‘Glorified training ground’: Surprise AFLW Grand Final venue sparks heated debate
The AFLW has been slammed for its surprise call to hold the Grand Final at a small venue that has never hosted a game before.
The AFLW has been criticised for the decision to hold this weekend’s AFLW Grand Final at a small-capacity venue that has never hosted a game before.
Brisbane and Melbourne will go head-to-head in the season decider on Sunday to decide the winners of the seventh edition of AFLW.
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The Lions finished on top of the ladder ahead of the Demons by just 0.3 points difference percentage and get the advantage of hosting the grand final.
But the AFLW have had to resort to a back-up plan because the first-choice of stadiums in Brisbane are unavailable this weekend.
The Gabba is under cricket authority with both a Sheffield Shield game and Australian Test match in coming weeks, while Metricon Stadium is hosting a music festival featuring pop star Calvin Harris.
It means the AFLW Grand Final will be held at Brisbane’s new Springfield facility called Brighton Homes Arena, which has 600 seats and a capacity of around 8000.
Such has been the last-minute nature of the grand final plans, the grass at Springfield has only just been laid down in the last couple of weeks.
It will be the 38th venue the AFLW will have used for a 10-week home and away season.
The AFLW’s decision to prioritise giving the highest-finishing team hosting rights, instead of holding the grand final at a neutral venue to maximise attendance, has raised eyebrows.
“It’s never hosted a game – it’s only had its turf laid down for heaven’s sake,” SEN’s Sam Edmund said of the Springfield facility.
“It might be hosting an AFLW grand final that history has shown can attract more than 50,000 people.”
Fox Footy’s David King said the AFLW set a precedent by allowing Richmond to host its home qualifying final at the Tigers’ spiritual home of Punt Road, which held just a few thousand fans.
“Richmond have set the course here – it’s not about the volume of people you can get to the venue,” King said on SEN.
3AW radio host Tom Elliott was gobsmacked by the decision to hold the Grand Final at Springfield.
“They are talking about a football ground called Springfield which is nothing more than a glorified training pitch,” Elliott said.
“I find this utterly astonishing.
“The AFL keeps saying that it takes women’s football seriously – play the grand final at Marvel Stadium!
“If 50,000 people want to rock up and watch the two best women’s team go head-to-head against each other … play it at Marvel Stadium here in Melbourne because Marvel Stadium is owned by the AFL and be done with it.
“Don’t give home ground advantage. Just don’t have a women’s grand final at what amounts to a training track.”
Retired AFLW player Meg Hutchins tweeted: “I’m all for the highest ranked team hosting the Grand Final. I love that about AFLW.
“However, the venue MUST be appropriate for the moment it is hosting. 10K+ min capacity. Gabba & Carrara (sadly unavail) Springfield - awesome venue - just not appropriate for a Grand Final.”
The AFLW and Brisbane have defended the choice of venue, pointing out the women’s competition’s policy is different to the AFL, which holds the men’s grand final at the MCG every year.
“This is the biggest venue available in Brisbane to host the AFL Grand Final,” AFLW general manager Nicole Livingstone told ABC Radio.
“The beauty of AFLW is there is interest and we look in future years to consider whether or not there’s an opportunity to award a grand final to one particular place.
“But part of the nuancing of AFLW and part of what of we love about AFLW is that it is different and unique to the men’s game and the Lions have been afforded the right to host the grand final and this is the venue that we will play that."
Brisbane CEO Greg Swann said: “It’s actually a purpose-built AFLW ground. It’s a stadium, it’s got grandstands, we’ve got open air here because of the weather.
“It’s our home for a long, long time and hopefully we’re playing plenty of Grand Finals here over the next few years.”
“Brighton Homes Arena is an AFL accredited stadium, with full broadcast compliance, excellent public transport and parking, expansive home and away team, and officials facilities. It’s the best of its class for women’s sport in the country and will go a long way in helping the growth of women and girl’s footy in Queensland.
“It’s been designed as a uniquely Queensland venue – taking advantage of spectators being able to sit on the hill with their family and friends, and have a festive feel with food trucks and entertainment.
“I can’t think of a better way to show it off to the world.”
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