- Aug 11, 2012
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- Brisbane Lions
Before I get shot down, the MCG is without a doubt the best venue in Australia. And it should generally host the Grand Final almost always. I'm certainly not advocating an NFL style rotation. And I know that nothing can change with the agreement between the AFL & MCG until 2037.
But..... say Fremantle and West Coast make the Grand Final, or Adelaide and Port Adelaide, or Western Sydney and Sydney or Brisbane and the Gold Coast make the Grand Final (Okay these are very unlikely considering there has just been 1 Showdown finals match in the history of interstate cross town rivalries in the AFL). But it would seem almost wrong to make two teams and their fans travel from the same place halfway across the country, meaning a lot of native fans would miss out (there are only so many flights/coaches). It just seems wrong to play any cross town rivals thousands of kilometres on the other side of the country for any match. Wouldn't it make sense to play a GF between Port Adelaide V Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval, or between Sydney and Western Sydney at ANZ Stadium. Okay the capacity at and facilities at the Gabba and Patersons Stadium might be an issue (however the new Perth Stadium in 2018 will fix that problem for WA). But the AFL doesn't need to prove it can get 100,000 to a game of football, the league has done that at countless Grand Finals especially in recent years. Surely these sorts of games would have more meaning being played at the home of football in each state rather than at the MCG. I know this is a once in 50 year thing that will happen. But I guarantee once it actually happens and both teams are forced to play at the MCG, there will be a massive uproar.
Curious to hear other people's opinions on the matter and find out whether I have a whacky and crazy unpopular opinion.
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Also should the MCG become suddenly unavailable for the Grand Final for whatever reason. Is there a particular plan in place without Waverley Park these days? I assume the AFL wouldn't exactly be keen for a Grand Final at Etihad...
But..... say Fremantle and West Coast make the Grand Final, or Adelaide and Port Adelaide, or Western Sydney and Sydney or Brisbane and the Gold Coast make the Grand Final (Okay these are very unlikely considering there has just been 1 Showdown finals match in the history of interstate cross town rivalries in the AFL). But it would seem almost wrong to make two teams and their fans travel from the same place halfway across the country, meaning a lot of native fans would miss out (there are only so many flights/coaches). It just seems wrong to play any cross town rivals thousands of kilometres on the other side of the country for any match. Wouldn't it make sense to play a GF between Port Adelaide V Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval, or between Sydney and Western Sydney at ANZ Stadium. Okay the capacity at and facilities at the Gabba and Patersons Stadium might be an issue (however the new Perth Stadium in 2018 will fix that problem for WA). But the AFL doesn't need to prove it can get 100,000 to a game of football, the league has done that at countless Grand Finals especially in recent years. Surely these sorts of games would have more meaning being played at the home of football in each state rather than at the MCG. I know this is a once in 50 year thing that will happen. But I guarantee once it actually happens and both teams are forced to play at the MCG, there will be a massive uproar.
Curious to hear other people's opinions on the matter and find out whether I have a whacky and crazy unpopular opinion.
------
Also should the MCG become suddenly unavailable for the Grand Final for whatever reason. Is there a particular plan in place without Waverley Park these days? I assume the AFL wouldn't exactly be keen for a Grand Final at Etihad...