10 wants night GF.

[Cheer Squad]

...but I simply couldn't go for a change from the Saturday afternoon grand final at the MCG...it just wouldn't be the same...

It just wouldn't be the same?

That's what they said when South Melbourne left Lakeside Oval and moved north to Sydney...when the VFL included teams from other states and became the AFL...when finals football was played outside of Melbourne for the first time...when football was no longer played at suburban grounds...when the MCG was redeveloped...

In every case, of course it wasn't the same. It was better. And that's how it will be when the Grand Final makes an occasional trip to Sydney and Perth.

[laughingnome]

It just wouldn't be the same?
And that's how it will be when the Grand Final makes an occasional trip to Sydney and Perth.

And Adelaide and Brisbane and the Gold Coast and possibly even Hobart and Canberra. Can't go halfway on this pig: it's all or nothing. Either every team gets the opportunity to host a Grand Final or none.

I personally like the MCG as the mainstay. It's the largest ground in the country, it's neutral territory in most circumstances and the structure that has been set up around it only further tradition. Why mess with it?

[Cheer Squad]

And Adelaide and Brisbane and the Gold Coast and possibly even Hobart and Canberra. Either every team gets the opportunity to host a Grand Final or none.

I personally like the MCG as the mainstay. It's the largest ground in the country, it's neutral territory in most circumstances and the structure that has been set up around it only further tradition. Why mess with it?

Be serious.

Sydney & Perth are the only realistic alternatives to Melbourne for an interstate Grand Final. None of the other locations you mentioned has a venue with suitable capacity.

I happen to like the MCG as a venue. But that is not the point. We now have a national game - or at least one that pretends to be. It's not consistent for one state and one venue to have a monopoly on the most significant game of the season.

The tradition of holding the Grand Final at the MCG was fine for the old VFL. But that is history. We now have the AFL.

It's time to start thinking about a new tradition.

[Lucky Knickers]

I like the romanticism of an GF at the MCG. Tradition is a good thing IMO. I would be happy see it remain there.

I also don't like the twilight/night idea having seen how hammered everyone gets at the traditional NRL GF Barbeque. Most people can't walk or talk by the time the game kicks off.

I liked that you could have a few, watch the game, fall into bed by 7pm.

[reigning premier]

Would Love a twighlight game......

Say kick off at 4pm.....

Lunch/BBQ with friends... Footy... Dinner afterward....

[Dunger]

I'm all for it if they're doing it to be progressive and expand the game.

I hope their motivation is NOT to line their clown pockets even further.

They want the Australian GP to be a night event, purely so they can broadcast it OS at a reasonable time. I think it's fair to say that's the same reason for the AFL GF to be at night.

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

God, I hope the AFL doesn't make the same mistake the NRL did. I went to the first night NRL GF and the feeling just wasn't the same.

And they swapped back because people (especially those in Queensland & Victoria who needed to take the Monday off work to get home from the game) had a big bitch about it.

5pm was bearable I guess. But I still think the AFL should always have a Saturday day Grand Final. Traditions are there for a reason; because they mean something to people.

JF

[Wardy]

Be serious.

Sydney & Perth are the only realistic alternatives to Melbourne for an interstate Grand Final. None of the other locations you mentioned has a venue with suitable capacity.

I happen to like the MCG as a venue. But that is not the point. We now have a national game - or at least one that pretends to be. It's not consistent for one state and one venue to have a monopoly on the most significant game of the season.

The tradition of holding the Grand Final at the MCG was fine for the old VFL. But that is history. We now have the AFL.

It's time to start thinking about a new tradition.

NO way - the MCG is the home of the AFL Grandfinal and thats the way it should stay. This "oh its a national competition and should be played interstate at other venue's" is rubbish - where are AFL headquarters hm? Melbourne. Where did it all start ? Melbourne , what ground in this country has the greatest capacity? MCG Melbourne- The MCG is the greatest stadium in this country - and you cannot replicate the atmosphere of the AFL Grandfinal at any other ground. Remember 1991 when it was played out at Waverly? it really lacked atmosphere which is something that only the MCG can provide. and Now Waverly is now just a suburban ground with a heap of mcmansions where the car parks were.
The SCG will only ever hold around 40-50,000 in its lifetime so financially it wouldnt be viable. Hombush well - that will never happen.
Perth nor Adelaide will never have the population to warrant a ground that holds 100,000 people.
and Brisbane wont expand the Gabba any more as its reached its potential size wise due to its location.(and Rugby league is always giong to be much stronger in QLD).
Also there are groups who have been going to Melbourne for decades. I know of 4 groups of Vietnam vets who make the trip every year as a reunion and have done since 1980 and re book for the follwing year as soon as they get back, they love it - get away for the weekend watch the best game of the year and catch up with old mates!!!and thats only the tip of the iceberg. thats the great thing about having it in Melbourne - the tradition of making the pilgrimage (if you like) to the holy grail of AFL footy.
You also cant replicate the car park parties that are held at the MCG. I know of no other major venue in this country where you can park the car for $6,bring the family BBQ and outdoor setting - set it up in the car park, have your mates and family there eat drink and enjoy - then just leave everything where it is, go in watch the game and come back out at the end and everything is still there where you left it. Its one of the best traditions that this country has sports wise. There is nothing like walking into the ground on Grandfinal day - I dont know what it is, but no other ground in this country can match it as far as AFL games are concerned. leave it as it is!!!

