Richmond have been granted the right to host their semi-final against St Kilda at the ground of their choice.
Damien Hardwick, despite saying Richmond are happy to play anywhere, added that “the reality is it (Metricon Stadium) is 400 metres from where we stay”. As such, Richmond will avoid an hour-long road trip to Brisbane.
This all seems rather unfamiliar. After all, the Gabba has a much larger capacity than Metricon Stadium, and the Tigers’ strong Queensland supporter base would surely turn up in greater numbers in Brisbane than on the Gold Coast.
So the question is: what happened to the AFL’s ‘crowd maximisation policy’? The policy that dictates Geelong may not play all their home games in Geelong, often in order to squeeze up to 15,000 extra fans into home-and-away games in Melbourne, also about an hour road trip away? The policy that says Hawthorn are too big to play an away game in Geelong one week but small enough to play a home game in Launceston the next at a ground with a smaller capacity than almost every crowd the Hawks get in Melbourne?
Do the AFL care about the number of fans who will miss out on tickets next week? Obviously not, despite their usual justification for forcing non-MCG Victorian clubs to play home finals at the MCG. They love to claim they want as many people to see finals in person as possible. Well, now we know that’s not all there is to it.
Exactly what justification will the AFL give next year if St Kilda earn the right to a home final against Richmond and they request it be played at Marvel Stadium? Because it will be at the MCG. What if St Kilda point out what happened this year? The AFL would of course point to the bigger crowd they would get at the MCG.
Most ridiculous of all is the fact the AFL have been on record saying they want the finals at the biggest possible venue. Why bother saying that when this now suggests they do not care? If they did, the grand final wouldn’t be in Brisbane.
It’s not a good look when the AFL appears to acquiesce to a powerful club like Richmond saying they’d like to play their home final at a different ground to the one the league ought to prefer. Clearly Geelong have lacked the significance to have such requests even be considered in the past.
Next time the AFL schedule a final at the MCG when the home team have requested it to be elsewhere, hopefully they are just a little more honest: “We listened to the request, gave it no consideration and scheduled it at the MCG not for crowd size – we don’t care about that – but because of our partnership with the MCG”.
Over to you, Gil.
Dangersphere 10
Roar Rookie
All good bro. Definitely not an "out" (thought it would make sense for people to say that) I just noticed a trend of the same few people showing up for a debate on every post I make, who happen to also always be accompanied by the same people for back-up, which I thought to be a strange coincidence. Anyways all good, there's no way to prove any of this so why even bother, forget I said anything :happy:
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
Quite a few travellers for those games as well. Try buying a flight on the Friday or Saturday of a Crows game in Melbourne. They are generally full price months out from a game.
RT
Roar Rookie
I don't think they are all travelling, there is a decent contingent living in Melbourne. I reckon you get at least 10000 at home and away games.
Mark
Roar Rookie
What?!!! You're weird man. Catch you later.
Dangersphere 10
Roar Rookie
Couldn't agree more Pedro! that's another thing which never made much sense to me
Dangersphere 10
Roar Rookie
Taking what I've said and mimicking it? Another serious question, are you 12 years old? :laughing: -if you're serious though please take your own advice and email the admin to inquire, you'll find that unlike yourself I've got better things to do than back myself up using fake accounts. Funny thing to imply too, considering I don't ever get backed up on this site, by anyone :crying: lol
Goalsonly
Roar Rookie
It may not be worth a whole asterisk but it's definitely a question mark.
pablocruz
Roar Rookie
Chill, dude. Only joking. It's often used as an 'out' by some people on here when they are getting called out by multiple users.
Goalsonly
Roar Rookie
Okay. Get your claims in early. But they're the only ones. Everyone else it's at the K.
Mark
Roar Rookie
It's pretty obvious but I leave it to you to work it out for yourself.
Dangersphere 10
Roar Rookie
My apologies. I didn't realise we were jostling for "street cred" on here, I thought this was a sporting analysis and discussion website? And It's hardly a shocking or novel concept, I've seen such allegations made countless times by others on here, and I don't blame them as there are sure to be at least a few multi account users here. According to Realist himself, there is allegedly one with up to 5 accounts! :shocked:
Dangersphere 10
Roar Rookie
I'll take your word for it Realist. I was genuinely curious, because its happened about 10 times now, which lead me to think that either you're both online scouring article comment sections 24 hours a day, or someone is messaging someone else asking for back up anytime they write something down. I know fans back each other up, but this is taking it to a new level lol. I also meant to imply it in relation to Pablo (what a surprise to see him here again), not sven. I like sven, for a tigar fan he's about as honest as they come. "because I have it on good authority that there is one person here who Posts under 5 different names. I think you know who that is" - no actually, I wouldn't have a clue. Who is this mystery person, please enlighten us? :silly:
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
Whilst I think all finals that Geelong are entitled to host should be at Kardinia Park, Adelaide in a final draws at least 25,000 travelling fans so it may be in the too big classification.
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
Fixing the contrived fixture would also help the fairness and integrity of the competition Danger!
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
* (It often appears next to 2020*).
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
Could have picked Adelaide? So it isn't a "Home State" determination then?
pablocruz
Roar Rookie
Oh yeah. A bit like how WCs' licensing fee saved the VFL from bankruptcy. No need to say any more.
pablocruz
Roar Rookie
Read my response above, Danger. Or has that cleared things up a bit for you?
sven
Roar Rookie
look dtm i know facts arent a high priority on this site, but shiel wasnt prostrate before or after the cotchin 'incident', & he played on afterwards, & copped a shirtfront later. long hit mcrae in the head with a bump when he couldve tackled, there is no richmond bias or mystery here, the afl pings blokes consistently in those circumstances. i guess u could argue that laurie fowler didnt get done for a worse shirtfront on john nichols in the '73 granny too (mustve been cause he played for the tiges). the major difference betwen cotchin & long is one was going for the ball, the other one wasnt
DTM
Roar Rookie
Seriously? So it's ok by you if you knock a bloke out of a game with a head high hit so long as you get the ball? Of course he got the ball, Shiel was lying prostrate on the ground.