The 2000 Olympics in Sydney saw the creation of an Olympic precinct that was second to none. The facilities spread from the Aquatic Centre to the Athletics Centre to the pinnacle of the lot – Stadium Australia, now known as ANZ Stadium.
Over the past 14 years we have seen some incredible events at Homebush, from the “best Olympics ever” to numerous NRL grand finals and a plethora of sporting events in between. But there has been one consistent call when it comes to ANZ Stadium – it should not be an AFL ground.
Saturday afternoon saw the Sydney Swans take on the Fremantle Dockers in one of the biggest AFL games to have ever been played in Sydney. The Swans, as minor premiers, took out the game with star man Buddy Franklin proving the difference. They are now looking to deliver a second premiership to Sydney in three years.
Living in Sydney, I am of the opinion that there is no better live sport at the moment compared to that of a Swans game. Earlier in June, the game against Port Adelaide at the SCG with 41,317 people had the best atmosphere I’ve ever witnessed at an AFL game.
What concerns me is the contractual obligation that the Sydney Swans have with playing games out at ANZ Stadium. The first point I want to raise is that now the Greater Western Sydney Giants have entered the competition, there is no longer a need for the Swans to be playing games out in that region.
Besides South Melbourne, the SCG is and always will be the Swans’ spiritual home. While this may be harsh on Swans fans who only go to games at Homebush, my second point will address this further.
The surface of ANZ Stadium is consistently criticised for being not only patchy, but unsafe for top level AFL. With so many different sports played on the field, in particular rugby league, this tears up the grass. For a sport that is so reliant on running and athleticism, it can be dangerous.
Not only this, but on numerous occasions pieces of metal, yes, pieces of metal were found on the surface during games. While I understand the urgency with which they have to change field structures from a Friday night NRL game to a Saturday night AFL game, there is no excuse for that sort of oversight.
Especially when they have a ground like the SCG, which is used for AFL only (except on the odd occasion the Rabbitohs play a game there).
The one point that must be made is the capacity that ANZ is able to hold. With more than 80,000 seats to be filled, that sort of atmosphere would be incredible. Every year the NRL manage to sell the venue out when it comes to State of Origin and the grand final, yet even for big games the Swans never quite get to full capacity.
The best game I’ve ever witnessed was about 70,000 against Collingwood in 2007 where even the nosebleed sections were rocking. For me though, it still didn’t match the 42,000 at the SCG. Whether that was because of the Buddy magic or the boutique venue – I think it was the latter.
There were only about 35,000 fans at Saturday’s preliminary final match. I believe that the SCG should hold all Swans finals at the very least. While I don’t mind the odd game at Homebush this should be during the home-and-away season only.
Just think back to Nick Davis at the SCG against Geelong in 2005 and how great AFL can be, when at the SCG.
Editor’s note: ANZ Stadium strongly reject the claim of “numerous” pegs being found on the playing surface. There was one peg found on the field, on one occasion. We have also changed the initial crowd figure of the Port Adelaide fixture earlier this year to reflect the exact number, which is below the figure stated when this article was published.
Chop
Roar Guru
+ 3 Parramatta games + Sydney domestic big bash
Chop
Roar Guru
I'm a Freo fan and drove up with 2 carloads of Freo and Swans fans from Canberra. Playing at ANZ cuts down our driving time by about an hour over the SCG. That's the only positive. The atmosphere was, I was going to say non-existant, but there was some there, so I'll say Soulless. There was an occasional firing up of the atmosphere but the place wasn't what I expected to experience in a final. I went to the Freo/Swans and Geelong/Swans games earlier this year at the SCG,because I'm lazy I haven't looked this up but I'd suggest the crowds weren't to dissimiliar but the atmosphere couldn't have been more different.
Chop
Roar Guru
Well said. Some people on here don't understand it's ok to be a fan of more than one sport....
Kepu
Guest
State of Origin with NSW a chance and Hayne and Cummins reffing to ensure a "contest" is the best - well that's what Channel 9 would say...
Kepu
Guest
You obviously live in the east. For those out west ANZ is easier - drive to a station and catch a train straight to ground (well change at Strathfield?) SCG needs a bus...
Kepu
Guest
Yes I agree with your point but my major point was that the NRL had abandoned Saturday arvo footy because everyone is doing something else whether not going to games nor watching it on TV. Very few NRL games at 3PM on a saturday in Sydney CBD if at all due to traffic. They bought it back because the AFL had a free run on saturday arvo.
AR
Guest
"Saturday arvo is a bad time for Sydney sport which is why the NRL abandoned it." Not really - the NRL abandoned Saturday arvo sport because it didn't rate well on television. It loaded up with 2 x Friday nights, Mondays etc. All Swans games will eventually revert to the SCG (not before 2016), but the AFL and Swans want to ensure they get the best bang for buck. At the moment, ANZ Stadium (unsuitable as some may think it is) provides a good commercial case for AFL games.
conchie
Roar Rookie
Readng fussballs posts is like driving past a bad car accident, you know its going to be ugly but you still slow down and have a look.
