BFL grand final location: Newcomb to host season decider

AFL Barwon has revealed its decision on hosting duties for the BFL grand final, with the GFL season decider still yet to have a location locked in.

The home of the GFL grand final is still up in the air as Newcomb president Matt Farrow says his club is “stoked” to host the BFL decider.

To avoid a clash with the GDFL, AFL Barwon has pushed back the GFL season one week and will stage its grand final on September 17, with a split-round to be held in round 19 to lengthen the season.

Kardinia Park is under construction at the northern end.

Where the GFL decider will be played is unclear, as AFL Barwon waits on whether GMHBA Stadium will be free come September.

The Geelong Football Club has priority over the ground in September and it’s male team is almost certain to be playing finals and train on the ground during September, while the AFLW season begins in August and will stage games there.

An AFLW fixture is yet to be released.

It’s understood that while AFL Barwon is keeping the door open to staging the grand final at GMHBA Stadium, the ground itself is highly unlikely to be available and is seen as unsuitable anyway, given the stage 5 redevelopment has knocked out several changerooms.

Geelong West’s home ground of West Oval will host the first two weeks of the GFL finals and could stage the preliminary and grand finals but concerns remain about its surface and the asphalt bike track around the oval.

BFL: Drysdale v Barwon Heads

The GDFL grand final will be held at St Albans on September 10 and that ground could become an option for the GFL marquee match one week later.

Following a state-of-the-art $875,000 upgrade, Grinter Reserve was chosen to host the BFL decider for the first time, with the game to be played on September 3.

Farrow said Newcomb had submitted a strong case for consideration.

“We’ve worked hard on the facility and the upgrade, which has certainly helped our bid,” he said.

“The playing surface is great, we’ve got the capacity to hold a significant crowd on the day, which is really important, and we’re central for the league as well.

“We think it’s a great venue to be chosen.”

Portarlington Recreation Reserve will again host the first two weeks of BFL finals, while the preliminary finals and grand final will be played at Newcomb.

Farrow said it was the first time the club had applied to host the season decider.

BFL: Newcomb v Drysdale at Grinter Reserve. Drysdale's Damian Hoare celebrates a goal. Picture: Mike Dugdale

“We’ve hosted semi finals in the 1990s before, but this is the first time we’ve hosted the grand final, and it’s the first time we’ve ever put up our hand for it,” he said.

“We didn’t feel that the facilities were up to scratch to support such a big day.”

Originally published as BFL grand final location: Newcomb to host season decider