AFL set to decide whether Simonds Stadium will host qualifying final

FREMANTLE is expected to find out this evening where it will play next week's qualifying final, with Simonds Stadium still firmly in the frame. HAVE YOUR SAY

FREMANTLE is expected to find out this evening where it will play its qualifying final next week, with Geelong's Simonds Stadium still firmly in the frame.

A decision on the venue for the Cats - Dockers clash will be handed down by league bosses before the end of the round, with the match-up locked in following last night's win by Hawthorn over Sydney.

Geelong will host the second qualifying final barring the unlikely scenario of Brisbane beating the Cats at Simonds Stadium this afternoon, and the Dockers notching a win over St Kilda.

Fremantle fans have largely been vocal in their opposition to the Cats hosting a final in their home city, which has not happened for more than a century. But the AFL is considering the possibility due to four finals being staged in Victoria next week.

DO THE CATS DESERVE A SIMONDS STADIUM FINAL? Leave a comment below

Yesterday, AFL boss Andrew Demetriou backed Geelong to host a final, saying it would deliver a great economic boost to the city.

The potential for four finals in Melbourne in Week 1 of the finals has the AFL in a bind, despite officially ruling out a double-header at the MCG next Saturday.

Heave ho! Freo leave 10 players behind

Cats eye off top to finish

The race for ninth
 

With Hawthorn, Collingwood and Richmond all likely to be hosting a final, they would get first priority to play at the at the MCG due to the expected crowds.

Geelong is likely to play the low-drawing Fremantle, Demetriou said this morning the Cats deserved to host a final given that the MCG wasn't available and a low crowd was predicted it it was held at Etihad Stadium.

Geelong has not hosted a final since 1897 when it played Essendon at Corio Oval.

"Geelong Football Club finished second and they’ve earned the right to host at the MCG or Etihad, but the issue with Etihad is that we believe that would attract between 32-33,000 people," he said on ABC radio.

"I know the argument that last year they got 43,000 at the MCG, but that was a series ticket game, their were about 10,000 MCC members.

"Given that and the new capacity at Simonds Stadium, and finishing second does earn you the right to have an advantage and we are seriously contemplating (playing a final in Geelong) as a one off – if they were playing a Victorian team or the Sydney Swans, you’d have to play it at a ground with larger capacity."

The potential economic impact for the city of Geelong, which has been hit with news of job losses at key employers this year, would also factor into the AFL's decision.

"(I spoke) to (Geelong CEO) Brian Cook yesterday – I’ve got to stress the Geelong Football Club did not ask for this, I think their expectation all along was that they’d be playing at the MCG or (Etihad).

"We went to them and also asked about the economic impact, and it would be in excess of $5 million plus. I don’t think Geelong would have seen anything like this for a long, long time. And that’s a good thing for the community.

"It’d be fantastic. If it is to be played down there, I’ll be looking forward to going down there to see the atmosphere and what impact it has on the town."

The AFL would take over the stadium as it runs all finals games, meaning Geelong members would not be guaranteed their usual seats at the ground.

Demetriou brushed aside Fremantle's complaints about the propsal.

"I’m not sure about all the hullabaloo that’s going on (from Fremantle). That’s all a bit of positioning and tactics.

"But I think if Fremantle had finished second, there’s be no one complaining about playing at Subiaco. They’d have earned that right and that’s where they play all their home games.

"I haven’t heard anyone object to this game being played at Simonds Stadium other than Fremantle and they’ve got a vested interested in the game.

"But at the end of the day, it’s an AFL decision."

AFL fixturing boss Simon Lethlean yesterday told the Herald Sun there were too many potential problems with four MCG games, but is seriously considering the Simonds Stadium scenario.

Fremantle launched its own campaign to play at Etihad Stadium or the MCG.

Dockers president Steve Harris said "it is inconceivable that a venue such as Simonds Stadium... would be considered for a game that is likely to attract 40,000 to 500,000 people.''

But the AFL's own crowd modelling predicts only 30,000-34,000 patrons for the potential game - enough for the 34,000-capacity Simonds Stadium.

Lethlean said last year's Geelong-Fremantle elimination final crowd of 44,460 was strongly inflated by MCC members and AFL finals series ticket holders.

He is well aware of Fremantle's thoughts, but will make a decision over the weekend based on what is right for all sides.

"It is one of the possibilities we will look at. If the ladder finishes the way we think it could, we have the perfect storm of four games in Victoria and three of the home teams are big-drawing MCG tenants in Hawthorn, Collingwood and Richmond.

"Geelong are the ones who could play at Etihad Stadium, and they are the second-placed team, and they would play Fremantle, so that means you should look at Simonds Stadium.

"They can handle 34,000 (supporters) and our forecast for that game would be from 30,000 and not more than 34,000.

"No decision has been made, but we at least have to look at it. Everyone has their right to state an opinion, and in the end we weigh up what is best. Geelong are the second-placed team and they have the right to have the options looked at.''

Lethlean said of the decision not to pursue an MCG double-header:

"We have done all the work with the MCG and they were great, but there were some risks that made it not worth pursuing.''complease leave these quotes innf

There has never been a final at the "Cattery'' - Geelong's only final was at Corio Oval - with Geelong winning 42 of its past 43 games at its home venue.

In contrast, Fremantle has not lost at Etihad Stadium under Ross Lyon.