ANZ Stadium rears its ugly head.

[Meg]

ANZ Stadium rears its ugly head.

An interesting take on our final being at ANZ from NRL man, a disgruntled Roy Masters.

"The NRL has surrendered to the AFL, allowing its rival to host an all Sydney semi-final match at ANZ Stadium on Saturday September 10, despite the Bulldogs having priority over the use of the Homebush venue."

NRL surrendered home-ground advantage to AFL over finals at ANZ Stadium

[barry]

It is interesting scheduling because NRL finals havent even been decided yet. I'm guessing they are getting it on Sunday, and hopefully not Friday night

[Blue Sun]

As long as ANZ is in good condition and isn't a safety concern, I'm happy. If the Swannies are to be premiers they need to be able to win at venues they're not 100% comfortable playing on. This match will be great preparation for the GF should they make it.

[Doctor]

An interesting take on our final being at ANZ from NRL man, a disgruntled Roy Masters.

"The NRL has surrendered to the AFL, allowing its rival to host an all Sydney semi-final match at ANZ Stadium on Saturday September 10, despite the Bulldogs having priority over the use of the Homebush venue."

NRL surrendered home-ground advantage to AFL over finals at ANZ Stadium

He's such a predictable old grump. This "code wars" thing he bangs on about is so simplistic.

[Meg]

As long as ANZ is in good condition and isn't a safety concern, I'm happy. If the Swannies are to be premiers they need to be able to win at venues they're not 100% comfortable playing on. This match will be great preparation for the GF should they make it.

I've read a comment elsewhere that the ANZ surface was poor for the recent Bledisloe cup game to the extent that the referee reset a few scrums and actually moved one due to concern about the footing on the surface. Was anyone at that match (or watching) to know if that is correct?

He's such a predictable old grump. This "code wars" thing he bangs on about is so simplistic.

Yes he is an old grump, makes for funny watching on 'Offsiders' at times.

[graemed]

I've read a comment elsewhere that the ANZ surface was poor for the recent Bledisloe cup game to the extent that the referee reset a few scrums and actually moved one due to concern about the footing on the surface. Was anyone at that match (or watching) to know if that is correct?
.

As worrying as that fact may be just as worrying for me is the concerns some of players have had with the shifting surface in the past. Especially after playing on the incomparable surface of the SCG.

How confident will Tippett, Mitchell and others be when attacking the football, landing from a marking contest or jumping in the ruck?

I don't know the figures but it feels like we have had more injuries at that ground than any other.

[CureTheSane]

There will be hell to pay if there are any surface related injuries.
Looking forward to a big crown there supporting mostly the Swans

[aguy]

That seems a bit harsh to me. Barry certainly does enjoy arguing the less popular view about the stadium but he never attacks anyone.

History says no they wont. No point arguing that, its fact. So let it be.

sounded to me like Barry was telling me that I was wrong and that I should shut up when in fact all I was doing was expressing my opinion that I think most swans fans will in fact attend. I'm pretty sure he was playing the man there.

I'm all for expressing ones opinion as we all have differing views. Doesn't make one persons view better than the others. I will definitely be attending

[Doctor]

sounded to me like Barry was telling me that I was wrong and that I should shut up when in fact all I was doing was expressing my opinion that I think most swans fans will in fact attend. I'm pretty sure he was playing the man there.

I'm all for expressing ones opinion as we all have differing views. Doesn't make one persons view better than the others. I will definitely be attending

I was responding to Jewels' post rather than yours, but I'm glad you're attending the game either way. I will be too!

[giant]

An interesting take on our final being at ANZ from NRL man, a disgruntled Roy Masters.

"The NRL has surrendered to the AFL, allowing its rival to host an all Sydney semi-final match at ANZ Stadium on Saturday September 10, despite the Bulldogs having priority over the use of the Homebush venue."

NRL surrendered home-ground advantage to AFL over finals at ANZ Stadium

When it comes to AFL, that bloke can always find something to grumble about.

[Faunac8]

[QUOTE=Meg;706439]I've read a comment elsewhere that the ANZ surface was poor for the recent Bledisloe cup game to the extent that the referee reset a few scrums and actually moved one due to concern about the footing on the surface. Was anyone at that match (or watching) to know if that is correct?

Yes the surface was shifting and some scrums were moved slightly to firmer footing. Bear in mind however that a rugby scrum contains two opposing 900 kg packs Intent on pushing the hell out of the other side and can generate almost 4000 newtons. There is an enormous amount of pressure in a scum and a shifting surface can lead to pretty serious injuries.
Of course a shifting surface presents challenges to AFL players of a different type.

[AnnieH]

When it comes to AFL, that bloke can always find something to grumble about.

Blah, blah, blah Roy Masters.
If you add up all the people who watch the NRL live over the weekend, and compare it to ONE swans match... we win.
ANZ Stadium aren't stupid. You make a lot more money from 60,000 attendees than you do from 6,000.

[WolfGang]

Hi - this may have been addressed before - but does the contract with ANZ stadium finish this year - 2016 ??

if not, what happens from 2017 onwards if the Swans play GSW ??

Being in Melbourne I don't know all the stadium / NRL/AFL final game arrangements.

[mcs]

Hi - this may have been addressed before - but does the contract with ANZ stadium finish this year - 2016 ??

if not, what happens from 2017 onwards if the Swans play GSW ??

Being in Melbourne I don't know all the stadium / NRL/AFL final game arrangements.

Yep all the contracts end this year. ANZ is to be redeveloped into a rectangle only stadium from 2017 (or perhaps the redevelopment starts in 2018?), so definitely no chance of any more AFL there

So I'd assume any more derby finals would be at the home ground of the top ranked team, unless the AFL was to force GWS to play a home game at the SCG to fit more people in

[Meg]

So I'd assume any more derby finals would be at the home ground of the top ranked team, unless the AFL was to force GWS to play a home game at the SCG to fit more people in

Yes I've been musing over exactly that point. If within the next few years GWS finish top (quite possible) and Swans finish 4th, will a QF match be played at (the small) Spotless? Or at the much larger SCG?