A-League grand final date 'crystal clear' with AFL

Regardless of who they have to book with, doesn't this become a costly exercise having to book 8 venues for the big day?

I too am of the opinion that the AFL are to blame. If it was about sport changes could be made, however it is all about afl protecting their business.

'the AFL draw is extremely complex and I’m sure they are more than willing to do their part in helping maintain Melbourne’s status as the premier sporting city in Australia'. AFL draw extremely complex - not just complex but extremely complex. A-League is doing this to maintain Melbourne as Australia's premier sporting city. - Can you provide evidence of this being the primary reason? There had been no scheduling issues in any other season. Gee you are full of yourself. Your ego is extremely large- simple, but large. Tell us more about how great Chelsea is and how the A-League is a disgrace Rick.

I live next door to South Hobart's home ground. Doing the dishes can become very atmospheric.

8 NSWs teams drawn at home versus only 1 QLD team drawn at home, obviously we've been stitched up ....... personally I'm blaming the AFL !!

Looking forward to WSW v Brisbane (obviously) Blacktown City v Metrostars (Defending NPL champions) and Sydney Utd v South Hobart (Tasmania's dominant team) Would love to be able to make it to all 3

2015 FFA Cup Round of 32 now finalised This is how they were drawn out of the pots, not sure of the schedule. Newcastle Jets v Perth Glory CCM v NIX WSW v Brisbane Roar Croydon Kings v Lions Fc Hume City v Brisb Strikers Blacktown City v Metrostars Rockdale Suns v Perth SC Oakleigh Cannons v FNQ FC Heat Palm Beach Sharks v Sth Melbourne FC Sydney Utd v South Hobart Gungahlin Utd v Sydney Olympic Broadmeadow FC v Heidelberg FC Darwin Olympic v AUFC Sorrento FC v Syd FC Balmain Tigers v MVFC Edgworth Fc v MelbCity

"So, I repeat … No person with a modicum of intelligence believes the AFL weren’t aware of the FFA’s Grand Final dates – either the original date, or the amended date." Excellent - we agree at last on something. "think most reasonable people are fully aware – based on all the information available – the AFL never intended the ALeague GF to be played at Docklands on any Sunday in May 2015" The problem here is you have commented on one of my comments. I can only then assume you are trying to convince me this is the case and anyone else who may be reading. Had you made this comment elsewhere, I just wouldn't bother. As a general rule, I don't comment too much on these forums and the AFL ones either for that matter. However, when I do comment, I'm usually pretty thorough and spend the time explaining my argument or opinion if challenged. Therefore you will excuse me when I say I get disappointed when someone just flat out makes this comment at the end of their argument: "I think most reasonable people are fully aware – based on all the information available – the AFL never intended the ALeague GF to be played at Docklands on any Sunday in May 2015 … apart from 31 May when it was never ever going to be scheduled." You have somehow managed to link your first statement to prove your conclusion here, yet have not backed it up with any substantial evidence. You have, however, tried to change the argument as pointed out to confuse the issue. Unfortunately it's not very simple Fuss and anyone person with a 'modicum of intelligence' would ask the following of you to back up your insinuation that indeed the AFL had no intention of ever letting the ALeague be played on May 10th or 17th. In order for you to make a compelling argument to me you would need to show the following: 1. The AFL had the capacity to block the final on May 10th should it have been held then 2. The AFL didn't book Etihad on May 17th before FFA decided to move the GF 3. If points 1 & 2 can be proven - make a plausible argument as to why Etihad Stadium management would favour the AFL in any negotiations when in all likely hood they won't be around in the next few years 4. If the AFL had no intention of letting the ALeague GF be played on those suggested dates, then why now are they willing to work with FFA? Now it kind of looks like you are bad mouthing the AFL again by making these suggestions. Of course you could be right and it's after all your opinion. But...suggesting most 'reasonable' people would believe this...well...I think you need to do better than just using two dates - one of which the ALeague GF was not played on due to FFA changing it, not the AFL. Like I said, if you want to convince me the AFL would have blocked any GF on May 10th then you are going to have to raise your game a little. If not then accept the only two entities that are to blame for this stuff up are Etihad Stadium management and FFA.

It's really very very simple: 1. The AFL knew a date of the ALeague Grand Fina. 2. Whether they knew it was 10 May, or 17 May becomes irrelevant to this discussion because ... 3. The AFL scheduled matches at Docklands on BOTH those dates. So, I repeat ... No person with a modicum of intelligence believes the AFL weren’t aware of the FFA’s Grand Final dates – either the original date, or the amended date.

"If it would be “a minor inconvenience” to do a reshuffle for the 10 May AFL fixture, why did it become a major issue to do a reshuffle for 17 May fixture?" I'm not arguing with you that it would have been a major inconvenience at all. I think the AFL could quite easily have moved the Bulldogs game. However, this is not what you are arguing. "No person with a modicum of intelligence believes the AFL weren’t aware of the FFA’s Grand Final dates – either the original date, or the amended date." I already told you the AFL were aware of the dates. They even said this themselves pointing out they were too far into their scheduling, which means they did know about it. It also means FFA also knew about it and I'm betting they couldn't be bothered sorting it out at the time with the AFL and Etihad because there was no guarantee of a final being played in Melbourne and they decided to put it off until this scenario became more likely. "I think most reasonable people are fully aware – based on all the information available – the AFL never intended the ALeague GF to be played at Docklands on any Sunday in May 2015 … apart from 31 May when it was never ever going to be scheduled." I'm not sure how you come to this conclusion. May 10th was booked first by FFA. The AFL would not have had the power to stop the ALeague GF even if they wanted to. However, they could block the 17th because they had it booked first before the amended GF change. "Sorry. I can’t accept that excuse." You don't have to accept it as an excuse, because the AFL doesn't need to provide one and nor did they. They probably blocked it precisely because they don't want to give a rival code a helping hand. That's David Gallops fault for poor planning, not the AFL's. Now lets go back to your original points, which I just knew we would get back to: "No person with a modicum of intelligence believes the AFL weren’t aware of the FFA’s Grand Final dates – either the original date, or the amended date." I have clearly shown they did know. The AFL has admitted to this, but that' not the argument you are making now: "If anything, changing the 10 May AFL fixture featuring Carlton (significant Victorian support) & Brisbane (with Fiztroy fan connection) would have been a massive inconvenience compared to the 17 May AFL fixture featuring Footscray (low Victorian support) & Fremantle (no Victorian support)." You are now arguing the AFL couldn't be bothered rescheduling for the ALeague GF. This I 100 percent agree with you on, but don't try to twist your argument, because it won't work.

