2015 Grand Final

[0918330512]

They earnt the right, they were the highest ranked qualifier. Same as last year. The rules overruled that right.

Hawthorns odd were significantly shorter at the MCg than 3 weeks ago at subi. Fair?

There is a difference between what is fair and what is a right. If the rules stipulated that the highest finishing team plays the grand final at their home ground, then it would be their right. The rules don't.

Even in sydney, any fan who wants to go to the game can. Ironic that as an AFL fan I've seen more NrL grand finals than AFL ones because the AFL one is a closed shop.

No offence, but it's hardly ironic. You won't travel to a grand final out of Sydney, be it based on ticket availability or cost or your dislike of a venue. You'll willingly attend grand finals of other/any sports in Sydney. That's not really how irony is defined.

If 200,000 Sydney people wanted to go to the NRL grand final, some would miss out. Pure & simple.

The AFL grand final is inaccesible to me due to its location and ticketing. Of course i could pay a few thousand and get there.

ive been to all sydney hosted prelims.

That's the point really. Many people willingly pay to attend what can be the highlight of your life as a supporter. Gripe all you like ... & my impression is you like to ... but watch the granny pre-game and look at the supporters who have travelled vast distances to the ground without a ticket, walking around the ground (usually cheerily) in the typically futile hope that someone will sell them a ticket.

[bloodsbigot]

Can anyone actually give me a good reason why it shouldn't be held outside Victoria apart from:
a) Tradition
b) Because it's a big stadium

Note: I would argue that the above reasons aren't actually good reasons.

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Did you even read my post properly. If you did, you would see I'm not part of the problem. My point was that the AFL see us as 'interstaters'. Get it?

Wasn't having a go. Just stating my dislike for the term. Nothing to do with you or your post. Just thinking out loud. Kinda agreeing actually.

[barry]

Can anyone actually give me a good reason why it shouldn't be held outside Victoria apart from:
a) Tradition
b) Because it's a big stadium

Note: I would argue that the above reasons aren't actually good reasons.

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Wasn't having a go. Just stating my dislike for the term. Nothing to do with you or your post. Just thinking out loud. Kinda agreeing actually.

Thats all the reasons there are. The MCG was the traditional home when it was a melbourne suburbian competition. Fair enough. That tradition is no longer relevant in a truly national competition. The tradition is kept alive IF the vic clubs decide that SHOULD THEY EARN the right to host a grand final, it will be played at the "G".

Otherwise its an unfair advantage, and calls into question the integrity of the game.

[goswannies]

Went to the game. The atmosphere was great.

Always is on GF day. Complete myth that the day lacks atmosphere.

I couldn't agree more Plugger, although I wasn't at the grand final this year.

But I've been lucky enough to go to 5 Grand Finals. Carlton V Hawthorn in 1986, and all off Sydney's ones (96, 05, 06, 12 & 14) & the atmosphere was always amazing. ~100K patrons, most of whom will have chosen a side to support on the day. The only game I left feeling especially crap at was obviously 2014, but there was still no doubting the crowd involvement (for better or worse during the match. But every time I was fortunate enough to attend a grand final it felt special. Barry, if your "circumstances" generally prevent you from attending, I'd personally recommend that you bite the bullet, just once, & get to a granny. If you reckon a game is good at ANZ (I've only been to 2 there, but you can cut me some slack as I live in SA) then you'll be astounded by the atmosphere of a GF at the 'G!

[bloodsbigot]

Thats all the reasons there are. The MCG was the traditional home when it was a melbourne suburbian competition. Fair enough. That tradition is no longer relevant in a truly national competition. The tradition is kept alive IF the vic clubs decide that SHOULD THEY EARN the right to host a grand final, it will be played at the "G".

Otherwise its an unfair advantage, and calls into question the integrity of the game.

Yep. There are way more pros than cons for playing the Grand Final outside of Victoria as far as I can see.

There exists no integrity in the game as long as it remains at the MCG. Not to mention no growth of the game.


I used to argue against the AFL knockers on League Unlimited for hours and hours about how the AFL is a national competition and that calling it VFL is just wrong. I'm starting to believe they were right all along.

[goswannies]

Can anyone actually give me a good reason why it shouldn't be held outside Victoria apart from:
a) Tradition
b) Because it's a big stadium

How about: "Under an agreement between the Melbourne Cricket Club, the MCG Trust, the AFL and the Victorian State Government, the AFL Grand Final will be played at the MCG every year until at least 2034."

Not shifting anytime soon no matter how much anyone on RWO argues to the contrary.

[Melbourne_Blood]

Can anyone actually give me a good reason why it shouldn't be held outside Victoria apart from:
a) Tradition
b) Because it's a big stadium

Note: I would argue that the above reasons aren't actually good reasons.

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Wasn't having a go. Just stating my dislike for the term. Nothing to do with you or your post. Just thinking out loud. Kinda agreeing actually.

