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Well the worst possible outcome of yesterday’s AFL grand final was not seeing Collingwood and its fans come away with the win, but in fact the game ending in a draw. Why you may ask? Well there is a pretty big game on next Saturday night, involving two new rivals.
Many of you ‘neutral’ supporters, or ‘non soccer’ supporters may not know this game is even happening, with all the media coverage being focused on the AFL this past week. Now with the grand final being replayed, unfortunately all this will happen again.
The game I am talking about, by the way, is the first ever Melbourne derby, between the Melbourne Victory and new boys Melbourne Heart. I’m guessing you had no idea it was on.
Well this game may now be moved, either a day before or after the AFL.
If this is true, it’s absolutely ridiculous.
This game should not be postponed, just because the AFL grand final is being replayed. Yes there are many issues with having the game on next Saturday, the same day as the AFL grand final, but why should the FFA change the date of the game?
A main worry might be the amount of people who will be in the city after the game. The grand final will finish at approximately 5.15pm, just a bit more than two hours before the derby game kicks off at AAMI Park.
Transportation as well is a key issue. Parking in and around the stadium will be a nightmare, and there will be less trains going towards Richmond Station. There are many more transportation issues as well.
Another key issue is resources. With the grand final now on next week, police resources will be scarce. Are there enough police to cater for both games? In my opinion, I don’t think so, especially with the extra amount needed with the massive nature of both these games.
Probably the most important issue, in the eyes of the FFA, is media exposure. One would think the derby game was scheduled for October 2nd because the grand final would have been over by then, thus more of the attention of the media would have been focused towards the derby. Now with the grand final being replayed, it will dominate the media for the next seven days.
The FFA had waited until round nine to pit the two Melbourne rivals against each other specifically to get ”clear air” following the conclusion of the AFL season.
So now with the grand final on the same day as the derby game, the game will receive hardly, I mean, no attention whatsoever. This is exactly what the FFA did not want to happen.
But, even with all these pretty good points in favour of postponing the derby, I think it should still go ahead next Saturday. No, no, I am not crazy.
Why should the FFA postpone this match just because it clashes with the AFL anyways? In fact, you could hardly argue that is ‘clashes’. They are to different codes, and one game finishes at 5.15pm and the other doesn’t start until 7.30pm. Logistical and safety reasons aside – if the date of this game is moved – it demonstrates a very unhealthy level of defeatism.
With all the people still in the city after the grand final, who knows, it might even encourage them to go watch the football. Media exposure will be minimal, but if Melbourne Heart markets this game properly then they could definitely get much more people through the gates.
The next few days regarding this issue are going to be very interesting to say the least. I for one hope this game goes ahead next Saturday, because to postpone a game just because of the AFL grand final is absolutely ridiculous.
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