"The AFL would have then done a reshuffle, which would have been a minor inconvenience to them." What am I missing? If it would be "a minor inconvenience" to do a reshuffle for the 10 May AFL fixture, why did it become a major issue to do a reshuffle for 17 May fixture? If anything, changing the 10 May AFL fixture featuring Carlton (significant Victorian support) & Brisbane (with Fiztroy fan connection) would have been a massive inconvenience compared to the 17 May AFL fixture featuring Footscray (low Victorian support) & Fremantle (no Victorian support). Sorry. I can't accept that excuse. I think most reasonable people are fully aware - based on all the information available - the AFL never intended the ALeague GF to be played at Docklands on any Sunday in May 2015 ... apart from 31 May when it was never ever going to be scheduled.

I think all parties will be relieved that the embarrassing debacle of the 2015 GF won't be repeated, de Bohun in particular. The FFA have secured a venue for the ALeague's showpiece event - that's all that matters.

My understanding is the ALeague final was scheduled for May 10. It was later moved to May 17, and the AFL did indeed know about this in 2014, because their official statement is they couldn't move it because their scheduling for the 2015 season was too far down the track. Now the AFL was informed though of the final being on May 10, but for some strange reason the AFL had a game scheduled at Docklands on this date also. Personally, what I think has happened is FFA book Docklands for May 10th. The AFL were aware of this, but scheduled a game there anyway just incase one of the Melbourne teams did no earn the right for the final to be played in Melbourne. The AFL would have then done a reshuffle, which would have been a minor inconvenience to them. What later transpired was FFA changing the date to May 17th. The AFL was too far into its scheduling and couldn't be bothered spending the extra time and money helping out a rival code. This of course is not their fault and one David Gallop has taken responsibility for. I agree with you on one point - the blame should be with Docklands, simply as that.

The release date of the original Aleague fixture is critical to this issue. The AFL scheduled a match at Docklands on the date of the ALeague grand final in the ORIGINAL fixture. So, even if the AFL were not aware of HAL GF date change, the AFL would definitely have been aware of the original date for the ALeague Grand final. In relation to the amended fixture. That was released well before the AFL released its 2015 fixture & Etihad Stadium was informed of the date change. However, the AFL claims Etihad Stadium didn't inform them of the date change. But, as my original point, even if the date hadn't changed the AFL had no intention of allowing the 2015 HAL GF to be played at Docklands. The only Sunday in May 2015 that the AFL kept Docklands free was Sunday, 31 May 2015 - a date that was definitely never going to be the A-League GF. Having said all that, I place a lot of the blame on Etihad Stadium management. They were fully aware of all the information & they should have systems in place that flag a double-booking - heck, anyone with access to the most basic paper diary knows when they've double booked.

Lets start with your first point Fuss, before moving onto some of your latter points. "The AFL claims they weren’t told about the ALeague GF date being changed from 10 May 2015 to 17 May 2015." You make the point that indeed the FFA released its 2014/2015 fixture before the AFL - I'm just not sure why? However, if you are trying to make the point the AFL somehow should have known about a future amended date for the GF then I guess my question to you is: Was the amended date for the ALeague GF made before or after the AFL released its 2015 fixture? If it was before, then I totally agree with you. If it was after then I have no idea what you are banging on about.

Such a shame having to deal with that organisation!!!!

The FFA released the 2014/15 fixture on 12 June 2014. The AFL released its 2015 fixture on 30 October 2014. The AFL claims they weren't told about the ALeague GF date being changed from 10 May 2015 to 17 May 2015. Yet, the AFL scheduled a match at Docklands on Sunday, 10 May 2015 - the date they believed to be the date of the ALeague GF. No person with a modicum of intelligence believes the AFL weren't aware of the FFA's Grand Final dates - either the original date, or the amended date. Finally, the FFA haven't 'compromised' anything. Last year the FFA released the fixture on the 12 June, this year they've released the fixture on the 30 June.

It won't really matter marcel whether it's them or another major stakeholder such as the government. FFA has already stated it wants to lock down all the major venues in each state for the weekend of the A-League final. In doing so they have also stated their intention of securing venues such as Adelaide Oval and the new Burswood stadium in Perth. This of course means they will have to deal with the major tenant of these grounds, which of course is the AFL, so it really matters little whether the AFL owns it or the state. Either way they are going to have to deal with the AFL on this issue.

I just hate the idea that one day we will be renting Etihad directly from th AFL.

Good to see FFA are willing to compromise and give the AFL the notice it requires. It's well known the AFL draw is extremely complex and I'm sure they are more than willing to do their part in helping maintain Melbourne's status as the premier sporting city in Australia. Unlike the NRL who likes to release their draw after the AFL - for obvious reasons - I think this shows FFA are more proactive when it comes to growing their code here in Auss.