Fixture How can Swans host a local final at a smaller stadium, but Geelong can’t?

[parano1a]

If GWS can host at Engie, we can host at KP. What's the difference?

Supply and demand.

GWS will struggle to fill the Showgrounds Stadium (Engie) for any game including a final except against Sydney, or perhaps a preliminary final against a bigger club such as Collingwood or Carlton. So any final they host where the anticipated crowd would far exceed the capacity of Showgrounds Stadium (>30k) should be moved to a larger stadium within the state, i.e. the SCG or Accor Stadium.

Any final Geelong play will likely exceed an expected crowd of 55k therefore should be played at the MCG to meet demand unless there are circumstances which render the MCG unavailable (i.e. 4 games to be played in Victoria in Week One).

 

[JohnZ]

Any final Geelong play will likely exceed an expected crowd of 55k therefore should be played at the MCG to meet demand unless there are circumstances which render the MCG unavailable (i.e. 4 games to be played in Victoria in Week One).

A fair comparison of capacity is 40k v 60k. The MCC and AFL members don't count, they're just another group of freeloaders who feel entitled to neutral game access. If the MCG needs that to fill the coffers good for them, but their ability to attend games is not my concern.

Those 20k missing out, most will be away fans so again, couldn't care less. If your team can't earn a home final, tough luck (we don't move interstate finals to Melbourne for their sake - anymore). If your home stadium is too big and lets in away fans, bad luck too. The reality is, for an 80k crowd at the G for a final, at best there'll be 30k Cats fans. We're not the ones missing out when games are played at KP.

13/17 (GC is an unknown) clubs happen to get both home state finals, and home ground finals. At this point, who are we really kidding here? The finals are not neutral like they were in the 60s, Brisbane aren't forced to play home prelims at the G, it's an easy fix.

Financially, a full house at KP makes the same as an MCG crowd of 85k. That Geelong v Brisbane prelim lost the AFL money, and was a shit atmosphere in an empty stadium. But I'm glad the neutrals had their fun (not)

 

[parano1a]

The MCC and AFL members don't count, they're just another group of freeloaders who feel entitled to neutral game access. If the MCG needs that to fill the coffers good for them, but their ability to attend games is not my concern.

Without MCC and AFL members, the AFL as we know it wouldn't exist. It would be a small amateur league at best. Like it or not the game is fully professional which means showcasing finals to the biggest possible crowds. These are NOT home games, they are neutral AFL hosted games, where one of the two teams has earned home state hosting status.

I also doubt your full house at KP equates to 85k at MCG claim. For home and away matches perhaps (as many attendees are season ticket holders), but for finals, ticket and corporate box sales would be far greater at the MCG.

 

[Papa G]

The MCG represents everything that is wrong with this corrupted league. Blow the concrete shit hole up.

 

[Kappa]

Aren’t the NRL using stadium Australia anyway?

 

[joy division]

The MCG represents everything that is wrong with this corrupted league. Blow the concrete shit hole up.

MCC*

 

[The_Todd07]

Indeed, and KP is in Victoria and therefore qualifies. If GWS can host at Engie, we can host at KP. What's the difference?

That's an easy one to answer.
Their team gets an unearned advantage from Geelong playing home finals at the G but don't from GWS playing at Engie.

As always its only the fans of MCG tenants that protest the loudest against us receiving what we earned.

 

[JohnZ]

Their team gets an unearned advantage from Geelong playing home finals at the G but don't from GWS playing at Engie.

Indeed, the only teams suppoters on this forum who have campaigned for the inequity are those from collingwood and richmond for the most part. The blues and dons would, but it's been a while since either has consistently played enough finals for it to be on thier radar.

 

[Walshawk]

True but the logistics make it impossible this time round (4 week lead time is required for conversion to AFL mode) and it's also fair to suggest that if a venue isn't used for the home and away season it shouldn't be used just for finals.

In 2012 they did a 6 day turnaround. What has changed?

 

[parano1a]

In 2012 they did a 6 day turnaround. What has changed?

