The MCG should always host the Grand Final post pandemic.

[doppleganger]

Is

The grandstand cost $445 mill 16 years ago. Should be paid off by now. Yet the Vic Government walk away with a 37 year contract for beans. You seem like you atleast passed Business Maths, do those numbers make any sense to you? Put your bias aside if that is possible. It is a shockingly poor deal for the AFL and the majority of its clubs. The NRL are getting $2 Billion for Nrl infrastructure for a 25 year deal.

It is a moronic deal.

???

The deal will ensure that the MCC will borrow another $1bil+ required to rebuild the Southern Stand in another 10 years.

Those 80k MCC members who pay $60m every year for "basically nothing" that will fund it...not the Vic Govt.

How sad for NSW people that their govt wasted $2b on bloody rugby league.

 

[WetCrow1991]

The Adelaide Crows and their administrators were so pathetic after the 2017 Grand Final humiliation they specifically asked the AFL community to

1. Consider a NBA Finals best of series.
2. Grand Finals outside the MCG.

Once their pathetic culture unravelled, their racist leader exposed, their enablers embracing Indigenous insensitivities, they bottomed out.

Maybe from the beginning, should the AFC have no made excuses, instead work harder and climb the ladder the next season one more step to the premiership. The team that fluked the win and would 'never' had won if the game was in Adelaide? Well... that team went back to back in the seasons to come whilst Adelaide finished dead last.


Every Interstate Whinger looks like an absolute fool in this thread. I remember the up in airs about the integrity to the results of the game. Now they've discreetly shifted the goalposts, and are changing their arguing to an even weaker alternative. What an embarrassment this has become.

Thankfully it is, is whining and 'likes' on footy forums. 37 years of MCG magic still to come.

This isn't even good cringe.

 

[Dirty Bird]

No it should not - It's bullshit that it stays in 1 place - Name 1 place in the world where it stay in 1 place (which isn't a national stadium where no one plays at). It advantages the same 10 clubs, with a massive advantage to 6 of them. It'd be unfair to any of the other 12 clubs having to play one of the select 6. And it's unfair to the fans of the other 8 who have to travel to Melbourne but it is never returned.

Though, suggestions I've seen from non-victorian fans asking for it to be at the highest ranked team's home ground. Even worse imho. It should always be neutral imho. Why should Richmond have to play Adelaide in Adelaide in 2017? Yeah, it probably helps my team win it. But that's too much of an unfair advantage the otherway.

I am also vehemently against the idea of waiting until late to ensure it's neutral. The logistics for the fans in getting there on short notice. You could seriously be waiting until the Saturday night the week before to make bookings. Imagine the preliminary finals, Friday Night - Adelaide vs Brisbane, Saturday Night - Richmond vs West Coast.

I would absolutely hate for Adelaide and Richmond to win through, and then have to scramble for tickets to Perth. As there would've been equal chances at it being in Melbourne if West Coast won. It's bs.

I have said, and will continue to say that the Grand Final should be hosted by the defending premiers.

1990 - MCG
1991 - Waverly Park
1992 - MCG
1993 - Subiaco
1994 - MCG
1995 - Subiaco
1996 - MCG
1997 - MCG
1998 - Football Park
1999 - Football Park
2000 - MCG
2001 - MCG
2002 - Gabba
2003 - Gabba
2004 - Gabba
2005 - Football Park
2006 - Stadium Australia
2007 - Subiaco
2008 - MCG
2009 - MCG
2010 - MCG
2011 - MCG
2012 - MCG
2013 - Stadium Australia
2014 - MCG
2015 - MCG
2016 - MCG
2017 - MCG
2018 - MCG
2019 - Optus Stadium
2020 - MCG Gabba
2021 - MCG Optus Stadium

Odds are it'll end up at the MCG more often than not, and there's a chance it'll advantage a team. Brisbane may have won 2004 at home, Sydney may have won 2006 at home, Fremantle may have played Stadium Australia alot better than the MCG in 2013 as it's closer to Subiaco than the MCG is, and gone home with a premiership.

I will also accept a rotation. Fairest is probably MCG every 2 years
MCG
SCG
MCG
Adelaide Oval
MCG
Gabba
MCG
Optus Stadium
etc. etc.
But I would rather defending premiers..

 

[WestCoast05]

I actually don't mind d it bei g rotated, but there should be a minimum 55k capacity

I agree with this except it should be a 75k or 80k minimum capacity.
If any city wants to join the rotation they can upgrade their stadiums accordingly.

 

[Ian Dunross]

In the last 15 seasons of AFL Football 12 premierships have been won by Victorian sides whilst a measly two (Sydney 2012, Eagles 2018) were won by Interstate rivals. Here's a recap of the victories since - which includes 3 dynasties.

