Geelong set to play home qualifying final at MCG as AFL rules out GMHBA Stadium as finals venue
Geelong has been campaigning for a GMHBA Stadium final for much of the home-and-away season. But the AFL’s determination to maximise crowds will decide where the Cats play their qualifying final if they hold onto a top-two spot.
Geelong
Don't miss out on the headlines from Geelong. Followed categories will be added to My News.
THE AFL is determined to schedule a Thursday night week one final but has officially ruled out a GMHBA Stadium final in September.
The league is desperate to maximise its attendances across the season, hopeful it could break last year’s home-and-away record attendance in the next fortnight.
CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE ‘SACKED’ PODCAST
That same policy is certain to result in the Cats playing an MCG final if they qualify — potentially against Richmond — rather than at GMHBA Stadium.
AFL fixturing boss Travis Auld told the Herald Sun that while teams had the right to play in their own state, “we want to give as many fans a chance to watch their team play”.
Brisbane has the chance to win a potential Thursday Gabba home final if it finishes top-two, but the league also hasn’t ruled out a Melbourne final to kick off the finals on a Thursday night.
That would present a challenge if Geelong hosted that game given their fans struggle to get to Thursday and Friday night contests in Melbourne.
Auld said on Tuesday it had been made clear to clubs that the league was determined to allow the most fans to watch its finals series.
“Our approach is unchanged from the past years, we want to maximise attendances,” he said.
“We want to give as many fans the chance to watch their team play. We have demonstrated that with Marvel Stadium tenants and GMHBA tenants. The Dogs have played in front of a lot of fans at the MCG in finals and that is our broader priority.
“There is a general rule that says if you get the opportunity to host a final you do it in your home state.”
The league is just ahead of last year’s home-and-away record but with Round 23 games in Ballarat, Hobart, GMHBA Stadium and Metricon Stadium need a bumper Round 22 to break the record.
The AFL’s post-Round 23 bye has been in place for three years, allowing the league to host Thursday night finals.
The Eagles hosted West Coast in 2016, Adelaide hosted Greater Western Sydney in 2017 and last year Richmond’s qualifying final against Hawthorn drew 91,446 fans to the MCG on a Thursday.
Auld said the league was open to another Thursday final in Melbourne or even Brisbane given the AFL wants to schedule top-two teams early in the first week of finals to give them longer breaks.
HEAT: TOUGH QUESTIONS AWAIT WORSFOLD
COUP? SUNS CHASING TWO HAWKS GREATS
“Thursday night finals have build momentum and we have had record crowds and record TV audiences since we brought them in. What has worked to date has been SA and WA games but for the right final more games carry that slot (than those two states).
“You might have Geelong hosting one, you might have Brisbane hosting one. We would play in West Australia without hesitation but it would be appealing to have a home final in Brisbane. We have got options.”
Cats in waiting game after assistant coach hospitalised
Geelong continues to work through how a “quite confronting” medical episode involving assistant coach Steven King will affect how they approach a preliminary final meeting with Brisbane.
Secret behind Geelong’s incredible rookie strike rate
Geelong’s recruiting has been lauded for finding diamonds in the rough to keep the Cats at the top of the ladder. Zach Guthrie tells JOSH BARNES Geelong’s development teams deserves just as much credit.