Home sweet away

I put again, Geelong have the greatest set up in the AFL. A very definitive and singular home ground advantage (like Sydney and Brissie only) Minimal travel - - share Victoria with 9 other clubs, (defeats Syd and Bris on travel issue - - - although, flipside is the travel of your opponent) A stand alone VFL (reserves) team Huge revenue generated from modest 'home' crowds (granted, running at capacity for the venue) What is interesting is seeing how certain teams really struggle away from Telstra Dome........what, with, wind, and other 'natural' factors!!!

Jimbo, Social games where your team is not playing or NAB cup game,etc are great for pints with a few mates, you barely watch what;s going on the ground. But if Essendon are playing I like to watch the game, perhaps a little too intensely. I liked the Nth Syd Bears in the NSWRL - great colours - red and black. :-) Redb

Redb, Its certainly worked out well for the AFL using TD and MCG as home grounds for the Melb teams, especially since Melb teams are doing so well last year and this year. Agree with Ren’s comments – Melb teams don’t travel as much or have to spend as much time and money on travel and hotel rooms as the interstate teams. Hasn’t been as successful for the NRL using ANZ, but despite all the empty seats NRL attendances are up on last year as well. Its bloody cold at ANZ, the MCG and TD as well – no central heating there and I think you get warmer jumping around and cheering with your mates in a standing area than sitting on those cold, hard, plastic seats. You don’t get too much warm sunshine either with the big grandstands. I recently went to a Mariners trial game at a local park and it was cold all right but really enjoyed the atmosphere at the small ground and being able to mingle with the players afterwards. The same for North Sydney Oval where I recently watched the Bears play. We sat on the hill in the sunshine with a nice cold beer. Great game too, the bears are travelling well this year top of the NSW local competition.

Ren, Telstra Dome is the home ground for Essendon, St Kilda, Carlton, Bulldogs and North Melb - if you are playing any of these sides the home ground advantage is non existant. The MCG is the home ground of Melbourne, Collingwood, Richmond and Hawthorn - likewise is true. Geelong have a suburban ground, Swans have the SCG, Lions the Gabba ,etc. Games in Adelaide and Perth have always been tough particularly in finals. The MCG and TD have less quirky attributes like some other grounds. Agree Perth teams travel more than others, if you blokes get a home prelim its a big advantage. In the end as i said it all washes out. Redb

Redb, you say that the loss of home ground advantage (for vic) helps the other clubs, alternatively leaving your home state just 4 times a year (collingwood and others) versus travelling interstate for 10 games a year (Fremantle, WCE and presumably Adelaide and Port, different for brisbane and sydney because of sold 'home games'). To us parochial West Australians and others this is a huge disadvantage interupting pre and post game routines.

Jimbo, The old suburban grounds had their charm, but they were often cold windswept places in winter and 70% standing room only. i dont mind the odd game standing with a few mates and a couple of pints, but once you get used to Telstra Dome or the MCG its hard to go back. It can piss down rain outside at TD and you could not care less, no wind, good atmosphere , bigger crowd. The AFL's move to the MCG or TD for all Melbourne games has seen crowds increase it has not worked in the NRL. The loss of home ground advantage is a factor and I guess it helps the clubs in WA, SA, NSW, QLD more than the Victorian teams, but then again the Grand Final has to be played on the MCG so it all washes out in the end. Having endured AAMI stadium last weekend for the Adelaide v Port Adelaide showdown game on a cold, windy and wet afternoon in Adelaide I can only confirm TD in particular has most Adelaide folk drooling, well at least the ones on the bus coming back to the city after the game. :-) Redb

Yes, Jimbo, the suburban grounds certainly had (and in some cases still have) their charm. After I moved to Sydney I used to take my family to sit on the grass at Leichhardt Oval and watch the old Balmain Tigers go around (I like watching all football, except union, which is incomprehensible to a former Mexican). Sitting on the grass in the sun was certainly a more pleasant experience than standing in the rain at Victoria Park or Brunswick Street, for exsample.

Yes good point Bruce, with so many AFL teams sharing the MCG and Swans using ANZ and the rugby league teams using the ANZ Stadium as well it cloudies up the definition of a home game. It also stirs up the mud and the condition of the playing surface, when state and national games from other codes are played on the same grounds during the season. With the AFL Commission looking to buy the management of ANZ for a second Sydney team and the Swans playing there more frequently, we will get to the stage where both Sydney teams will have ANZ stadium as a 'home ground' - an AFL game in Sydney at ANZ every weekend from March to September every year. Add the regular league games there every weekend and the paddock will become a mud patch or have to go artificial turf. The AFL and NRL are trying to please sponsors and the TV people to get the best attendances and ratings, but I think there is a silent majority that would like to return to the good old days and see their favourite teams playing at their local ground.

C'mon Bruce. Check your facts. Cats v Sydney is at Homebush, not the SCG