Hawthorn - 2008, 2013, 2014, 2015
Richmond - 2017, 2019, 2020
Geelong - 2007, 2009, 2011
Collingwood - 2010
Western Bulldogs - 2016

Now the narrative on Big Footy for many years was simple. Supporters of interstate sides continuously moaned about the Grand Final being played at the MCG. Hawthorn's three peat victories against Fremantle, West Coast and Sydney sparked the fury - Richmond's dominate record breaking undefeated streak at the MCG made it constant dialogue.

In the 2020 season - something unpredictable happened, unprecedented- the Grand Final - the entire finals series was played outside Victoria. The Victorian sides played the majority of their season interstate, made the finals and under unbelievable living conditions, these milestone victories occurred in the finals.

- Collingwood knocked out West Coast in Perth, after being locked in quarantine Hubs for a one week and being publicity humiliated in WA newspapers. They defeated the Eagles by 1 point and knocked them out.

- Richmond defeated Port Adelaide in the Preliminary Final - in Adelaide, by 1 goal, in a dour low scoring affair - having slept in a homeless shelter the night before the game according to Dylan Grimes.

- Geelong demolished a pathetic Brisbane at the Gabba - having spent over 100 days living away from their families.

Now in season 2021, after the Bulldogs remarkable victory. Here we are again, the finals series is down to four teams, no Victorian finals, Victorian teams like Melbourne playing their well earned home final in Adelaide - were down to four - three of them?

Melbourne, Footscray and Geelong.

Can we squash the conversation that Interstate teams are disadvantaged with the current system set up? Can we stop hearing pathetic complaints about the Grand Final being moved away from the MCG in the future? The Interstate teams transitioned into the old VFL, not vice versa.

The MCG is the biggest stadium in the country, 40,000 more people can see the game live.

This thread should honestly be placed atop the BF threads board every finals series.

Interstate sides - its not the MCG that stopped your premiership chances, the best team wins no matter where or when. The GF should always be played where it belongs, at the biggest, most historical stadium in the country.

OP attempting to make serious point - we had one season where the GF was not played at the MCG = proof that there is no such thing as home ground advantage

 

[Leeda]

Love your work dudes..just providing the slash of encouragement with a dash of crystal as well
as a boredom button if I feel free to use if you don’t mind…carry on…

 

[The Tilt]

No it should not - It's bullshit that it stays in 1 place - Name 1 place in the world where it stay in 1 place (which isn't a national stadium where no one plays at).

I'll give you three (all 'cup' competitions from Europe):

Coppa Italia final: always played at the Stadio Olympico in Rome (home of Roma and Lazio)
DFB-Pokal final: always played at he Olympic Stadium in Berlin (home of Hertha Berlin)
KNVB Cup final (Dutch cup): always played at Stadion Feijenoord (home of Feyenoord)

Of course while Wembley is no-one's home ground, presumably those outside of London could make the same complaint made by many of the posters here about the travel burden unfairly imposed on them but not on Londoners (with respect to the FA Cup Final.)

The real question is whether anyone can find an example of a competition the size/stature of the AFL that determines the final venue a week prior to the game based on who has earned hosting rights (obviously excluding best of five/best of seven series e.g. NBA, MLB). I can't. The Aleague and the BBL do it, but only because no-one would attend either if the GF was held at a neutral venue. I'm with you in thinking this is a bad idea.

Your suggestion of staging the GF in the reigning premier's home state is not the worst idea, though I guess it would limit the AFL's capacity to derive revenue from auctioning it off.

 

[Leeda]

I'll give you three (all 'cup' competitions from Europe):

Coppa Italia final: always played at the Stadio Olympico in Rome (home of Roma and Lazio)
DFB-Pokal final: always played at he Olympic Stadium in Berlin (home of Hertha Berlin)
KNVB Cup final (Dutch cup): always played at Stadion Feijenoord (home of Feyenoord)

Of course while Wembley is no-one's home ground, presumably those outside of London could make the same complaint made by many of the posters here about the travel burden unfairly imposed on them but not on Londoners (with respect to the FA Cup Final.)

The real question is whether anyone can find an example of a competition the size/stature of the AFL that determines the final venue a week prior to the game based on who has earned hosting rights (obviously excluding best of five/best of seven series e.g. NBA, MLB). I can't. The Aleague and the BBL do it, but only because no-one would attend either if the GF was held at a neutral venue. I'm with you in thinking this is a bad idea.

Your suggestion of staging the GF in the reigning premier's home state is not the worst idea, though I guess it would limit the AFL's capacity to derive revenue from auctioning it off.

I’m thinking about this but it has to be softly and warily..hm..can’t alter the peramiters without consulting
the totality…. Hum. Me…
gil you have work to do..my level of …you need to to consult more…

 

[blue harvest]

No it should not - It's bullshit that it stays in 1 place - Name 1 place in the world where it stay in 1 place (which isn't a national stadium where no one plays at).

Don't have to look far, the NRL GF is always in Sydney isn't it at the Olympic Stadium and before that at the one they recently pulled down, both of which had teams based there.