In that season ANZ Stadium (as it was then known) hosted 3 regular season home and away games. I imagine the ground management would have had the turf configuration already ready to go upon the AFL's confirmation that the Sydney Swans would host finals there (likely confirmed in August).

 

[parano1a]

As always its only the fans of MCG tenants that protest the loudest against us receiving what we earned.

Geelong are receiving what they earned, a final in their home state.

This concept of entitlement of playing a home final at your choice of home ground has never been the case in the 125+ years the VFL/AFL competition has been running. It was an invention in the mind of Chris Scott of something that has never existed.

Collingwood never hosted finals at Victoria Park, Essendon never hosted finals at Windy Hill, Hawthorn never hosted finals at Glenferrie Oval, etc. Yes Melbourne hosted finals at the MCG which was coincidentally their home ground. With ground rationalisation a number of teams call the MCG home and all ten Victorian clubs host games at the MCG from time to time. However, for the purpose of the finals series, it is a NEUTRAL ground.

Geelong only hosted one final recently at Kardinia Park (losing to Fremantle) because of a unique set of circumstances whereby four finals had to be played in Victoria in the first weekend, and the MCG could only host three of the four games.

 

[parano1a]

Aren’t the NRL using stadium Australia anyway?

Yes, the AFL used to have a contract in place which would allow the Swans to use it for home finals in precedence to any NRL fixtures, however, for reasons unknown to me they opted not to renew this arrangement a number of years ago.

 

[The_Todd07]

Geelong are receiving what they earned, a final in their home state.

This concept of entitlement of playing a home final at your choice of home ground has never been the case in the 125+ years the VFL/AFL competition has been running. It was an invention in the mind of Chris Scott of something that has never existed.

Collingwood never hosted finals at Victoria Park, Essendon never hosted finals at Windy Hill, Hawthorn never hosted finals at Glenferrie Oval, etc. Yes Melbourne hosted finals at the MCG which was coincidentally their home ground. With ground rationalisation a number of teams call the MCG home and all ten Victorian clubs host games at the MCG from time to time. However, for the purpose of the finals series, it is a NEUTRAL ground.

Geelong only hosted one final recently at Kardinia Park (losing to Fremantle) because of a unique set of circumstances whereby four finals had to be played in Victoria in the first weekend, and the MCG could only host three of the four games.

The "home state" bullshit is just the AFLs weak justification to prioritise making money over running a fair and equal competition.

They threw that concept out the window when GWS got to play at their home ground for the 2016 Prelim despite the larger SCG sitting there vacant. Plenty more dogs supporters would have loved to have gone to that game if more seats were available.
Since then GWS has continued to play home finals at their home and you can bet if Gold Coast ever manage earn a home final, it won't be played at the GABBA.

In the end it doesn't matter how you try to rationalise it because all that comes across is you're a fan of an MCG tenant and you don't like the idea of losing your unearned "home" finals.

 

[JohnZ]

Collingwood never hosted finals at Victoria Park, Essendon never hosted finals at Windy Hill, Hawthorn never hosted finals at Glenferrie Oval, etc. Yes Melbourne hosted finals at the MCG which was coincidentally their home ground. With ground rationalisation a number of teams call the MCG home and all ten Victorian clubs host games at the MCG from time to time. However, for the purpose of the finals series, it is a NEUTRAL ground.

This comment has been addressed many times here. In the 60s, these teams played no games at the G except for away games vs Melbourne, and finals, making it (mostly) a neutral venue.

It's not the 60s anymore, and Finals are no longer neutral. Port are hosting at the AO, Sydney at the SCG, Brisbane at the GABBA this week. We now have 14 out of 18 clubs hosting finals at their venue of choice. There is no logical justification for this imbalance.

Geelong plays home games at the G due to the AFL's contractural arrangements, not due its own. Does no one find it strange how Collingwood are contracted for 14 games at the MCG (9 home + 5 away), yet Geelnog only get 9 home games at KP. We'd love 5 away games at KP, that would be a great advantage.

No wonder you don't want to give it up, you need all the leg ups you can get just to stay competitive whilst we keep finishing top 4 year in year out.

