Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has had a cheeky dig at the Giants over the controversial choice of venue for their AFL preliminary final.
There has already been plenty of debate around the league’s decision to hold the game next Saturday at Spotless Stadium.
The crowd capacity for the Giants’ home ground is only 24,000.
“I would imagine there’d be quite a few Bulldogs fans and people who want to go,” Beveridge said after Friday night’s famous semi-final win over Hawthorn.
He then asked what the ground capacity was at Spotless Stadium and chuckled at the answer.
“What I’d like to (have) happen – obviously it’s going to stay at Spotless, by the sound of it,” he said.
“At least let 12,000 of our people in and 12,000 (of theirs) … do they have 12,000? 12,000 of them and 12,000 of us and then that’s okay, I reckon.”
Later, Beveridge acknowledged that the Giants deserved to play the game at their home ground, given they finished in the top four.
There has been discussion around the Bulldogs playing their elimination final last year at the MCG, not their Etihad Stadium home ground, and the possibility of Geelong hosting finals at Simonds Stadium once its redevelopment is completed.
“But GWS have earned the right – I know all the debate around the Cats and even us last year at Etihad,” Beveridge said.
“We just have to suck that up and go up there and do our very best.”
Beveridge then forlornly asked whether journalists might report those comments, rather than his dig at the Giants supporter base.
me too
Guest
This is the big unknown, and likely to play in the Dogs favour. All the planets aligning - you get the feeling that if there had been no bye the dogs wouldn't even still be here. Instead it allowed them to bring back four very important players, and killed the eagles momentum. The Doggies have got better, are spared the usual wear and tear that destroys teams coming from an elimination final, and meet a giants team with only one finals game in their legs and one game in four weeks.
Paul W
Guest
Won't it be wonderful when the AFL keeps winning its own premierships, that'll turn people off quicker than any Hawthorn fourpeat. And the ticketing for this match is going to be a fiasco, allowing people to purchase up to four seats with one membership barcode is ridiculous when the ground only holds 24,000. That's up to 3 non members who could get a seat before actual members of either club, but there will be more Dog's supporters who miss out here.
harry houdini
Roar Rookie
I disagree here, i think it makes sense via the support for the clubs
Cat
Roar Guru
The AFLs decision to play the game at spotless reeks of preferential treatment for its own club.
Raimond
Roar Guru
You have to laugh at the coach of a club that hasn't made a GF since the Menzies era having a "dig" at another club. Bevo might be an excellent coach, but he still has rocks in his head. Clarkson 2.0?
Jewels
Roar Rookie
Disagree with momentum being with GWS. By the time they hit the paddock on saturday, the giants will have only played 1 game in 28 days, the doggies will be lining up for their 3rd.
Gecko
Guest
Yes I think GWS, who are stronger at both ends of the ground, will prevail in the 2nd half. Ground will have little influence on the result.
Momentbymoment
Guest
Momentum is also very much on GWS' side. Makes for a very interesting game.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Bevo should steer clear of these sorts of discussions. Momentum is on our side, and a spot in the grand final beckons - we'll play the prelim in Alice Springs if we have to.