2015 Grand Final

[stevoswan]

Nice back and forth, i don't think we'll ever agree. I don't want the GF to be moved completely away from the MCG but with afl played in 5 states (Tasmania will never get a Team) but in a 8 years period at least have four played interstate and four at the MCG, every second year is a different state. The game has to grow nationally Victoria alone can't sustain it forever.

I agree with your sentiments Levii3, but while the power base remains in Melbourne, ie; forever, the status quo will remain. Part of that power base is half the clubs in the league who vote on commission/football proposals! It sucks, but it's a reality. Interstate clubs will always be the poor cousins.....

[Melbourne_Blood]

I agree with your sentiments Levii3, but while the power base remains in Melbourne, ie; forever, the status quo will remain. Part if that power base is half the clubs in the league who vote on commission/football proposals! It sucks, but it's a reality. Interstate clubs will always be the poor cousins.....

For me, moving the GF away from the 'G' is akin to changing the date of Christmas. Something's should be left untouched. I'm all for the growing of the game, however I don't believe moving the GF venue around is a necessary component in establishing a strong and truly national competition.

[stevoswan]

For me, moving the GF away from the 'G' is akin to changing the date of Christmas. Something's should be left untouched. I'm all for the growing of the game, however I don't believe moving the GF venue around is a necessary component in establishing a strong and truly national competition.

I can see both sides of the story definitely, and as a Victorian, I have always seen the 'G as the rightful place to hold the GF and the spiritual home and all that, but the last few years of AFL behaviour has me more conflicted in this view. I guess if nothing changes, it will always mean interstate glory, esp. Swans glory, on the big day will always be sweeter at the 'G, because we take the cup 'away' from this 'spiritual home' and stick it up the 'heartland', albeit possibly less frequently....

[rojo]

I am not Victorian but I believe, like Adam Simpson, that the MCG is the home of AFL and the GF should always be played there. I don't buy into the desire of some for constant change regarding our game, usually to copy the practices of some other code or sport, or TV sponsors. I agree that even for the Swans, GF victory at the 'G' would be so much sweeter than at the SCG or the Gabba ...... Am I a traditionalist with a sense of history? Possibly!

[bloodsbigot]

Which is about 40,000 short of where it needs to be if it is to ever the host the big dance...

The soccer World Cup Final is the biggest sporting event in the world, with the most viewers, and in 2014 it was held at a stadium seating only 74,000. In 2006 69,000. etc etc. Getting to 100,000 is no big deal.

The Grand Final should be played at a neutral venue or at the very least shared around.

I don't buy into this 'tradition' stuff anymore. They've played the Grand Finals at other venues apart from the MCG before. They played it at Princes Park in 1945 when the swans played Carlton ffs.

It's not the VFL anymore and it's high time the so-called 'AFL' started acting like they're fair dinkum about a national competition. The longer the Grand Final is kept at the MCG the more it will remain Victoria-centric and remain in a bubble.

The Grand Final venue should be rotated between cities as the Superbowl is in America. It should be decided a few years before. Cities should be able to bid for it.

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There's no way in hell they would go from a 100k capacity to a 60k. Not. A. Chance.

Why? Other leagues greater than the AFL do it.

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For me, moving the GF away from the 'G' is akin to changing the date of Christmas. Something's should be left untouched. I'm all for the growing of the game, however I don't believe moving the GF venue around is a necessary component in establishing a strong and truly national competition.

If you want a Victorian league so bad, then there's always Port Melbourne in the VFL.

It's time to move on... seriously. The AFL is NOT the VFL anymore.

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I can see both sides of the story definitely, and as a Victorian, I have always seen the 'G as the rightful place to hold the GF and the spiritual home and all that, but the last few years of AFL behaviour has me more conflicted in this view. I guess if nothing changes, it will always mean interstate glory, esp. Swans glory, on the big day will always be sweeter at the 'G, because we take the cup 'away' from this 'spiritual home' and stick it up the 'heartland', albeit possibly less frequently....

It still irritates me that Victorian supporters still call teams outside Victoria as 'interstaters.' Seriously... this attitude is what holds Australian Football back from growing outside Victoria.

[0918330512]

I don't buy into this 'tradition' stuff anymore. They've played the Grand Finals at other venues apart from the MCG before. They played it at Princes Park in 1945 when the swans played Carlton ffs.

Well I'm sure you'll get your wish after the conclusion of World War 3, because it took the extenuating circumstances of the unavailability of the MCG after the end of WW2 for the grand final to be shifted to Princess Park in 1945.

[aardvark]

Someone should send Gill the Dill a copy of the NRL Grand Final. That's how it's done AFL.

