Could ANZ Stadium have seen the last of AFL football?
The Olympic stadium was stripped of regular-season matches in an agreement that suited the part-time tenants earlier in the year.
The Homebush venue has been retained in place for any Swans finals, as part of a separate deal with the AFL.
The AFL website reports negotiations to move matches away from the maligned stadium are ongoing, with the real prospect of Sydney’s finals to be played at the SCG.
There’s not really a competitive advantage to be gained by the Swans, with similar records at both venues.
Their all-time regular season winning record at Homebush is 59.23 percent, compared with 59.33 per cent at the SCG.
The finals winning record at both venues is 80 per cent – from 10 matches at ANZ Stadium and 5 at the SCG.
But in the past three seasons, the Swans have made the Test cricket venue one of football’s most formidable away days.
In the past 25 matches Sydney have lost just four times, and only once by more than a kick.
An AFL spokesman would not commment on the matter, saying only that it had a contract in place with ANZ Stadium.
The Olympic venue, used primarily as a rugby league stadium through the year, has come in for criticism for the quality of its playing surface for AFL.
It would not be utilised for a Greater Western Sydney home final, unless the Giants are drawn against the Swans.
The AFL is preparing to schedule any Giants home fixtures at the smaller Spotless Stadium next door to ANZ Stadium.
Leon Cameron’s side have played eight games at Spotless Stadium and three at Canberra’s Manuka Oval in 2016.
Rich_daddy
Roar Guru
Ridiculous if they don't move it. Swans haven't played at ANZ stadium all year. Apart from the fact it is a toilet bowl of a stadium that is a pain to get to.
harry houdini
Roar Rookie
No one likes the ground - Swans would probably get 50-55k against a large Melbourne team, many Swans fans won't go, when the ground first opened I think they got around 70, but since then there has been a general and growing dislike of the ground.
anon
Guest
No real appetite for AFL in Sydney. No need to play matches at a 80k seat stadium.
harry houdini
Roar Rookie
Swans will sell out every time at the SCG _ the punters love it Hopefully GWS draws a crowd as well - spotless is a great little ground
Sydneygirl
Guest
Definitely should be SCG . Otherwise Sydney gets no home ground advantage. ANZ is a disaster place for watching footy. Commonsense should prevail, but will it? We can but hope.
harry houdini
Roar Rookie
Yes the games should be at spotless and the SCG
Paul D
Roar Guru
Refund them the cost of a finals ticket. GWS only have 10,000 members anyway so I don't think that's going to be an issue. Particularly if they finish 5th and play the Kangaroos, can't see too many of their supporters at games at the best of times, let alone after making a 1000km trek to watch their team get knocked out.
Penster
Guest
Agree home grounds and packed stadiums. Geelong at Kardinia, Swans at SCG, Giants at Spotless ....... big issue is capacity. You don't want members with guaranteed finals tickets in their packages missing out.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Sydney should play at the SCG, Giants should play at Spotless. As a product for TV and a spectacle as a whole it would be far better to see packed houses at each of those stadiums instead of the half empty open toilet that is ANZ.
AR
Guest
It's time for the AFL to make the right decision. It must be the SCG.