Originally Posted by
Melbourne_Blood
I agree with what was said earlier in the thread , I as a Melbourne swans fan am conflicted by the MCG arrangement. On the one hand it is definitely unfair on the rest of the competition outside of Victoria ( assuming a Vic team makes the big dance ). On the other hand , like it or not , Victoria is essentially the home of football. This is the state that has football attendances through the roof week in , week out. Footy season starts and it’s rare that you cannot find someone to chat about the game with. Many People plan their social life around watching the big games over the weekend , it is religion here . You could argue the same for SA and WA but they are more state focused in their interest. They love their AFL teams but other than that many prefer to watch their state league teams as opposed to the other AFL games that don’t involve their respective sides. Every pub, bar , backyard or living room in Melbourne is going to be packed to the rafters on Saturday , as it is every year on GF day . The love of the game here is fanatical , and Melbourne people turn out in force to events. It is the reason touring bands will schedule their @@@@ter slots ( Monday’s , Tuesday’s ) in Melbourne as opposed to other states. They will sell out regardless. Doesn’t matter when or where or what time , if it’s an event , you will get a turn out in Melbourne. The idea of a Aussie rules GF in Sydney is almost laughable. A grand final parade , who would turn up ? NRL attendances are a disgrace in comparison and yet their tv attendances are huge. SA and WA have great AFL attendances but they are two team towns. Would you reschedule the Boxing Day test ? Move the Australian open interstate ? Yes , that wouldn’t impact on fairness I get that , but if you look past that a little it is pretty mad to think of the grand final anywhere other than the G ( and I hope the eagles win to highlight the fact that on this day , it becomes somewhat more of a neutral venue ). I know the Sydney based swans on here are mad footy fans too but you can’t tell me when the SCG sells out it is full of rusted on Aussie rules fans. You can’t tell me anyone in SA now gives a toss about the GF. QLD ? Forget about it. WA obviously are involved but if the eagles weren’t in , I doubt there would be obsessive interest in it like there is , and always is , in Melbourne. I know this is going to be pretty unpopular with a few but it is pretty black and white for me. Can anyone who has attended the GF at the MCG honestly imagine that at any other stadium , in any other state in Australia ? It’s a pilgrimage , the buzz in the air is electric , and regardless of whether it is Sydney v west coast , Geelong v St Kilda , freo v hawthorn , that doesn’t change. Again, it is unfair, but for the sake of a magnificent tradition , in a footy obsessed town , in the biggest and oldest and grandest stadium in the country , I’m comfortable with it. The same way I’m comfortable with the rugby league GF being held in Sydney. Despite it disadvantage the storm.
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