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

[Blood Fever]

As a commercial deal it's stinks. I bet it wasn't put out to competitive tender at all. The exclusive rights to the biggest event in Australia's sporting calendar would be worth a fortune, and the vic government and MCG have got it for a fraction of its market value.

AFL: the game run by Victorians for Victorians.

I am an MCC member and just received an email crowing about the GF extended to 2057. I sent a reply saying what a disgrace it was and how it made a mockery of the national comp. You can bet it will be the only one of its kind sent back!

[MattW]

It doesn't surprise me and it's fine by me. Having made it down to the last couple of grand finals, there is a real sense of occasion and brilliant atmosphere. The possibility of seeing my team play the grand final at the MCG is part of the lure. Certainly beats the NRL grand finals I went to, back in the day.

The two biggest bummers about an MCG grand final is the underrepresentation of members from the competing clubs and the expense of getting down to Melbourne. Seems that those things are on (supposedly) on the agenda to fix:

The Age understands non-Victorian clubs have been told the AFL will attempt to reduce the home ground advantage for Victorian clubs playing grand finals at the MCG through a range of measures which are yet to be ratified.

These include fixturing non-Victorian teams on the MCG more often during the season, giving them more in-season training sessions on the MCG, providing greater MCG access during grand final week, allocating more grand final tickets to interstate supporters and chartering flights for interstate clubs to the grand final.

Source: https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/...13-p4z9h0.html.

[barry]

It's not Melbourne or the MCG that makes the grand final great. It's your team having a chance to make history.
Like the Olympics, it can be held anywhere.

[Papernick]

It doesn't surprise me and it's fine by me. Having made it down to the last couple of grand finals, there is a real sense of occasion and brilliant atmosphere. The possibility of seeing my team play the grand final at the MCG is part of the lure. Certainly beats the NRL grand finals I went to, back in the day.

The two biggest bummers about an MCG grand final is the underrepresentation of members from the competing clubs and the expense of getting down to Melbourne. Seems that those things are on (supposedly) on the agenda to fix:



Source: https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/...13-p4z9h0.html.

Accept there are differing views on this but I agree with you on this. But it grinds my gears when Melbourne clubs claim we get a leg up here.

[bodgie]

It's hard to believe they would lock it in so long. Before they do they must address the many other inequities of having the MCG as a home ground for a select few teams, the rare access for non Victorian teams, and access for the fans of those teams should they make the GF. Otherwise it seems like a bad joke on the rest of Australia.

[Papernick]

I do believe scheduling is a big part of it. Even if it means shifting some Melbourne clubs to Etihad for games interstate teams should play a minimum of five away games a season at the MCG. Whether it?s real or mental the current situation as to lack of access to the games biggest stage must be addressed.

Genuine increase in interstate ticketing too so that the crows influence is curbed somewhat

[Ludwig]

The MCG will be below sea level by 2057, but the Rules of The Game Committee will modify the rules to become indistinguishable from Water Polo.

Sydney Swans coach to change nickname to Hippo.