Chris Scott lived in Brisbane long enough to know that there is no “fight to the death” between the country’s football codes.
The two-time Lions premiership player, now a Geelong title-winning coach, believes the Gabba hosting this season’s AFL grand final will leave a lasting legacy on the state.
But it won’t need to be at the expense of other codes.
The former Lions vice-captain is well aware of the sporting landscape in Queensland after being drafted in 1993 and playing 215 games for the Bears and Lions.
“It felt like it was a frontier of AFL footy in Australia and it’s come a long way,” he said of his arrival in Brisbane.
“There will be a legacy from this that lives on way beyond 2020 and that will be good for the game; it’s a situation of a rising tide lifting all boats.”
Scott and the Cats, now second and well set for another premiership tilt, have been staying on the Gold Coast overlooking football grounds the coach said are impressively stacked with young players, especially girls.
The AFL’s investment on the Gold Coast Suns and now the Gabba’s appointment to host the code’s biggest day are viewed as an attack on rugby league heartland.
That’s disputed by Scott, who points out that it’s possible to enjoy and follow more than one sport simultaneously.
“I don’t buy into the competition between the NRL and the AFL,” Scott said.
“It’s a big state, it’s one of the best capital cities in Australia and there’s room for everyone.
“We’ll get to the stage, very quickly, where a lot of people follow both codes equally and that would be OK.
“There doesn’t have to be a winner in this, we don’t have to fight to the death necessarily.”
And as for the Gabba as a grand final venue?
“Anyone questioning the atmosphere that the Gabba can provide should come here when it’s full, because in my opinion it rivals anywhere,” he said.
“You don’t need 60,000 to have a great atmosphere. This is a Colosseum and a very worthy venue.
“The NFL has no qualms holding the Super Bowl in stadiums of 60,000 and they’ve got many, many times the population we do.”
Angela
Roar Rookie
Thanks Mark, I stand corrected. Nevertheless, it’s time the GF started moving around and we stopped treating the MCG as hallowed turf teams should be grateful to play on. It’s just a stadium – bricks and mortar.
Mark.
Roar Rookie
Agreed but they don’t reward finalists in the NFL, it’s predetermined before the season begins (I think? If not, well before playoffs).
Mark.
Roar Rookie
Compelling argument.
Dangersphere 10
Roar Rookie
Spot on Angela! Been saying this for years, yet everyone seemed to think its a joke. The joke is hosting your GF in the same place for 80+ years and expecting everyone to be okay with it. No other sport would even entertain such an idea, and to them we would seem unbalanced and straight up unfair. Move it from stadium to stadium, we have the capacity for it, and as a result it will keep thing far more fair for everyone, -money shouldn't come before integrity, something which the afl seems to be unaware of.
Jake Ramzy
AFL is our national game, not NRL not soccer. All 5 states play a massive part in making the sport the great spectacle it is today. Other codes should put more emphasis on growing their game. AFL has a more accomplished group behind the scenes that are encouraging growing the game unlike other codes who just want to keep to themselves, which is why they struggle
sven
Roar Rookie
thats it angela, keep banging that drum
Gyfox
Roar Rookie
so they did!
RT
Roar Rookie
Brisbane lost two finals in September 2019 at the GABBA.
Kiwilion
Guest
Totally agree with Scott. As my name suggests, I am from NZ, and now follow AFL while also having teams I support in both union and league. League is now got a foothold, small but there, in NZ, but will never overtake union, or the All Blacks, the same as league in Victoria with the Storm. As long as a code that introduces itself to a new area doesn’t try to take over it will be accepted. One of my hopes is that the VFA or L, I’m not sure which, would put a team based in Wellington or Auckland with someone like ex Hawk and Freo player, Crouch I think, who has Kiwi roots to explain the game and explore options. I think if that happened Kiwis would take to game as an option to enjoy as I have done. My son also played as junior level here on the GC and thoroughly enjoyed it too, as I enjoyed watching him play. With a constant high level game being played in NZ it would get a following with the prospect of possibly a team in the AFL later down the track
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I use to read science, history, geography, politics, automotive & motorcycle development, musicians and sportsmen's biographies when l was stoned. I guess it stuck
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
That’s better.
Eddie from Elwood
Roar Rookie
I don't blame him for biting back during the Lynch thing, and I know we disagree in that regard, it was absolute rubbish IMO. It's a weird year, and I believe the established system based teams are finding it harder not to train as a whole group, look at WC. I reckon Scotty has just kept it simple this year, in the past he has just tried to hard and out smarted himself.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I was the Hyundai Dope Smoker: All Day, Every Day
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
Don’t be mistaken I am ambivalent to Scott. Livid about his second half 2019 season and finals performance. I don’t trust him to not do something silly. If we win this year, it will be down to Danger’s leadership and drive. Hardwick, seems to be seriously underperforming as a coach and a person now. If you win, it will be Dusty.
Eddie from Elwood
Roar Rookie
Nearly, Dimma hasn’t yet been as sustained as, dare I say, the old Scotty. As you say Yattz, winners are grinners, Bucks occasionally shows his old smash the phone stuff when the pressures on, as has Dimma this year. Could it happen to Scotty? I’m pretty sure you would know I hope it happens on Friday, but I don’t even think my lucky undies will help!
Angela
Roar Rookie
“The NFL has no qualms holding the Super Bowl in stadiums of 60,000 and they’ve got many, many times the population we do.” Love this. NFL shifts their GF around the country. Stadium size is not part of the equation. Rewarding finalists is. Just because the bloody old G holds 100,000 is no reason for it to have the GF priority set in cement. GF should be moved around. The momentum for change is growing.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
The old saying, winners are grinners. I have to say, Dimma and Scott have traded jumpers.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
I have warned you before Rowdy, no swearing.
Eddie from Elwood
Roar Rookie
What's happened to Scotty? Reading this kind of stuff makes harder for me to continue to dislike him! Well said Scotty, well said!
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
It's hard to be dogmatic if you can't be a polemicist.