The REAL reasons we don't get finals at GMHBA Stadium

Catters 070911

Club Legend
Oct 13, 2017
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Another finals series, another opportunity for the AFL to demonstrate its unfairness towards Geelong.

We play Collingwood week 1 of the finals at Collingwood's home ground. We finished first, they finished fourth (and ONLY got in the top four because WCE stumbled) and yet no reward for our six months of effort.

This happened in 2017 as well, when we were the higher team, yet played Richmond on their home ground.

The AFL also came out and said that we would not get finals at GMHBA Stadium, no matter who we played, because they want to "maximise capacity".

Okay, then, riddle me this, if it is about getting as many people to the game as possible, then how come GWS get a final at Giants Stadium, which is similar capacity to GMHBA Stadium?

I think there is more to this.

The double standard arises either because it is another example of the AFL gifting their love child, GWS, and doing everything to make them succeed,

OR

The powerful clubs in the league (e.g. Collingwood, Richmond, Hawthorn) actually run the league, and they bent Gil over and told him that Geelong are not to get finals at GMHBA under any circumstances (and if they had their way, we wouldn't play any games there either).

The fact is, these teams never play us in Geelong, because they are s**t scared, knowing that, at GMHBA, THEY CAN'T BEAT US THERE!

These teams know that if they play us there, they WILL lose. Not might, not maybe. They have no hope in Hades of beating us on our home ground.

These clubs resent Geelong becoming a "power" club over the last ten years, and rocking the established order.

I mean, look how Richmond get looked after. They get gifted their last eight H & A games at their home ground. Coincidence, or convienience?

I bet Richmond bent Gil over to get this, to give them the best chance in finals, since they don't want anyone to know that they Bradbury'd the flag in 2017.

If we played Richmond, Collingwood, or any of these teams at home, we would have won at least some of our Qualifying Finals there.

The established clubs hate it so much, that they ordered Gil to send out AFL stooge, and Richmond supporter, Caro, to say why Geelong should never get finals at home. I mean, why doesn't she just wear her Richmond scarf and beanie on the set of "Footy Classified"?

These clubs know that they cannot win at GMHBA Stadium, but we have beaten all three of them at the MCG.

I would love to see Richmond, Collingwood or Hawthorn drawn to play GWS at Giants Stadium in finals one year. Let's see if they sook up about it.

The AFL need to be honest. Gil needs to say that we will NEVER get home finals, and the real reason why (that Richmond, Hawthorn, and Collingwood are chickenshit sooks).

It might be a good thing that we don't have to capacity to fit many Tigers, Hawks or Magpie supporters into our ground. While they are there, it will lower the property values, and Geelong doesn't want a sudden crime wave.

When Gil says this, I want to see if I can see Brendan Gale's, Jeff Kennett's or Eddie McGuire's lips moving, as they have their hand up Gil's back.
 

goyoucatters

Norm Smith Medallist
Jan 31, 2008
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Okay, then, riddle me this, if it is about getting as many people to the game as possible, then how come GWS get a final at Giants Stadium, which is similar capacity to GMHBA Stadium?

The capacity of our ground currently is actually 50% greater than that of Giants Stadium.

And yet the Giants will not be asked to move any finals to the SCG, despite it having a far greater capacity to practically assist with 'maximising attendances'.

So, in the end, its painfully obvious that the AFL spins faster and better than S.K. Warne on this issue.

Which means that the GFC must (and will) simply get on with winning anywhere, anytime against anyone. But, as we do so, calling out the League for their blatant hypocrisy and nepotism regarding finals venues is entirely fine with me.
 

cynical

Cancelled
Dec 18, 2009
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because the MCG holds way more people and Kardinia Park is hugely unfair due to the unique dimensions

no one cares about a GWS vs Bulldogs final

interstate sides deserve more of an advantage due to the increased travel requirements they have to do throughout the year
 
Where is the "I don't care thread"?

You're in it - not sure anyone other than the media really care to be honest. It makes for a great story leading up to finals but I'm sure that come this morning that the club, players & coaches etc had put it behind them as they prepare for next week.

Blicavs was on one of the footy shows yesterday and as he said, we have a training ground at Deakin the same dimensions as the MCG so the team will be making use of that for training sessions
 

goyoucatters

Norm Smith Medallist
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Always find it bemusing when posters take the time to point out they 'don't care'. Having taken even a moment to articulate that, it's fairly clear they do. At least at some level.

