GEELONG looks likely to host a qualifying final at Simmonds Stadium should the cats finish in a top two position.
AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou said this morning that Simmonds Stadium is seriously being considered due to Geelong’s right to a home final and the expected attendance for a potential game against Fremantle.
“Geelong Football Club finished second and they’ve earned the right to host at the MCG or Etihad, but the issue with Etihad is that we believe that would attract between 32-33,000 people,” he told ABC radio.
“I know the argument that last year they got 43,000 at the MCG, but that was a series ticket game, their were about 10,000 MCC members.
“Given that and the new capacity at Simmonds Stadium, and finishing second does earn you the right to have an advantage and we are seriously contemplating (playing a final in Geelong) as a one off – if they were playing a Victorian team or the Sydney Swans, you’d have to play it at a ground with larger capacity.”
Fremantle president Steve Harris hit back at the idea however, believing that the stadium was inadequate for a final.
“It is inconceivable that a venue such as Simonds Stadium, with a capacity of 33,500 and which has not seen a crowd greater than 30,082 this season, and with an average of only 26,740 in 2013, would be considered for a game that is likely to attract 40,000 to 50,000 people, including several thousand people from Perth who would travel to Melbourne to see the game,” Harris said.
Should Geelong be drawn to play Sydney, the game would not be played at Simmonds Stadium.
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FORMER premiership coach Paul Roos has ruled himself out of the race for the Brisbane coaching job.
News Limited report that Lions chairman Angus Johnson confirmed that Roos had formally declined to be considered.
“He contacted me midway through last week and informed me that, due to family reasons, he would be unable to relocate to Brisbane and was therefore ruled out as a candidate,” Johnson said.
“I have a good relationship with Paul and our discussions were always honest and open.”
Roos has yet to rule himself out of the vacant Melbourne coaching position.
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ESSENDON assistant Simon Goodwin has put his hand up to replace the vacancy left by James Hird in 2014.
Goodwin, who is coaching the Bombers this week, spoke today of his senior coaching aspirations.
“I’ve always set out to be a senior coach,” Goodwin told reporters at Bombers’ training at Windy Hill on Friday.
“If the opportunity arises you certainly have to look at it.
“I’ve been working with these guys for three years and they’ve been outstanding and we’ve continued to improve our footy over those three years.
“These guys deserve to have people around them that have been consistently within the program.
“That’s something I really value this playing group, they are very tight.
“We’ve gone through a lot together, especially in the past six-and-a-half months and I certainly feel a part of that.”
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CARLTON coach Mick Malthouse has revealed that small forward Jeff Garlett was dropped to the VFL last week for disciplinary reasons.
“The facts are out there and they’re right that it was a disciplinary issue,” Malthouse said.
“I never ever let the tail wag the dog.
“So it was a recommendation from the playing group, from the leaders that they spoke about the issue. We had already spoken about it as a match committee and our best advice to the playing group and to Jeff was that he played in the reserves and proves that he is back in touch with reality.
“He went back and played a very significant game.
“I’m not about to go through the pros and cons of what did take place.…let’s just leave it at that. He’s a very valued person, a very valued player. The playing group were very aware of it and it’s been resolved.”
Garlett is one of three inclusions to take on Port Adelaide tomorrow.
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Swan star Adam Goodes looks likely to miss the rest of the season after his attempts to begin running have proved “counter productive”.
“Running doesn’t help it at the moment,” Goodes said.
“The last time I ran was about a week ago.”
Goodes last played in Sydney’s round 13 clash with Port Adelaide.
The dual Brownlow medalist jokingly revealed yesterday that he might have more luck being fit for the International Rules Series in October.
“That’s why I’m resting up for now to be right for the International Rules series,” Goodes said.
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HAWTHORN remain in limbo as to the intentions of it’s star forward Lance Franklin.
Franklin, who yesterday appeared in Sydney to promote the upcoming International Rules Series, remained uncommitted to the Hawks and spoke of his love of Sydney.
“There has been a little bit of pressure and expectation from the football club in terms of a signing,” Franklin said.
“But for me I’ve always had that mindset I want to do it at the end of the season.
“I like Sydney. I obviously like Sydney a lot, but I enjoy myself in Melbourne and obviously love Hawthorn Football Club.
“As I’ve said from the start of the season I’ll leave that for the end of the season and from there make my mind up on what I’m going to do. But at this stage it’s Hawthorn where I want to be at.”
Hawthorn president Andrew Newbold reiterated that the club was willing to honour Franklin’s request to deal with the matter at the end of the season.
“As a club our whole focus is on the next five weeks. We are happy honoring his wish to deal with him after the season,” he said yesterday.
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BULLDOG veteran Daniel Giansiracusa has re-signed with the club for a further year.
The deal, which will be the last of his career, will lead to a coaching role with the club in 2015.
Giansiracusa revealed to Fairfax Media that he was taking an optimistic approach when deciding to continue for another year.
”All my plans for next year are on hold, in one way. In another way I get to prepare even better for life after footy, but the decision I made first was only about playing and I did that knowing that my passion is still there,” Giansiracusa said.
”A lot of people gave me all sorts of advice, so I weighed it all up and decided to take the glass half-full approach. I thought, why not?”
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