AFL grand final replay unfair for all

At the end of the day - everyone knew that the AFL had the reserve day and a standing booking at the MCG. The VRC weren't forced to change. No one was forced to change. As with FLM though, while I support the Grand FInal replay, in general, I am torn. The landscape of footy has changed dramatically since 1977. That year was the first live televised VFL Grand Final (thanks to Ron Casey at HSV 7). Now, it's a national game with soon to be 8 of 18 sides outside of Victoria. So, while we might love to retain the AFL Grand Final replay clause - pragmatic reality sadly might force a change to be made. For now though, Collingwood supporters have just been living the dream over the last couple of weeks. Good luck to them, they take a lot of crap (and give a lot too!!).

Once they're back on the training track - they all appreciate the opportunity to play again to win the flag. If either team carries any player who is not relishing that opportunity - that team will lose.

You only have to look and hear the players reactions after the match to know that extra time was needed. I would prefer a system of extra time of one quarter, and if it isn't settled then, a replay the following week.

According to the bookmakers, the odds of another draw is around 35 to 1!

Yes, but they will know that they let a handy 4 goal lead slip.

The key argument appears to be one of inconvenience. But for the moment, with the AFL always having the MCG booked again as a contingency, that's not an issue, evidenced by the fact that they will sell another 100,000 tickets.

Perhaps the sports you enjoy should get off their arses and work towards giving us some reason to pay attention to them. Footy's the biggest game in town because it's the most interesting and engaging. It makes no apologies for leaving other sports in its wake - not unlike the way soccer acts in Europe or cricket in India.

TSO There is a very sound reason why draws in the first three weeks of finals aren't replayed - it puts the whole schedule out - but most importantly, you can have a scenario where a team might have a two week break - as happened in 1990 - and that was the main reason why extra time was introduced into the finals. But that's not a consideration for the grand final, as Big Al says, they have an extra weekend up their sleeve where they can book the MCG - so they do.

Also the supporters who have taken time off work, booked airfares, hotel rooms etc. They could not do it twice in two weeks, I know I couldn't.

That's actually a very good point that's been lost in all the bru-ha of a replay - what if one or both the grand finalists were from out of town, & had to play in Melbourne again the following week? Another important consideration the AFL will have to factor in.....

The AFL has ONE SPARE week available due to ground contractual agreements.

Why change this has only occurred three times in 150 years , here we go again so we play extra time and a 50 klm gale is favouring one end .we pick three players and all the opposition stand in front of goal as defenders each side has three kicks from 50 metre line . As a spectator I was thrilled with the result and quiet frankly it will not be a chore to go through it again . Seems to me we are all caught up in the moment ,what happens if we have a dead heat in the Melbourne cup do we run another race on the day ,have extra time ,or perhaps flip a coin ,It would be great if we were so keen to change the constitution WHICH PROVIDES FOR THE SAME AMOUNT OF SENETORS FOR TASMANIA AS THE OTHER STATES great representation ,no outcry about this stupidity . Leave it as it is if want to cover all contingecies it will never end as the variables will always give cause for concern a drawn game is just that play it again SAM .

TSO My recollection is that the FA Cup Final would be replayed only if the Final ended in a draw AFTER playing an additional 1/2 hour of extra time but that was abandoned back in 1999. Interestingly, from memory, the replays were held midweek - on the Wednesday following the Final. I wonder how many would attend the AFL GF replay on a Wednesday night?

I love the idea of watching another Grand Final this Saturday, hopefully it will be another cliffhanger and here's hoping The Saints get over the line, but.................................. Initially I was 100% in favour of a replay, however I am now starting to have some doubts about it. Not for the reasons most people seem to be putting forth though. Fortunately it is 2 Melbourne teams playing, but what if 1 of those teams was the West Coast Eagles or Freo and the other was a Melbourne team, would that be fair? My other concern is that if the replay turns out to be a flogging, how will that look after what was one of the most exciting G.F's ever? At this stage I remain in favour of a replay, just.

Well dasilva, Are you in the events co-ordination industry? Have you ever had to schedule an event, any event, family, friends, work, & try to cater for everyone? Just organising a dinner party for a dozen friends requires a lot of co-ordination. And the last thing you need is one couple who can't decide if they can make the particular date or not. It's only reasonable we want some certainty in our scheduling. It's all very well to say "let's have a reply", but our lives are more cluttered than ever before, as is sports programming. Consideration must be given to other sports, other events, other people. AFL has its window - The last Saturday in September belongs to the AFL grand final. The first Saturday in October belongs to someone else - like the VRC's Turnbull Stakes race meeting at Flemington. Just 3 replays in 63 years is a poor excuse to say that we should continue the practice.

Redb, that's a perception that you've picked up from somewhere other than my reply here. Why ever would you think I'm suggesting AD will personally benefit?!? Of course it's the game, and of course they will be happy with the rare injection of funds. And what's more, I'm sure they'll put it to good use. I hope this isn't the case, but I'm starting to think you're pigeon-holing me as some kind of anti-AFL extremist..

AS Mr. Football pointed out, FIFA actually schedule a reserve date for World Cup finals just in case there was a draw in previous world cups before penalty shootouts were introduced. In any case, a replay is not my first preference in splitting a draw at a world cup final. Having a golden goal after 120 minutes indefinitely would be my preference. However I do prefer a replay over a penalty shootout.

Yes but they only have replays BEFORE the final. Not only for the final! So when someone buys a ticket to go to the FA Cup final they actually get to see the winner of the FA Cup decided! There will be extra time this week if there is another draw, but they only decided to do this after what happened on Saturday. So they have changed the rules mid-season. As far as I know, the FA never did this.

Harsh guys, I thought the Pies were the better team for at least the first 1/2. I kept waiting for them to run away with it.

For what its worth the herald sun poll has extra time being favoured in the final 60% to 40% Seeing most of those votes 46,000 odd would be melburnians/afl fans i think it would be safe to say the majority of fans would like the game over on GF day. FA cup used to have replays for finals that ended in a draw but abandoned that way back in 1993. Funnily enough though they replay the knockout games today if they end in a draw, however if the replay is a draw it goes to extra time and penalties. What i dont understand is that the semi/prelim finals can go to extra time so why not the final? Makes little sense. Demetriou is even saying that they are going against the rules by saying the replay can finish in extra time. Maybe we will have a legal challenge if that happens !!