Anyone who truly doesn't care hasn't even opened this thread, let alone contributed to the posting history.
 
Always find it bemusing when posters take the time to point out they 'don't care'. Having taken even a moment to articulate that, it's fairly clear they do. At least at some level.

Anyone who truly doesn't care hasn't even opened this thread, let alone contributed to the posting history.

I agree - this thread is kinda funny though
 
This has to stop. If we are good enough we win regardless of the venue. It is what it is. Didn’t effect us in the glory years.
Here’s a thought expirement for you:

Let’s say we played Collingwood at a neutral venue - say Marvel stadium - and we gave them a 3 goal head start. However we play well and win the game by a goal.

Now, is the correct characterisation of what has happened:

A. There was a disadvantage but it wasn’t determinative of the outcome (on this occasion)

Or

B. There was no disadvantage.
 
Im all for a good conspiracy theory but its bit much here.

The AFL are motivated by $$ an they want their expansions to succeed so they "build" things to suit their narrative.

They really dont give a toss about Geelong - we are a successful club and are somewhat independant (stadium wise) of the AFL venues and it shits them off.

AS for the $$, they on one hand refuse us the advantages of finishing top on the basis of money and ticket allocations, yet give GWS and the Doggies a home final at the same sized venue. They could move it SCG for more seata but that does not suit their agenda.

And to twist it a bit further, they give us a Friday night which has been shown to be more than moderately diffiuclt to attend for Geelong and Corio residents.

We can sit in the corner, turn blue in the face and pass out and the AFL would not care. We could not turn up and fail to support the team in protest and the first reaction would be "see you dont have enough supporters so what does it matter where we play you?"

Quite simply.. the AFL does not give a * about Geelong. IF they did, they would grant us 11 home games at KP. They would send Hawthorn, Essendon, Collingwood, Cartlon and Richmond to KP ( granted Richmond and Carlton have been recently... ) and this thread would not exist.

The best way to fix it.

Just win.

Andin doing so make it known, much like mark Webber said when he won - "Not bad for a number 2 driver" In this case... FU AFL we did it in spite of your best efforts.

Go Catters
 

Landgraft

Norm Smith Medallist
Dec 18, 2016
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Here’s a thought expirement for you:

Let’s say we played Collingwood at a neutral venue - say Marvel stadium - and we gave them a 3 goal head start. However we play well and win the game by a goal.

Now, is the correct characterisation of what has happened:

A. There was a disadvantage but it wasn’t determinative of the outcome (on this occasion)

Or

B. There was no disadvantage.

It's hard enough to get people to admit the outcome of a game wasn't the singular inevitable possibility.
 

xtatik222k

Club Legend
May 24, 2008
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It's just money, plain and simple. If Collingwood had to travel down the highway and play us in Geelong, the AFL would miss out on 60,000 tickets. That's literally millions of dollars in revenue. I think the AFL would be willing to take a pay cut for a certain percentage, but not a 60-70% pay cut. If we could hold 50,000 in Geelong it wouldn't be so bad and we'd be a chance to get a home final, but until that happens, this will remain the norm. The AFL is a business, and what about business is ever fair?
 
Chris Scott is too smart an operator, since his little comment on Saturday the club has stayed quiet while Maguire and co have been whipped into a frenzy, we know the state of play, is it unfair, yes, cant help the other Vic clubs being jelous of the fact we stood up to the AFL in 2000 and kept our home ground while they all like sheep got in line with the AFL's big venue policy.
 
Aug 8, 2007
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This has to stop. If we are good enough we win regardless of the venue. It is what it is. Didn’t effect us in the glory years.
It belies insecurity from the coach and the playing group. They're not confident they can win outside of their own ground, which constricts the opposition and plays into their current style of play. The champions of the 07-11 side and the coaches of that side didn't moan incessantly about the MCG - they weren't afraid of it. In fact, they embraced playing it, relished the occasion. It shows the fundamental difference between the two groups and why one was a triple-premiership legendary side and this group are perennial also-rans.