 

[spudmaster]

The reason the MCG hosts it is because the interstate clubs just aren't good enough at this whole 'footballing' thing.

 

[doppleganger]

Another SA team losing an undeserved "home" final.

When is the AFL going to sort out the H&A season to stop letting average sides like Port ride their unfair home advantage to an undeserved H&A placing only for them to be shown up by a stronger Melbourne based club who misses out on a home advantage.

 

[GhostofJimJess]

I think the late time if you are a young kid would be awesome. You'd get to stay up to around 11pm on one night of the year, making the whole Afl GF thing even bigger and more exciting.

I'm into the late timeslot myself, but you're working on the false assumption the modern child has the attention span to see through a footy match. You just know that any kid born since about 2005 will have their head in their iPad by 10 minutes into the second quarter anyway.

 

[smasha]

Miss the old lady.

 

[kranger]

Does anyone know how this allocation of seat categories at the Optus Stadium GF, compares to GF’s normally at the MCG?

 

[OnlyPowerForever]

Does anyone know how this allocation of seat categories at the Optus Stadium GF, compares to GF’s normally at the MCG?

View attachment 1236424

From 2019 - Combine this

With this

And tell me how much dark green you see

Edit: Noting that the 15-20K AFL Members will only pay the $185 on top of their $500/$600+ membership. And 20-25K MCC members pay bugger all I think.
The 20K+ corporate packages and 3K Medallion Club is where the money is.

 

[Shane Heard]

Rotation of the GF ground outside Victoria at the G is as dumb an idea as suggesting we should have the Western Darby and the SA Showdown spectacular and the Queensland Suns/Lions thing played in other states so everyone gets a chance to host them for no good reason whatsoever.

 

[Ati Tude]

I think a rotation makes sense with the G to get more spots but you can't seriously have a GF at the SCG unless they make it bigger - playing area and stands. Ground might do for cricket but is a rubbish footy ground.

 

[Ambrose Burnside]

Rotation of the GF ground outside Victoria at the G is as dumb an idea as suggesting we should have the Western Darby and the SA Showdown spectacular and the Queensland Suns/Lions thing played in other states so everyone gets a chance to host them for no good reason whatsoever.

I agree, Grand Finals like West Coast vs Sydney or Brisbane vs Port Adelaide were hosted at the MCG for no good reason whatsoever.

 

[spudmaster]

I agree, Grand Finals like West Coast vs Sydney or Brisbane vs Port Adelaide were hosted at the MCG for no good reason whatsoever.

Aside from their contractual hosting rights

 

[Shane Heard]

I agree, Grand Finals like West Coast vs Sydney or Brisbane vs Port Adelaide were hosted at the MCG for no good reason whatsoever.

And the punters flew into Melbourne from those cities and helped filled the MCG with 90k plus fans and they loved every minute of the experience.

#only@theG

 

[sherb]

The Grand Final should, and always will be, played at the MCG - global pandemic's notwithstanding.

You mustn't be able to believe your bad luck, your Dees finally make another Grand Final and you can't even get the home ground advantage that normally goes with it.

 

[Freomaniac]

If non-Vic clubs think playing at the G is such an advantage, why don't they campaign to play a home game at the G?

You have clubs like StK, WB, North who are shafted as they get even less exposure to the G than most non-vic teams. And they don't even get home finals.

And considering that there are only 4 MCG tenant clubs - and the Hawks only play 6 "home" games at the G anyway - how do people figure that potentially 3 or 4 non-vic clubs are going to get 5 games each at the G?

Have people ever sat back and thought that dictating where a team plays there away games, whilst also actually enjoying 10-11 games where you have a genuine home advantage would further imbalance the H&A season and have more non-Melbourne teams dominate top2 positions on the ladder and get a arm chair ride into a GF.

In which Aussie rules competition has the GF venue ever actually been earned? They always play the GF at the biggest venue that appeals to majority of fans....guess where that is in the AFL?

What the hell is this?

Surely this is a piss take?

Why should freo give up a home game in Perth for a game at the MCG? Freo got a home derby in round 22 and had 51, 692 rocking up. Think of the $$$ that came in that day. why give that up for a home game at the MCG where only 12, 103 Carlton fans rocked up?

Freo had carlton twice in Melbourne. earlier game was at Docklands and the late one was at the MCG. That freo had a home game at the MCG and only 12, 103 rocked up. Was that fair to freo? According to the Victorians, yes it was... so freo can have finals experience at the MCG. So how many finals have been played at the MCG this year?

 

[sherb]

The home of football should always host it.

Excellent.

York Park it is then.

 

[Bostonian]

Excellent.

York Park it is then.

That's located in a pissy bush league.

Not the greatest Australian Rules League ground in the history of the game.

 

[sherb]

That's located in a pissy bush league.

Not the greatest Australian Rules League ground in the history of the game.

Carlton took a few players over the years from that "pissy bush league".

Maybe you should try educating yourself rather than being ignorant.