- Aug 17, 2006
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An absolutely staggering decision by the stadium's management.
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Hawks and Cats shunted because of the Big Four?
- Thread starter Bazzar
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An absolutely staggering decision by the stadium's management.
Nah.
There are three days for sport to be played in Perth over a weekend and only two WA teams. The stadium has a perfect right to try and make as much money as possible.
As much as people liked to bag Waverley...it was in a rain belt, your car got bogged in the car park, no public transport, a bitch to get to, wooden seats, the players are so far away, etc.... it still had the capacity to host a final without any concerns about punters missing out. The VFL/AFL recognized Waverley was important enough to warrant having finals being shared between that ground and the MCG, up until the idea of a stadium out at Docklands got talked up in the mid 90s.
Today with Docklands, you get the feeling the AFL are embarassed about staging a final there and only do it if its absolutely necessary (4 Melbourne finals in Week 1).
Today with Docklands, you get the feeling the AFL are embarassed about staging a final there and only do it if its absolutely necessary (4 Melbourne finals in Week 1).
When have punters missed out on tickets to finals in Melbourne? Would you like to name said lockout game?
Okay... not so much punters missing out (perhaps just the possibilities of say a Hawthorn or Geelong pushing a potential sell out at Docklands in Week 1), but there was really no dreaded feeling of playing a final at Waverley... it was the MCG's big ugly brother down the road.
So its the vibe?
The AFL hate smallish crowds in finals.
For example a 30/35,000 crowd at Ethiad is probably equivalent to a 50-55,000 crowd at the MCG when you take into account AFL/MCC membership, Series Tickets and the like. Deduct AFL/MCC membership and Ethiad and MCG almost have a like for like access to public reserve seating.
Crankyhawk
Hall of Famer
So play it 2 weeks later (as WA teams won't host the GF). Or play it Sunday afternoon (as AFL unlikely to schedule a WA final on a sunday)
Its not for the AFL to tell the ARU when to schedule test matches. I cant see the fuss. Freo can play week two on the Friday, meaning week one they play Friday or Saturday.
Crankyhawk
Hall of Famer
Stadium should realise who its true paymaster is here. AFL >>> ARU. But agree that Freo need to now play the friday, which limits when they play their QF (situation would have been a lot worse if Essendon hadn't crashed out as usually the EFs get played Sat/ Sun) and given now the whole 4 vic finals being a possibility, either freo play MCG friday night or etihad Sat afternoon. Which then leads back to the original issue of Hawks/ Cats being "shafted" to Etihad.
For me personally not such an issue, can get to etihad a bit easier than MCG; but most hawk supporters in SE melbourne corridor find it more difficult needing to cross city.
- May 11, 2006
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since when has fixturing been fair? Some years ago we got shafted in the finals fixturing and it could happen again.
Hawks or Cats may well indeed be "shafted" to Etihad. Not that I see a problem with it. Cant see the fuss there either. Its not a given that a top two club automatically deserves an MCG game. They automatically deserve a home state final and the rest is up to the scheduling Gods.
It will either be the Fremantle game or the Port Adelaide game that is played at Etihad (assuming there are four Melbourne finals). It will be determined by estimated crowd capacity. The AFL will probably want to showcase Richmond at the MCG so if they draw Port Adelaide, you may well find Freo and their opponent getting a Saturday afternoon Etihad game.
Would not shock or surprise me (or even bother me) if Collingwood was sent to Etihad to play Port.
It will either be the Fremantle game or the Port Adelaide game that is played at Etihad (assuming there are four Melbourne finals). It will be determined by estimated crowd capacity. The AFL will probably want to showcase Richmond at the MCG so if they draw Port Adelaide, you may well find Freo and their opponent getting a Saturday afternoon Etihad game.
Would not shock or surprise me (or even bother me) if Collingwood was sent to Etihad to play Port.
Those extra two train stops are a killer. Certainly a deal breaker for the less comitted fan.
It would be stupid of the AFL to schedule a final with Freo as the away team at the MCG and play 2 Victorian teams at Etihad, Hawks and Cats fans need to get over the fact they are not big 4 and they wont draw against Freo
Even a Collingwood v Port final will draw a lot more than Hawks or Cats v Freo
I would say the AFLs fixturing for finals would be pretty well set as
Whoever plays Sydney Friday night MCG
Elimination Final involving Richmond Sat Arvo MCG
QF against Freo Saturday Night Etihad
Collingwoods elimination final Sunday MCG
Even a Collingwood v Port final will draw a lot more than Hawks or Cats v Freo
I would say the AFLs fixturing for finals would be pretty well set as
Whoever plays Sydney Friday night MCG
Elimination Final involving Richmond Sat Arvo MCG
QF against Freo Saturday Night Etihad
Collingwoods elimination final Sunday MCG
I think a Freo Saturday game will be in the afternoon to allow Fremantle to fly home the same night. Apart from that its close to spot on.
Completely different circumstances. In this scenario the MCG is available and there will games being played on it.
By your logic we may as well have all games at Etihad so we don't create "double standards" ;lol
KrakFiend
Club Legend
LOL, what?!
Heard of the city loop? Takes all of 5 minutes. And Ethiad is spitting distance from Southern Cross station. Actually an easier walk than Richmond station to the MCG.
You want to talk about difficult to get to, look no further than both the SCG and ANZ stadiums. ANZ is in the middle of a ghetto miles out from the city, SCG is no where near a train line. The Melbourne stadiums are at least 9.8 times easier to access and are in areas you would actually like to be in (dig at ANZ not SCG).
Etihad is a decent stadium, it's just that most Melburnians like the MCG more, hence the constant dig and dislike for Docklands.
I thought you said we should have kept Waverley?
One way or the other it'll all be about Richmond.
Win and it'll be crazy. Lose and the world and his wife will be on the tigerbashing bandwagon.
It'll all be about Richmond because the Tiger is the story.
Top_4_Tiger
Club Legend
- May 29, 2008
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I'll spell it out.
Sydney get moved from their home ground to a home state ground.
You had absolutely no problem with that happening in your earlier post.
But if Hawthorn get moved from ther home ground to a home state ground, they're getting bent over and it's "unfair"?
Rules are rules.
You're guaranteed a home state final. Why should Vic teams receive special treatment when Sydney don't?
The MCG is not available for all 4 matches, so you're wrong. Someone must play at the smaller ground.
That someone would logically be the game with the smallest crowd.
Your argument is based on top 4 teams receiving a guaranteed home ground final when the rules don't state so, and many teams such as Geelong consistently don't receive anyway.
Top 4 teams are not entitled to play at their actual home ground, only home state. Don't you understand?
The smallest game should go to the smaller ground, if required.
The AFL makes up the "rules" very broadly so that they can pretty much do what they want. I am not saying the AFL has to do anything but I am talking about what they should be doing for a fair and just competition.
If the home state "rule" is correct which I think it it, then they could put Richmond vs Carlton (if that's the case) in Ballarat and by your logic their shouldn't be any complaints because it is in fact in Richmond's home state
Its not difficult to understand. The team higher on the ladder gets the advantage of not having to travel interstate.
Some people are either idiots or just very biased
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