Where should Grand Finals be played?

[Mister_A]

I've been debating this with a few friends. Roughly half of us think that a Grand Final should be played wherever the higher finisher of the last two teams has their home ground, and the other half think it would be best at the MCG like it is every year now. We also had one guy suggest a neutral venue for fairness, but we kind of bushed him off fairly quickly.

Just wanted to hear some debate for what you guys think.

 

[tigers_of_old_08]

The GF ought to be played in the best stadium in the country, the MCG.

 

[MiloStedman]

Wouldn't be able to get enough people in any other stadium apart from the MCG. The AFL will never change it

 

[mufassa]

Who ever wants played the Grand Final played outside the MCG is a fool. Imagine a grand final with 25,000 people able to attend.

 

[The Finger]

The Sydney Swans don't even get a home Prelim final this week no chance of a home Grand Final.

 

[Gone Critical]

We play a compromised competition. I would like to see it more even. Playing the GF on the top teams home ground make sense from a fair competition point of view. MCG GFs are a serious impediment to interstate sides winning a flag and give Vic clubs a big leg up.

I know this will never hapeen for commercial reasons but it's what's fairest

 

[Donakebab]

People who think the game should be organized within a week haven't thought about the bigger picture, the logistics would be near on impossible.

That aside, the smaller the ground, the less members attend.

The correct answer is obvious.

 

[Monkey King]

I like the idea of higher finisher, but that also depends on who wins the first final etc and thus which route is taken to the GF, not just ladder position at the end of the H&A. But as others have pointed out, the logistics would be a problem and mostly, the stadiums need to at least have a comparable capacity to the MCG.

One thing I reckon though, is that if they're going to play the big one at the 'G' then there needs to be a more equitable spread of H&A games with every club getting a minimum quota, irrespective of drawing power. Hardly going to happen though, as attendance/money hold more importance to the AFL hierarchy than the comps integrity.

 

[Kyptastic]

MCG GFs are a serious impediment to interstate sides winning a flag and give Vic clubs a big leg up.

91 - Hawthorn def West Coast
92 - West Coast def Geelong
94 - West Coast def Geelong
96 - North def Sydney
97 - Adelaide def St Kilda
98 - Adelaide def North
01 - Brisbane def Essendon
02/03 Brisbane def Collingwood
07 - Geelong def Port Adelaide

In 10 grand finals between Victorian and Interstate sides, the interstate side has won 7 grand finals.

If you're the best team, you'll win regardless of where the game is played. Having it at the MCG doesn't appear to be as much of an impediment as you say statistically.

 

[Jmac2225]

Not even worthy of poll. The G is the home of football now and most likely forever. The GF won't be moving anytime soon.

 

[The King!]

I meant to vote mcg can my vote be moved

 

[Heardy_101]

I seem to recall a while back something about Telstra Stadium (ANZ) hosting a GF one day........

 

[raymagoo]

Surely Darwin!? Not sure if serious poll?

 

[wc_morty]

The GF ought to be played in the best stadium in the country, the MCG.

i agree with that

 

[Mister_A]

Not sure if serious poll?

25% seem to disagree. While I think the MCG, many don't agree.

 

[bradles7]

the g it is the home of footy

 

[carnthedons]

Absolutely at the MCG, no question. As pointed out above interstate sides have won 7/9 GF's vs. Vic opposition at the G anyway ('91 was at Waverley while the GSS was being built)

Who would want the GF played in Launceston anyway?

 

[OrdinaryJoel]

The romantic effect of having your team win on home turf is enticing, but it won't happen sadly...

 

[Storm27]

You don't have a Wembley stadium type that no one calls home, so has to be the MCG.

 

[davesnothere]

By tender .....