coach Adam Simpson doesn't think they'll be back home for the remainder of the home-and-away fixtures.

www.theage.com.au

 

[Chewy316]

West Coast are preparing to leave the comforts of Optus Stadium after their round 13 clash with Greater Western Sydney.

And coach Adam Simpson doesn't think they'll be back home for the remainder of the home-and-away fixtures.

Eagles preparing to finish season on the road

West Coast are preparing to leave the comforts of Optus Stadium after their round 13 clash with GWS and coach Adam Simpson doesn't think they'll be back home for the remainder of the home-and-away fixtures.

www.theage.com.au

Assuming.west coast go back into a hub for the rest of the home and away fixture, they will have played 7 games at Optus Stadium.

Contrast that with Richmond and St. Kilda who have played 5 games in Victoria for the season.

After next weekend's game against Hawthorn we will have played 5 games at Adelaide Oval. Might get another 2 so we have 7.

The only teams getting a real leg up with the fixturing are Brisbane and Gold Coast.

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

I reckon Lockhart Road was right in the BBTB thread about McGuire being so nice to us in the call of the Richmond game, and that Collingwood will to play us at AO.

He doesn't want to fire up the natives especially given the PB issue and he heard loud and clear, how hostile our crowd was, and he doesn't want to give us any advantage when they play at AO.

 

[raman]

I reckon Lockhart Road was right in the BBTB thread about McGuire being so nice to us in the call of the Richmond game, and that Collingwood will to play us at AO.

He doesn't want to fire up the natives especially given the PB issue and he heard loud and clear, how hostile our crowd was, and he doesn't want to give us any advantage when they play at AO.

Hope he'll enjoy seeing a lot of black and white in the crowd if that happens.

 

[gbear]

West Coast are preparing to leave the comforts of Optus Stadium after their round 13 clash with Greater Western Sydney.

And coach Adam Simpson doesn't think they'll be back home for the remainder of the home-and-away fixtures.

Eagles preparing to finish season on the road

West Coast are preparing to leave the comforts of Optus Stadium after their round 13 clash with GWS and coach Adam Simpson doesn't think they'll be back home for the remainder of the home-and-away fixtures.

www.theage.com.au

That was a really poorly written article with so many grammatical and spelling errors!

 

[Grave Danger]

That was a really poorly written article with so many grammatical and spelling errors!

Oh dear - isn't The Age supposed to be the quality press?

 

[gbear]

I reckon Lockhart Road was right in the BBTB thread about McGuire being so nice to us in the call of the Richmond game, and that Collingwood will to play us at AO.

He doesn't want to fire up the natives especially given the PB issue and he heard loud and clear, how hostile our crowd was, and he doesn't want to give us any advantage when they play at AO.

It won’t matter regardless, if we play Collingwood at AO the crowd would be epic. It would be great if we can have 20000 again for that game if it was to occur.

 

[gbear]

Oh dear - isn't The Age supposed to be the quality press?

Clearly not. Not hard to proof read your work and utilise the spell check function.

 

[Capital Power]

Clearly not. Not hard to proof read your work and utilise the spell check function.

Completely OT but our local primary school had the following on its outdoor sign this morning "At X we are safe respectful leaners". If that's the standard coming from our schools, no wonder the press is struggling .