[ScottH]

I know of no other major venue in this country where you can park the car for $6,

It's $8 these days, but I get your drift.

[Wardy]

It's $8 these days, but I get your drift.

last time I was there is was $6 (I didnt allow for inflation!)- its still cheaper than paying $20 to park on the Moore Park dust bowl at the SCG - which will increase next year again - that is why I park for zip at the racecourse!!!

and there is nothing like sharing a bottle of Grange and a box of Cheezels with your mates in the MCG carpark either !!!

[ScottH]

and there is nothing like sharing a bottle of Grange and a box of Cheezels with your mates in the MCG carpark either !!!

May it happen again, soon.

[Pace To Burn]

I reckon if they took a poll of all the current players it would read 100% to keep the GF on the MCG at the current timeslot. As has been said already, who gives a @@@@ about TV and having a national game, its what every young footballer dreams of to run out on THE G on the last sat in sept. That should never be changed.

[Cheer Squad]

NO way - the MCG is the home of the AFL Grandfinal and thats the way it should stay. This "oh its a national competition and should be played interstate at other venue's" is rubbish - where are AFL headquarters hm? Melbourne. Where did it all start ? Melbourne , what ground in this country has the greatest capacity? MCG Melbourne- The MCG is the greatest stadium in this country - and you cannot replicate the atmosphere of the AFL Grandfinal at any other ground. Remember 1991 when it was played out at Waverly? it really lacked atmosphere which is something that only the MCG can provide. and Now Waverly is now just a suburban ground with a heap of mcmansions where the car parks were.
The SCG will only ever hold around 40-50,000 in its lifetime so financially it wouldnt be viable. Hombush well - that will never happen.
Perth nor Adelaide will never have the population to warrant a ground that holds 100,000 people.
and Brisbane wont expand the Gabba any more as its reached its potential size wise due to its location.(and Rugby league is always giong to be much stronger in QLD).
Also there are groups who have been going to Melbourne for decades. I know of 4 groups of Vietnam vets who make the trip every year as a reunion and have done since 1980 and re book for the follwing year as soon as they get back, they love it - get away for the weekend watch the best game of the year and catch up with old mates!!!and thats only the tip of the iceberg. thats the great thing about having it in Melbourne - the tradition of making the pilgrimage (if you like) to the holy grail of AFL footy.
You also cant replicate the car park parties that are held at the MCG. I know of no other major venue in this country where you can park the car for $6,bring the family BBQ and outdoor setting - set it up in the car park, have your mates and family there eat drink and enjoy - then just leave everything where it is, go in watch the game and come back out at the end and everything is still there where you left it. Its one of the best traditions that this country has sports wise. There is nothing like walking into the ground on Grandfinal day - I dont know what it is, but no other ground in this country can match it as far as AFL games are concerned. leave it as it is!!!

Some people are insecure.

I'm only suggesting an occasional interstate Grand Final - not leave the MCG forever. And the capacity of the ground is not the drawback you're suggesting. The people of Perth would give us an amazing Grand Final spectacle when their new 60,000 set stadium is finished.

[laughingnome]

Some people are insecure.

It's not an insecurity, it's a state of mind. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the current timeslot and location of the Grand Final, and nothing I have heard on this forum or others convinces me that the change would be for the better. For my mind not having the Grand Final at the MCG is like the ECB scheduling an Ashes test at the Hove and not at Lords. The ground reeks of tradition and history, and while I acknowledge that logistics may be equalled at other grounds history should not be wiped for some misplaced notion of "being fair".

As for the TV networks, the international audience is not demanding of a live timeslot at a reasonable hour, and even if they did the interest does not overcomb domestic interests. The last rights deal went for 780 million and the next is expected to top $1 billion with an expanded competition driving up the price. Gainins a couple of million from channel 10 to have the GF at night is lunacy.

[dimelb]

Anyway, if they have it at daytime here it will be at night where the really big audiences are. Got to think ahead - by a decade or so ...