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Swans secure top spot, but their home final is a poisoned chalice

31st August, 2014
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Roar Guru
31st August, 2014
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1797 Reads

Despite a three-point loss to the in-form Richmond Tigers, the Swans have finished top of the AFL ladder, capturing the minor premiership and a ‘home ground’ final.

Unfortunately for fans, and looking at the recent record, the players, the Swans ‘home’ game will take place at ANZ Stadium, rather than their mainstay home ground, the SFS.

Greater Western Sydney games aside, the Swans have won just 6 of their past 16 matches at the Olympic Stadium.

I fully understand the reasoning for the shift to the 80,000 seat stadium, however Sydney’s biggest crowd of the season was posted at the SFS.

The pitch on ANZ Stadium is far bigger than that of the SFS, which completely changes the Swans’ dynamic and game plan.

Sydney have perfected the smaller SCG, and it is arguably the biggest home ground advantage in the league, at least on par with Fremantle’s large Patersons Stadium.

The Swans are not the only side who will have to ‘travel’ for their home fixture, with the Kangaroos hosting the Bombers at the MCG, Essendon’s home ground.

I’m a huge fan of ANZ Stadium. The travel is easily five teams easier than it would be to the SFS. The facilities are brilliant, the view is great from any seat, and lines are typically much shorter than at any other ground.

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However, as a fan of the red and whites, I’d prefer them to be playing at the ground they are most likely to win at, and statistically speaking that is the SFS.

As the top side in the AFL, I would have thought the Swans would be allowed to play their first finals fixture at their genuine home ground, not shipped out west, in to what is geographically the territory of cross-town rivals the Giants.

I’m all for a grand final qualifier being moved to the elite stadium, but as a thank you to members, fans, and the playing staff, an SFS fixture is the smart option.

Slightly off topic, how brilliant have the Swans been this season? Ignore the last-up result against the Tigers, as the Swans, who were already assumed of top spot, chose to rest stars and didn’t have nearly as much to play for as their opponents.

Hopefully for fans of the red and whites, they can overcome a poor record at ANZ Stadium and book their place, once again at ANZ Stadium, for a chance to feature come the last Saturday in September.

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