The grand final isn't simply a sporting final, it's an event. Would you move the location of the Sydney to Hobart race? Thecity2surf? The Mardi Gras? Adelaide fringe? Bathurst 1000? Tropfest? Do you see my point? It's A day celebrated above all others including Christmas & new year in my circle. It's my favourite day of the year, and it's always the biggest party. When the swans are lucky to make it, I have been lucky to attend 3 of those matches ( only 1 winning one unfortunately ). It's a magical day, the atmosphere across the whole city is electric, particularly in Richmond, and apart from some questionable entertainment choices at times, it's always a great event. I doubt that if all footy fans were polled, the majority would want it moved. A few people such as yourself who seem to have a 'NSW VS Victoria' chip on your shoulder not withstanding. I just came back from overseas, and even many Europeans are aware of the existence of this chip! It's an internationally recognised chip!

[bloodsbigot]

The grand final isn't simply a sporting final, it's an event. Would you move the location of the Sydney to Hobart race? Thecity2surf? The Mardi Gras? Adelaide fringe? Bathurst 1000? Tropfest? Do you see my point? It's A day celebrated above all others including Christmas & new year in my circle. It's my favourite day of the year, and it's always the biggest party. When the swans are lucky to make it, I have been lucky to attend 3 of those matches ( only 1 winning one unfortunately ). It's a magical day, the atmosphere across the whole city is electric, particularly in Richmond, and apart from some questionable entertainment choices at times, it's always a great event. I doubt that if all footy fans were polled, the majority would want it moved. A few people such as yourself who seem to have a 'NSW VS Victoria' chip on your shoulder not withstanding. I just came back from overseas, and even many Europeans are aware of the existence of this chip! It's an internationally recognized chip!

I'm Melbourne born and raised, so I have no NSW versus Victoria chip on my shoulder. I'm now currently living in Osaka, Japan (For around 7 years now), so I like to think I have a good insiders perspective and outsiders perspective. Overseas people are not aware of a Melbourne versus Sydney rivalry nor are they aware of Australian footballs existence. Heck, haven't even heard of Melbourne 80% of the time. I would actually argue that Melbourne have more of a chip on their shoulders than Sydney people. Sydney people I've spoken to speak of their love of Melbourne, whereas Melbourne people still hang @@@@ on Sydney and call it soulless (They've usually never actually been).

When you truly understand the big picture you'll realize how petty tradition can be. The AFL Grand Final being at the MCG is a blip on the radar.

Almost no Melbournians would even notice if the Grand Final was played outside of Melbourne seeing as most stay home watching it on TV, having a family bbq, etc. The only people affected by it would be those living within striking distance of the MCG, which is like 10% of Melbourne's population.

[Melbourne_Blood]

I have only nice things to say about my time in Sydney and NSW, many of my fondest childhood memories are of road trips there staying with relatives. There is certainly a chip though, I think most fair minded people either side of the border appreciate what the other state / city has to offer, whilst also having their own preference on which they prefer. Some can't help but take any opportunity to pot the other city state though, and from my experience , it's NSW potting Vic, not vice versa, though I won't deny it occurs both ways. Tradition shouldn't be petty, particularly in such a young country relatively speaking, when we have so few. We should hold onto and celebrate the few that we have in my opinion. Particularly those relating to our own unique and beautiful game.

[barry]

It's a long bow to say we want a fair grand final venue is a nsw/vic chip on the shoulder.
I can only think of two time in history that NSW would have even qualified. 1996 and 2012.
And its not as if vic would be excluded. They be welcome to fly up, book accomdation and get a ticket. Most welcome

[rb4x]

To those arguing that an event can not be moved I offer Melbourne stealing the Grand Prix off Adelaids.

[Levii3]

The sporting capital of the world melbourne, the greatest city in the world melbourne, the most liveable city in the world melbourne, the cultural capital of australia.
When we made the GF the commentator says the town of sydney is going to the city of melbourne. Vic has pop less than 6 mil NSW have over 7 mil. Lets stop pulling our pants down and getting the tape out...
Cmon I'm means seriously VFL SAFL combine the cup is still the @@@@in VFL cup people don't even want to move the dam brownlow.

[bodgie]

When we talk about equalisation, unfair advantages, developing the game around Australia, oh how I would love a GF at the SCG if we earned it.

I have no problem with MCG Grand Finals as long as its a ground where all teams get pretty equal exposure. With all those teams down there surely they need to scrape up another oval!

[bloodsbigot]

The sporting capital of the world melbourne, the greatest city in the world melbourne, the most liveable city in the world melbourne, the cultural capital of australia.
When we made the GF the commentator says the town of sydney is going to the city of melbourne. Vic has pop less than 6 mil NSW have over 7 mil. Lets stop pulling our pants down and getting the tape out...
Cmon I'm means seriously VFL SAFL combine the cup is still the @@@@in VFL cup people don't even want to move the dam brownlow.

Victoria is so inwards-looking at times.

[bloodsbigot]

When we talk about equalisation, unfair advantages, developing the game around Australia, oh how I would love a GF at the SCG if we earned it.

I have no problem with MCG Grand Finals as long as its a ground where all teams get pretty equal exposure. With all those teams down there surely they need to scrape up another oval!

I'd be okay with MCG Grand Finals if they made sure the game was moved if only one team played their home games there and they finished lower on the ladder than the team they're facing.

Furthermore, on this topic, it's not like the VFL have always wanted Grand Finals played at the MCG. It's not like the MCG is sacred. The original plan in the 1960s was to move the Grand Final to Waverley Park.