Victorian GF Heist.....'national' league joke.

[Papernick]

I am happy for the grand final to be played on the mcg. It is better than the alternatives.

I dont like the idea of it being randomly rotated around each state. Or the venue only being finalised once the two teams are known.

We just have to be become better at playing on the mcg rather than whinge about it.

The same thing happens in rugby league with the gf played in Sydney.

I largely agree with this but I?d like the MCG Grand Final to be remembered when the Victorian clubs start their pathetic level playing field bleating

[AB Swannie]

Unfortunately, there is never a perfect solution to any of these issues and the governing body always needs to make a judgement between commercial interests and fair competition. In this instance they have opted for commercial interest.

In terms of pure commercial interest though, my biggest concern is the length of the deal. It is so hard to understand the market valuation so far in the future. Therefore, I think they should've made a shorter deal of say ten years and then test the market again.

[Mountain Man]

Quite apart from the MCG issue, my antagonism is the blatant favoritism towards VFL entities. The upgrades go to:

- Ikon Park in Carlton
- Mars Stadium in Ballarat
- Casey Fields in Melbourne's south-east
- Whitten Oval in Footscray
- Victoria Park in Collingwood
- Moorabbin Oval

[Papernick]

Quite apart from the MCG issue, my antagonism is the blatant favoritism towards VFL entities. The upgrades go to:

- Ikon Park in Carlton
- Mars Stadium in Ballarat
- Casey Fields in Melbourne's south-east
- Whitten Oval in Footscray
- Victoria Park in Collingwood
- Moorabbin Oval

Given it is Victoria state government money would you really expect them to develop venues interstate?

The Victorian government are just protecting their interests. Whether the AFL should have accepted is another debate but I?d suggest a $500m investment in the AFL industry would have been difficult to knock back

[Mountain Man]

Yes, I do now realize the truth of what you say.

My indignation was piqued by an AFL report of Richmond complaining they got no money despite their 90,000 members - "how are we to stay competitive with our interstate rivals" they say.

[Bloods05]

What's laughable is that some people really think the world will still be functioning in 2057. There's a better chance of the Grand Final being played on Mars than at the MCG, unless they mean Mars Cricket Ground.

Indeed.

[jono2707]

I'm so outraged, I've decided to boycott the 2057 Grand Final.

Same here. I'll have no interest in seeing the Hobart Kangahawks taking on the Shanghai Giants (unless Buddy is playing for one of them).....

[Beerman]

As much as I hate this deal, it makes sense in a lot of ways.

Homebush is the only other ground that is remotely of a size to accommodate the grand final. and being in a state where AFL is less popular, the AFL won't be able to command the same ridiculous ticket prices in Sydney as they could in Melbourne. In WA they could sell tickets for $10,000 each, but I can't seem them holding the GF in a venue that is only 60% of the size of the MCG.

In terms of home ground advantage, let's not get carried away. For example, the squiggle gives Richmond an 8.5 point home ground advantage, which is pretty good, but it ain't the four goals that some people seem to carry on like it is. (Incidentally, it gives the dogs a 7.9 point home ground advantage vs the swans).

The biggest criticism of the deal is its length. Who know in 20 or 30 years time what the stadium landscape will look like? Maybe Homebush will be torn down and rebuilt, and maybe SA or WA will get a bigger ground? (There is no scenario where I can see them playing in Queensland). But I wouldn't be surprised if the deal is renegotiated before it finishes anyway.

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Same here. I'll have no interest in seeing the Hobart Kangahawks taking on the Shanghai Giants (unless Buddy is playing for one of them).....

LOL! As if Tasmania will have a team by 2057!

Very funny.

[CureTheSane]

I'm also a Victorian Swan, and here's my take.

The deal clearly favors the chances of vIc based teams winning the flag.
I don't like it, but I understand it to a degree.
What I am surprised about is that there is no provision for when 2 interstate teams play, as that is what seems most grossly unfair.

But aside from all that, the fixtures are manipulated for 'fairness', the umpiring can be biased at times, the home grounds right through finals are often stripped from the rightful team, and the Swans were penalised for working within the rules.

[aardvark]

Quite apart from the MCG issue, my antagonism is the blatant favoritism towards VFL entities. The upgrades go to:

- Ikon Park in Carlton
- Mars Stadium in Ballarat
- Casey Fields in Melbourne's south-east
- Whitten Oval in Footscray
- Victoria Park in Collingwood
- Moorabbin Oval

These are the grounds the AFLW will be played on. Are the girls not deserving?

The Qld gov't is also building a new venue for the Lions.

[Swansongster]

What's laughable is that some people really think the world will still be functioning in 2057. There's a better chance of the Grand Final being played on Mars than at the MCG, unless they mean Mars Cricket Ground.

I hate being pessimistic - especially seeing as I have three teenage kids and a 21 yo - but that was the first thing that entered my mind too.

What with climate change having accelerated past a tipping point, plastics poisoning the oceans, water being fouled by gas fracking plus two psychos (Trump and Putin) controlling the world etc., I'm genuinely not sure football is going to be as important as surviving in 40 years time.

[liz]

Quite apart from the MCG issue, my antagonism is the blatant favoritism towards VFL entities. The upgrades go to:

- Ikon Park in Carlton
- Mars Stadium in Ballarat
- Casey Fields in Melbourne's south-east
- Whitten Oval in Footscray
- Victoria Park in Collingwood
- Moorabbin Oval

It's money pledged by the Victorian State Government so no-one can really complain that it is to be spent upgrading Victorian grounds. The tie-in to the MCG deal is another matter.

[CureTheSane]

To be fair, the deal is done between the Victorian government and the AFL, so there are grounds to cry foul that the deal is all inclusive to Victoria, given that the AFL is a national organisation.

[Blood Fever]

As much as I hate this deal, it makes sense in a lot of ways.

Homebush is the only other ground that is remotely of a size to accommodate the grand final. and being in a state where AFL is less popular, the AFL won't be able to command the same ridiculous ticket prices in Sydney as they could in Melbourne. In WA they could sell tickets for $10,000 each, but I can't seem them holding the GF in a venue that is only 60% of the size of the MCG.

In terms of home ground advantage, let's not get carried away. For example, the squiggle gives Richmond an 8.5 point home ground advantage, which is pretty good, but it ain't the four goals that some people seem to carry on like it is. (Incidentally, it gives the dogs a 7.9 point home ground advantage vs the swans).

The biggest criticism of the deal is its length. Who know in 20 or 30 years time what the stadium landscape will look like? Maybe Homebush will be torn down and rebuilt, and maybe SA or WA will get a bigger ground? (There is no scenario where I can see them playing in Queensland). But I wouldn't be surprised if the deal is renegotiated before it finishes anyway.

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LOL! As if Tasmania will have a team by 2057!

Very funny.

Not sure who or what the squiggle is but home ground advantage in a GF is more significant than 8 or so points. Farcical that you can finish lower and play away. Does anyone seriously think that last year's grand final wouldn't have been a very different game if it was played in Adelaide. Same in 2014 against Hawks. Most disgraceful example was 2015 where Eagles beat Hawks in qualifying final in Perth,won their Prelim and then had to play Hawthorn on Hawks home ground. Anty independent observer would see this as absurd and see the competition rightly as a laughing stock. People can try and spin it a much as they like. It is ourageously unfair in the most important game of each season.

[Blood Fever]

Grand Final at MCG should be totally separated from redevelopment of grounds. Purely political decision with election this year. You can be sure McGuire and other Victorian club presidents would have been on Andrews' ear. Brainwashed
And parochial

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Meant to say at end that brainwashed and parochial Melbourne footy public will lapit up.