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Another finals anomaly
selected passages from Paul Gough's - "Another finals anomaly"
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selected passages from Paul Gough's - "Another finals anomaly"
At present Port Adelaide is top with West Coast in second, the Brisbane Lions in third and Sydney in fourth – all non-Victorian clubs whose respective home grounds of AAMI Stadium, Subiaco, the Gabba and the SCG would provide an enormous advantage come finals time where the home state side nearly always prevails.
Now presuming the top two sides win that would mean that for the preliminary final weekend the top-placed Power would again have home advantage at AAMI Stadium but the second-placed Eagles would have to play their preliminary final at the MCG to satisfy the AFL/MCC finals agreement.
But who would their opponents be?
Now presuming both Brisbane and Sydney rebounded to win their semi-finals this is where the benefit of finishing fourth as opposed to third kicks in because for the preliminary final week – where there is no second chance – they would go onto opposite sides of the draw.
That would mean the third-placed Lions would face the cauldron of AAMI Stadium against Port Adelaide while the fourth-placed Swans would suddenly find themselves playing West Coast at a neutral venue at the MCG and given their support in Melbourne would have far more of the crowd behind them.
Which path looks easier - playing a team in front of its own fans on home state soil or playing on neutral soil at the MCG?
