AFL says opposition fans won’t be locked out of Spotless Stadium preliminary final

THE AFL is confident Spotless Stadium’s small capacity won’t see opposition fans locked out of Greater Western Sydney’s home preliminary final.

GWS will host a preliminary final. Picture: Getty Images

THE AFL is confident Spotless Stadium’s small capacity won’t see opposition fans locked out of Greater Western Sydney’s home preliminary final to be played at the ground.

A crowd of 60,222 supporters watched the Giants’ upset qualifying final win over Sydney at nearby ANZ Stadium on Saturday, with GWS to host either Hawthorn or the Western Bulldogs on Saturday, September 24, at the ground that holds 24,000 fans.

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The Bulldogs have approximately 40,000 members and the Hawks have the biggest membership base in the league with just over 75,000 paid-up supporters this year.

But historical evidence suggests fans wishing to make the trip north won’t be squeezed out by the venue’s small capacity.

“The Giants have 16,000 members and historically for a preliminary final between 4,000 and 6,000 members of the visiting club will travel,” AFL spokesman Patrick Keane said.

Greater Western Sydney will host a preliminary final. Picture: Getty Images

“At ANZ Stadium for the match between Sydney and GWS, Sydney’s supporters and members supplied, in our estimation, around 65 to 70 per cent of the ticket sales.

“So our view is that Spotless will be able to accommodate the likely crowd.”

Both teams have played the Giants at Spotless this season; the round six clash with Hawthorn attracting a crowd of 13,766 and 9,612 fans watching GWS beat the Bulldogs in round nine.

Meanwhile, Geelong wants to play home finals at Simonds Stadium from next season.

From 2017 the Cats’ home ground will have a capacity of 36,000 and Cats CEO Brian Cook said the club was ready to host more finals.

“We just couldn’t cater for our membership this year if we played a final down our way,” he said.

“In the years to come, when next year we have a capacity of 36,000, we don’t think there is any excuse not to have a final if we deserve it and earn it.”

Geelong wants to play home finals at Simonds Stadium. Picture: Getty Images.

However, Cook conceded not all finals could be played at Geelong.

The Cats and Hawks qualifying final drew a crowd of 87,533.

“When we play Hawthorn or Collingwood, particularly those two teams, as our home game or as a home advantage in a final I think we still would probably need to play in Melbourne,” Cook said on SEN.

“It’s not an easy question to answer because a lot of our members would say no, play it down at Geelong. It gives you the best opportunity to make a grand final.”

Geelong will play its preliminary final at the MCG.

Originally published as AFL says opposition fans won’t be locked out of Spotless Stadium preliminary final