Lachlan McKirdy
Roar Rookie
Yes I completely agree, I think even if it was at the SCG this weekend they may have struggled with attendance. I read on one news website that a majority of sports grand finals and other things were on this Saturday, and this is one of the Swans prime target markets. Whilst the transport is good, it took me an hour and 15 minutes to get to Homebush by bus, and that was from the Inner West so completely agree that this is part of the issue as well
Nezza
Guest
As a volunteer of the Sydney Olympics, the precinct will always mean something special to me. But this is AFL finals not the Games. And what do you want most from the finals (apart from your team winning) - atmosphere. Which you will get at the SCG with a full house, not ANZ with not quite half full. And if nothing else, so much easier to get to the SCG via public transport. But that could also be the problem of CityRail. When they did not vary the Sunday night timetable after last year's NRL Grand Final, it took me 1½ hours to go 13 kilometres!
AR
Guest
Fuss: - "Parramatta Stadium is excellent during the ALeague season." Ante Covic in March 2013: - "It's a pitch that's hard to play one-or two-touch football on...It's disappointing to be honest, it's been tearing up for a while now especially down the centre." - "Even in the box it's extremely slippery and tears up now quite easily, with lumps all over the place. Unfortunately it's what we've got to deal with, but we mustn't cry about it. We know it won't be in the best condition and we've just got to make the best of it." Tony Popovic in 2013: - "They wanted to play but seemed nervous to get on the ball because of the pitch." And SydFC had similar concerns in April this year. But pffft...what would they know? Fuss says it's "excellent"!
Kepu
Guest
Saturday arvo is a bad time for Sydney sport which is why the NRL abandoned it. On a related issue, the camera height on the half way line at the SCG (ladies stand?) is too low for AFL and NRL. AFL is much better viewed from above and it has always detracted from Swans TV games. But I noticed the same when the RL played there this year - the game was inferior because it was telecast mainly from near ground level at the bottom of the top deck of the ladies Stand.. Surely in renegotiations the Swans could ask for a better alternative site for broadcasting...
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
"why do A-League teams play on the chopped up surfaces of AAMI Park, Hunter Stadium, SFS, Parra Stadium, Suncorp etc. ?" 1. AAMI Park is like a carpet - it's made of hybrid turf that is specifically designed for multi-purpose, high traffic arenas. 2. Will need locals to provide their testimony but, from TV coverage: * Parramatta Stadium is excellent during the ALeague season. * SFS & Suncorp hold up very well unless there's been a deluge, or a rock concert. Then the turf doesn't seem to recover well. Maybe they need to ask AAMI Park for drainage advice 3. Hunter stadium is terrible, but is being resurfaced prior to Asian Cup 2015. I hope the owners use the latest turf design as we have at AAMI Park.
conchie
Roar Rookie
@ AR , fussballs argument is just cyclical bile heaped on Australian Rules football.
AR
Guest
"The reason Association football needs a pristine surface is because the top teams like to move the ball along the ground." Ok...so if "Association football needs a pristine surface ", then why do A-League teams play on the chopped up surfaces of AAMI Park, Hunter Stadium, SFS, Parra Stadium, Suncorp etc. ? You see, as anyone could tell you, the quality of surfaces used in AFL games is much much higher than the quality of surfaces used in ALeague matches. (Have a think about this one before replying...do you actually know what your argument is?)
micka
Guest
Fuss, is humble pie more of a sweet or savoury dish? Either way I hope you enjoy it and get you fill. Olivia, I would seriously by you a slab of your favourite if I knew where to get it to.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
@AR Exactly right. Glad you finally agree! The reason Association football needs a pristine surface is because the top teams like to move the ball along the ground. It's not because players are losing their footing. If your only concern is AFL players losing their footing, why aren't Rugby & RL players also losing their footing at Sydney Olympic Stadium? Those sports also use an oval ball, that they pass through the air.
AR
Guest
Fuss, who's talking about footwear..? In case you're unable to read your own posts... "The reason we need a decent surface in football because the technically proficient teams need to play the ball along the ground. It’s the same reason putting greens & bowling greens need to be immaculately manicured. The movement of the ball along the ground is critical to the sport." Have another go.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
"Wimbledon shouldn’t bother preparing Centre Court " Huh? Since when did AFL players start wearing tennis shoes to play ARules? Fair enough, if that's what AFL players are using for footwear during matches, a well-manicured surface is imperative. Also, you'll need to put covers on the park every time it starts to rain. You'll then be able to boast: "AFL matches are played over 12 hours".
Paul D
Roar Guru
Haha, that Wimbledon line is a cracker. Well played.