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The idea of the AFL returning to smaller grounds in Victoria has been brought up again after the Carlton versus Essendon match at Princes Park.
Western Bulldogs president Peter Gordon said last year that there was a need for smaller grounds that could hold around 20-25,000.
Gordon claimed it would be the perfect fit for games against teams lower on the ladder or interstate teams that don’t attract big crowds to the larger grounds.
For me this would work during the home-and-away season. There is already a ground that fits the bill, that being Carlton’s spiritual home Princes Park.
With a capacity of 22,000 it would work perfectly, other than needing some redevelopment for the change rooms and public toilets. But it is ready for use now, as proven with Carlton’s NAB Challenge match against Essendon.
Some would say that we don’t need to have another ground that is smaller, we have the Etihad Stadium, but for some games it is still too big. If you have teams that are playing there that are getting only crowds of 16-19,000 then it looks empty.
Examples from the 2015 season are Carlton versus Greater Western Sydney (16,676) and the Dogs versus Crows (19,915). Now imagine the same crowds for those games at Princes Park.
Which one has the better atmosphere? A crowd that is normally about 18,000 for Saints versus Giants would create a better atmosphere in a smaller stadium.
Other games that have been played at the MCG look like it is being watched by a handful of people. Like last year’s game between Melbourne and St Kilda, where there was a crowd of almost 23,000 but the stadium looked like a ghost town. A smaller ground would have been a better option.
The only problem with moving games away from the MCG for teams based outside Victoria is that they would get less experience playing at the venue. That is why it would be best to only move games between Victorian clubs that attract low crowds.
It would, in turn, open up a chance for teams outside Victoria to play more games at the MCG during the home-and-away season.
Even if Princes Park is not the favourable option, there are plenty other grounds that could be utilised, with a bit of redevelopment and added seats. Whitten Oval or Moorabbin Oval would be suitable. A crowd of 18,000 would be perfect for such venues rather than filling half a stadium.
But what happens when teams like Carlton, St Kilda and to a degree the Western Bulldogs start winning more games and are in the top half of the ladder? They would likely be selling out their smaller ground.
Well, then they can go back to Etihad or the MCG the following season. And the Victorian clubs whose attendances have dropped off can move their smaller crowds to smaller grounds.
The system could work and would provide a better atmosphere. Port Adelaide’s alternative option of canvassing over sets when their crowds are small is a poor man’s alternative.
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