Good teams, premiership teams, get it done wherever. That Geelong side won plenty of finals at the 'G, even against MCG tenants. It was never a concern or an excuse, probably because we hadn't cultivated a gameplan which benefited from being played on an unusually narrow ground. The Saints in 2009 made a GF and were a couple of kicks away from winning it despite not playing on the 'G at all until the final round of the season and then playing every subsequent finals game there. Hawthorn beat the minor premiers on their home turf in Perth, their second WA trip in a month, and then won the flag the following week.

It is honestly appaling that we have not just played a plethora of finals recently but played most of them in Victoria (our first and only interstate final under Scott was the 2017 PF) and have the gall to complain about finals venues. The Bulldogs won a flag traveling all around the country. It reeks of the club being afraid they'll let the fans down again and doing pre-emptive damage control, crafting an excuse to obscure the repeated failure to stand up under finals pressure.
 

Scorpio

Club Legend
May 28, 2004
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It belies insecurity from the coach and the playing group. They're not confident they can win outside of their own ground, which constricts the opposition and plays into their current style of play. The champions of the 07-11 side and the coaches of that side didn't moan incessantly about the MCG - they weren't afraid of it. In fact, they embraced playing it, relished the occasion. It shows the fundamental difference between the two groups and why one was a triple-premiership legendary side and this group are perennial also-rans.

Good teams, premiership teams, get it done wherever. That Geelong side won plenty of finals at the 'G, even against MCG tenants. It was never a concern or an excuse, probably because we hadn't cultivated a gameplan which benefited from being played on an unusually narrow ground. The Saints in 2009 made a GF and were a couple of kicks away from winning it despite not playing on the 'G at all until the final round of the season and then playing every subsequent finals game there. Hawthorn beat the minor premiers on their home turf in Perth, their second WA trip in a month, and then won the flag the following week.

It is honestly appaling that we have not just played a plethora of finals recently but played most of them in Victoria (our first and only interstate final under Scott was the 2017 PF) and have the gall to complain about finals venues. The Bulldogs won a flag traveling all around the country. It reeks of the club being afraid they'll let the fans down again and doing pre-emptive damage control, crafting an excuse to obscure the repeated failure to stand up under finals pressure.

To me it belies insecurity from the fanbase if we're too afraid to make the argument because we're worried the team will lose.

The club has to keep being a pain in the ass to the AFL about this. It's about standing up for ourselves as a club and a city.
 

Generalissimo

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Jul 14, 2002
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The difference between Geelong and GWS home finals is that the AFL are trying to grow the game up there. For the AFL, a strong franchise in Sydney is worth investing in, even if it costs them money in the short term. That's why GWS can get home finals at their actual home ground, because they want them to be successful.
 

Spazz Cat

Brownlow Medallist
Jun 10, 2013
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It belies insecurity from the coach and the playing group. They're not confident they can win outside of their own ground, which constricts the opposition and plays into their current style of play. The champions of the 07-11 side and the coaches of that side didn't moan incessantly about the MCG - they weren't afraid of it. In fact, they embraced playing it, relished the occasion. It shows the fundamental difference between the two groups and why one was a triple-premiership legendary side and this group are perennial also-rans.

Good teams, premiership teams, get it done wherever. That Geelong side won plenty of finals at the 'G, even against MCG tenants. It was never a concern or an excuse, probably because we hadn't cultivated a gameplan which benefited from being played on an unusually narrow ground. The Saints in 2009 made a GF and were a couple of kicks away from winning it despite not playing on the 'G at all until the final round of the season and then playing every subsequent finals game there. Hawthorn beat the minor premiers on their home turf in Perth, their second WA trip in a month, and then won the flag the following week.

It is honestly appaling that we have not just played a plethora of finals recently but played most of them in Victoria (our first and only interstate final under Scott was the 2017 PF) and have the gall to complain about finals venues. The Bulldogs won a flag traveling all around the country. It reeks of the club being afraid they'll let the fans down again and doing pre-emptive damage control, crafting an excuse to obscure the repeated failure to stand up under finals pressure.
Agree 100%. Don't like CS going on about it all the time either.
Not really instilling confidence in the playing group.
Leave that s**t to the president.
I'd prefer something like Beverage yesterday. Basically F**k Yeah, we can't wait!
As a player you'd be like Whoa, our coach really thinks we can do this
 
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