Remove this Banner Ad

AFL Grand Final Grand Final Win-Loss Records

I wish the team that finished higher in the H&A got a home grand final. Does any other competition in the world always host their decider at the one venue?

Might’ve made sense for a VFL comp but not for a national comp.
With the obvious exception of the USA, where playoff systems are used in all professional sports to determine the season champion team, most overseas team sporting competitions are decided by a season long league system and as such don't have a 'decider' in the same sense as our GF. The English FA Cup knockout competition does in fact hold its decider final at the same venue every year ( other than excptional years determined by events outside football).

Australian Rules football champions have been decided by post season systems of various design since their inception in the late 19th century. I'm not sure if we originated the concept as don't know when American football started using post season playoffs. Given that it is relatively more common for an inferior team to beat a better side in soccer than in our game, particularly since the introduction of penalty shootouts, it's not hard to argue that in that code of football the season- long league system makes sense for awarding the season's top honour. That said, it's interesting that the A League has followed the other football codes in this country in adopting a finals system leading to the GF winner receiving the top accolade. They do also award a title to the team finishing top of the league after H& A, but it carries less prestige.

The obvious reason ( aside from contractual obligation) for the MCG to host the GF each year is that it's capacity is between 66% and 400% greater than the home grounds of other teams which might have claim to hosting rights based on performance in the home and away season and lead up finals. And while the home and away fixture itself is so plainly compromised in terms of equity, the argument for a change will remain weakened further.
 
So back in the 90s, when the Grand Final logos emobossed on player jumpers used to say "95th Grand Final" etc, right up to "100th Grand Final" when North won it in 1996 and received a gold premiership cup for the centenary of the league,...that was all completely erroneous, yeah? Trust the AFL.
I always wondered if it was real 24 carat gold or just gold plated.
 

Remove this Banner Ad

AFL Grand Final Grand Final Win-Loss Records

Remove this Banner Ad

Back
Top