St Kilda-Geelong deserves a bigger audience

Geelong and St Kilda players fight for the ball during the AFL 1st Qualifying Final between the Geelong Cats and the St kilda Saints at the MCG. GSP Images

With all the ongoing feuding and finger-pointing, it’s hard to know exactly who to blame for yesterday’s announcement that the July 5 blockbuster between St Kilda and Geelong will remain at Etihad Stadium, instead of being shifted to the MCG.

But here’s one thing we can know for sure: thousands of fans will be robbed of seeing the spectacle live.

And if the game’s broadcaster, Channel Seven, continues its usual policy of showing footy on delay – which it has been pretty steadfast in upholding – then hundreds of thousands of fans will be robbed of seeing the spectacle live.

To say this clash is anticipated is an understatement. The competition standouts will go mano a mano in what is looming as the game of the season.

There are some stirring parallels to the much-anticipated Hawthorn-Geelong epic of last year. That game well and truly matched the hype, with the Cats ultimately prevailing by 11 points despite a gallant challenge by a side then seen as mere up-and-comers.

In hindsight, it served as a grand final preview.

This year we have an in-form St Kilda to look forward to as challengers. They’ve managed to remove any early-season scepticism, showing little – if any – signs of dropping off as the season rolls on.

Crucially, their increase in pressure has remained. But perhaps even more importantly, as Nick Riewoldt pointed out on The Footy Show, each player has been playing their role. It’s been a contrast to previous seasons.

Going into this round, the Saints are undefeated, atop the ladder and carry an incredible 183.77 percentage. Not too bad for a side few tipped as contenders for 2009.

Their opponent in round 14, however, doesn’t scrub up too bad either.

The Cats, too, are undefeated. They currently sit comfortably at second on the ladder. But the stat that’s become more than familiar to footy fans is the fact they’ve won 51 out of their last 54 matches and don’t look like slowing down.

The thought of two teams undefeated going into round 14 alone is tantalizing enough, but the fact it could happen with the two sides playing each other on that weekend is almost too much to handle.

It’s a pity the fans will be the ones to miss out.

Simple numbers say it all: Etihad Stadium holds roughly 56,000. The MCG holds 100,000.

Of course if current form were to continue, regardless of the venue, there will be a sell-out. But at least having the game at the MCG would’ve ensured an extra 40,000 or so would be able to see it in the flesh.

It would have also shown that the AFL could again be serious about its once-held pledge to maximise attendances.

The onus is now on Seven to for once follow the lead of their broadcast partner Ten, acknowledge the sell-out and give footy fans the gift of live coverage.

If ever there was a time to break from their policy, the Sunday of round 14 would be it.

It may just be the only way most fans will be able to see the game live.