[Melbourne_Blood]

The soccer World Cup Final is the biggest sporting event in the world, with the most viewers, and in 2014 it was held at a stadium seating only 74,000. In 2006 69,000. etc etc. Getting to 100,000 is no big deal.

The Grand Final should be played at a neutral venue or at the very least shared around.

I don't buy into this 'tradition' stuff anymore. They've played the Grand Finals at other venues apart from the MCG before. They played it at Princes Park in 1945 when the swans played Carlton ffs.

It's not the VFL anymore and it's high time the so-called 'AFL' started acting like they're fair dinkum about a national competition. The longer the Grand Final is kept at the MCG the more it will remain Victoria-centric and remain in a bubble.

The Grand Final venue should be rotated between cities as the Superbowl is in America. It should be decided a few years before. Cities should be able to bid for it.

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Why? Other leagues greater than the AFL do it.

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If you want a Victorian league so bad, then there's always Port Melbourne in the VFL.

It's time to move on... seriously. The AFL is NOT the VFL anymore.

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It still irritates me that Victorian supporters still call teams outside Victoria as 'interstaters.' Seriously... this attitude is what holds Australian Football back from growing outside Victoria.

I've never been alive when it was called the VFL pal. If I wanted a Victoria. League, my team wouldn't be in it, so that's a stupid comment. I don't believe moving the GF away from the 'G', one of our games grandest traditions, will have any impact whatsoever on the growing of the game nationally.

[Triple B]

Even though born and bred in Sydney, I'm comfortable with the GF at the MCG, it makes for a great pilgrimage of sorts every few years when we are good enough to make the big dance.

I think the biggest gripe about the GF always at the G is the two biggest mouths on equalisation are hellbent on dismantling any concessions afforded other clubs, particularly ours, such as COLA, academies etc. When it comes to the GF being played on their home ground every year, they become very silent and tradition becomes more important than equalisation.

If McGuire *spit* was president of the Bulldogs, do you think for one minute their elimination would not have been played at Etihad???

[Conor_Dillon]

Agree with Triple B that it shouldn't necessarily be changed, but it should definitely be mentioned in every 'equalisation' discussion.

Also the 100,000 people argument is pointless given the large percentage of those 'supporters' that are corporates and neutrals. Correct me if I'm wrong but weren't both clubs only given 15,000 tickets each for their members?

It will never happen due to the financial side of things, but how good would a grand-final be with 50,000 supporters from each team?

Also, it's time to make it a night game...like every single other significant sporting event on the planet. The atmosphere would be infinitely better at night.

[Primmy]

I doubt the players would ever want to play away from The Grand Final Stadium, and as has been pointed out, 100,000 capacity.....

It should be moved to twilight imho. Too many issues with sun in the eyes etc. And why on earth were the media going off because whatisname picked Hodge up after the 3/4 siren? Its not a blood sport. Its a sport's game. A big one, yes. But still.....

And finally, whats with all the overseas people performing? I don't get it. What's wrong with Australian performers! Appropriate ones! Some who can rock the place down. Brian Adams was good, and the crowd got into it. But.....?? que?????

And of course, the ticketing......sheesh......

[barry]

The NRL grand final killed the AFL one even before the Thurston show. And that was at, supposedly , the worst stadium in the world. This shows the grand finals are not deminished by their location.

It made the MCG look tired and old.

Until the grand final is movable, the AFL is still the VFL.

[annew]

Even though born and bred in Sydney, I'm comfortable with the GF at the MCG, it makes for a great pilgrimage of sorts every few years when we are good enough to make the big dance.

I think the biggest gripe about the GF always at the G is the two biggest mouths on equalisation are hellbent on dismantling any concessions afforded other clubs, particularly ours, such as COLA, academies etc. When it comes to the GF being played on their home ground every year, they become very silent and tradition becomes more important than equalisation.

If McGuire *spit* was president of the Bulldogs, do you think for one minute their elimination would not have been played at Etihad???

You are so right

[Bloods05]

It will never happen due to the financial side of things, but how good would a grand-final be with 50,000 supporters from each team?

It's not so much a question of how good it would be, rather a memory of how good it used to be. The GF is still fantastic but the atmosphere is nothing like the old days when it was all competing clubs' supporters. The level of emotional engagement in a close finish was insane.

[Bloods05]

The NRL grand final killed the AFL one even before the Thurston show. And that was at, supposedly , the worst stadium in the world. This shows the grand finals are not deminished by their location.

It made the MCG look tired and old.

Until the grand final is movable, the AFL is still the VFL.

And the NRL is still the NSWRL as long as their GF is in Sydney? Even though both clubs were from Qld?