Should we forget home finals and move on?

[Cheer Cheer]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
I'd be happy in we won a final. I'd be even more happy if we could win a final outside Sydney - we haven't done that in nearly 60 years!!

Dont worry NMW, this is the year of the hoodoo breaker, winning a final in melbourne or else where will a breeze!

[NMWBloods]

It's certainly been that way so far - hope it continues!!

[Reggi]

You interstate blow ins compalining about home finals blah blah blah. You joined 'our' competition blah blah blah. Melbourne is the home of finals blah blah blah

Wayne Jackson blah blah blah, Andrew Demetriou blah blah blah. MCG home of finals blah blah blah. Interstate clubs get so many advantages blah blah blah, AFL love child blah blah blah. Ryan Lonie is the classiest young player in Australia blah blah blah.

Collingwood wil win its next 15 games blah blah blah.

[footyhead]

what is wrong with it is that footy goes beyond Melbourne as a culture. Everyone in Sydney should have access to a ticket on a first come firt serve basis (with priority for Swans members), other wise Football will never be the trueley Australian Game. It will remain a melbourne football competition that transplanted it's culture interstate.
This is about nothing less than the long term life and death of football.
Get real about it melbourne crack heads

[Damien]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
I'm actually Sydney based!



What's silly about it is that the AFL can "bank" finals so in some years they don't have to have one at the MCG every week. It will be interesting to see what happens in a really contentious situation (eg: WCE v. Freo).

They can only bank finals in the first two week. A preliminary has to be played at the MCG every year. So if the final four is Sydney, Bris, Freo and WCE for instance, we would get played down there. (Mind you, us and Bris are the best two interstate clubs to play in Melbourne if the issue raises it head)

[jixygirl]

The main thing that everybody needs to remember is that whoever is higher than the other team gets the home final. If Sydney is higher, than we play in Sydney. If Sydney is lower, than we play at the opposition's home ground, be it Melbourne or Adelaide, etc. Members of course get priority for tickets to every final (and I mean all members, Sydney, Melbourne, everywhere else) and the grand final should be the only match that is always at the MCG. The problem is the contract that the MCC has which will ensure that this doesn't happen.

[Jon]

Originally posted by Damien
They can only bank finals in the first two week. A preliminary has to be played at the MCG every year. So if the final four is Sydney, Bris, Freo and WCE for instance, we would get played down there. (Mind you, us and Bris are the best two interstate clubs to play in Melbourne if the issue raises it head)

Yeah. But I just read today that the AFL won't bank any finals this year.

Apparently they can only BANK a final without penalty if they play more than the 4 minimum required games the previous year. Last year they didn't play more than 4...so they have none up their sleeve. Thus if they bank one THIS year...they must play a minimum of FIVE finals at the MCG in 2004.

The AFL won't do this because it will only make the problem that much worse if the interstaters are "up" again next year.

Bloody mess.

[scurrilous]

Originally posted by barry
Because if we fix it now, and next year we finish 2nd, we are guaranteed home finals. And the year after that, and the year after that, etc, etc for the next 50 years.

We shouldnt sell out our principals for dubious short term gain of not giving the opposition a lift.

oh ok

[scurrilous]

Originally posted by footyhead
God Australians can be a bunch of perochial and self centerd fools.
The reason that we need to fix this problem now is because it is not fair and hampers the development of the national leauge because of this fact.
Grow up

So, the GF will be shifted away from the MCG soon?

[scurrilous]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
I don't think it's a big deal. All the interstate premiers are jumping on the band wagon because the interstate teams are doing well, yet half of them know nothing about football. If you can't win a flag by winning a couple of games at the MCG then you don't deserve to win a flag!! In what way is travelling to the MCG a huge problem for Sydney teams? It's hardly much of a trip and the support we will get there would be pretty good.

Ah, here's someone that talks more sense

[scurrilous]

Originally posted by Bear
a couple of Melbourne-based supporters views there...

but seriously it will probably work to our advantage where playing another interstater (likely this year) as a Melbourne game for us against (say) a WCE or Brisbane is a partial home game with all of our support in Melb and less travel than them...

overall a very unjust rule though and i could never support it with a clear conscience so i am totally against it

NB: you have to be in the GF to win it and the best way to do that is to WIN the week before. playing at home gives us the best chance to do this. i would so hate to play a "home" Prelim final against Feralwood at the MCG and lose due to their home ground advantage!

Aaaaah! so perhaps the swans should play more games at the MCG during the year?

[scurrilous]

Originally posted by jixygirl
The main thing that everybody needs to remember is that whoever is higher than the other team gets the home final. If Sydney is higher, than we play in Sydney. If Sydney is lower, than we play at the opposition's home ground, be it Melbourne or Adelaide, etc. Members of course get priority for tickets to every final (and I mean all members, Sydney, Melbourne, everywhere else) and the grand final should be the only match that is always at the MCG. The problem is the contract that the MCC has which will ensure that this doesn't happen.

OMG! She is such a lovely thing. And how clever! Seems common sense to me. Unfortunantly, others seem to be chucking temper tantrums and not focussing on the real issue. There appears to be more bias here than at a Lawn Bowls CLub.

[Damien]

Originally posted by scurrilous
OMG! She is such a lovely thing. And how clever! Seems common sense to me. Unfortunantly, others seem to be chucking temper tantrums and not focussing on the real issue. There appears to be more bias here than at a Lawn Bowls CLub.

I think bias is allowed somehow!!!

Melbourne can't be rewarded forever - they certainly started the game and are the lifeblood, but at some stage it has to evolve and other teams and cities need to be rewarded. Same goes for Rugby League really, because if AFL continues to be known as Melbourne Footy and RL as Sydney footy, both will find it hard to grow and prosper much further than it already has.

[Bear]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
I'm actually Sydney based!

My apologies.

Are you originally Melb-based? I'm just saying you would be more sympathetic to an unjust Melb final in that case.

If not i withdraw completely!

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by Bear
My apologies.

Are you originally Melb-based? I'm just saying you would be more sympathetic to an unjust Melb final in that case.

If not i withdraw completely!

No need - good memory. I am more sympathetic as I am originally Melbourne-based. I just like to see a final at the 'G each week. That it is unfair for the other interstaters, I don't care. I don't think it matters a heap for us. I'd like to see us play more at the MCG and win too!!