 

[Cleansweep17]

Because a home game doesn’t mean home ground.

A home game refers to the home state and the AFL can choose what stadium the finals are played at in said state.

So Geelong are a vic club, they have to play the finals at the MCG. Tough.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

Are you talking about Week 1 of the finals or Week 2 or every week?
If the Cats lose to Port, could their Semi Final be at Kardinia Park? Have they already ruled this out?
Geelong wouldn't host a PF there.

I think the MCG contract has all Vic finals at the MCG, unless there are two on one day. So basically only in week one could a Saturday final be moved. And that most likely to Docklands.
"Home state" is all that's promised (although, that's going by my very dodgy memory). That doesn't mean its fair, but **** all to do with the AFL is.

 

[JackHiscoxWasFast]

No Swans fans would go to Homebush. Was a massive failure.

There is this thing called the Latte Line and us Swans fans will never cross it.

 

[Maddo11]

Wasn't it redeveloped as a square stadium?

SCG will definitely need an upgrade in the coming years though. Maxxed out all but a couple of home games this year.

 

[The_Todd07]

Because a home game doesn’t mean home ground.

A home game refers to the home state and the AFL can choose what stadium the finals are played at in said state.

So Geelong are a vic club, they have to play the finals at the MCG. Tough.

Except in NSW apparently because GWS have never hosted a final at the SCG despite locking fans out of the 2016 prelim

 

[parano1a]

Except in NSW apparently because GWS have never hosted a final at the SCG despite locking fans out of the 2016 prelim

The AFL choose the best stadium for each game. For Victorian teams this is the MCG in 97% of all finals.
GWS and Gold Coast are clearly different to the 100+ year old VFL clubs as they have very small supporter bases and rarely fill their stadiums; supply and demand dictates their home stadiums are suitable for most finals.

 

[powerrrrrrrrrrrr]

Geelong should play at GMBHA. Just because the AFL fudged the MCG contract though doesn’t mean they just repeat a crappy contract elsewhere.

All clubs should play home finals at their desired ground.

Best solution, rip up the current contract and start again.

 

[TP86]

Chris Scott

Chris Scott

Age

48

Ht

182cm

Wt

89kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.6

4star

K

11.2

4star

HB

5.4

4star

M

5.1

5star

T

1.6

4star

G

0.4

3star

No current season stats available

D

13.2

4star

K

10.2

4star

HB

3.0

3star

M

2.2

3star

T

2.8

5star

G

0.4

3star

spent a decade searching for deflections and landed on the perfect one to mobilise his fanbase against head office. Not much more to it than that. If the Cats had the money to bring the AFL to the table on breaking existing contracts and buy their way to home finals maybe they'd do it. Until then, bow to the AFL while complaining ad nauseum.

 

[Arwib]

In 2012 they did a 6 day turnaround. What has changed?

It can physically change over in a day, they just need to push the seating on the sidelines back to make room for AFL wings. They used to do back to back nights when it was in steady AFL use:

However, notice how there is grass under where the rectangle mode wing seating goes? There's no way they are maintaining turf there these days when it's only used for rugby codes and soccer. It's probable they haven't wheeled the seating back since 2022 and, before that, about 2016.

When Tom Harley said in 2022 that it takes about a month to get ready, I assume that's what he was referring to:

"Accor Stadium was reconfigured to an AFL field for round one this year, and it takes about a month to get it to that to standard as well."

 

[Seadog]

Get back to us when Geelong have to play their home final in another state.

 

[FlowersByIrene]

Wasn't it redeveloped as a square stadium?

SCG will definitely need an upgrade in the coming years though. Maxxed out all but a couple of home games this year.

I saw a conspiracy theory video on Reels of a dude at whatever the stadium is called pointing out grass beneath the extended seating section (that makes it into a rectangle for the rugby) and saying that it normally isn't like that (i.e that it's normally not grassed under the extension section) - maybe an insurance policy and they have grass down for footy just in case? Or maybe the grass is always there I dunno.