AFLW 2022: Critics lining up over fixturing of semi-finals at small grounds

It’s been labelled an AFL own goal and the critics, including the North Melbourne coach, are lining up after a finals schedule fail this weekend.

Katie Brennan leads the Tigers out at Punt Road Oval, a controversial pick for the AFLW semi-final. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

North Melbourne AFLW coach Darren Crocker says league bosses should be pushing Richmond for justification as to why they will lock out so many fans by playing their semi-final at Punt Road Oval on Saturday.

Amid growing angst over the AFL’s decision to bow to the Tigers and play the crunch match at the venue which only holds 2800 people, Crocker said it would “make sense” to move to a ground which can accomodate more fans.

The decision came after Richmond opted for the “home ground advantage” of playing at Punt Road, and despite similar pushes from teams in the men’s competition, including AFL premiers Geelong to play home finals being denied, in this instance the league backed the push.

Tickets sold out in just 13 minutes and the 1.40pm start time has also been criticised, as it clashes with the game between the Matildas and world No.2 Sweden across the road at AAMI Park, despite Friday night and Saturday night being available.

While conceding his team finished lower than Richmond and has no say in scheduling, Crocker was surprised the league would so happily deny itself the chance to get more fans through the gate and “grow the game”.

“I would have thought the AFL would have been asking Richmond why they are so adamant about playing the game at Punt Road where they can only get 2800 people in, and a lot of their own fans are going to get turned away,” Crocker said.

“I just feel that if we are looking to grow a product like AFLW, this is the time potentially to be able to open it up and play at a bigger venue, a bigger capacity crowd venue.

“I think limiting it 2800 people, we played Richmond in the last round, a non-final, and we had 3100 in at Arden Street. It would make sense to play it on a ground where there is a larger capacity.

Darren Crocker, Senior Coach of the Kangaroos (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“It’s disappointing this topic is overriding what should be a couple of fantastic finals games. From an AFL perspective, I wouldn’t have thought they’d want these headlines.”

Crocker’s stance comes after Collingwood captain Steph Chiocci said all AFLW finals should be played “on the best available ground” as the league continues to cop severe criticism for bending to Richmond’s desire to play their semi-final this weekend at Punt Road Oval.

The decision has been panned on several fronts, including that the ground only holds 2000 people, and tickets sold out in minutes, while other larger grounds, including Ikon Park in Carlton, were available.

The 1.40pm start time has also been criticised, as it clashes with the game between the Matildas and world No.2 Sweden across the road at AAMI Park.

There is also a WBBL double-header in Melbourne on Saturday, with the games clashing despite Friday night and Saturday night being available.

AFLW Final scheduled at a minimal capacity venue ❌
2 x AFLW Finals clashing with the Matilda’s game ❌

Know your audience AFLW Management pls!🤦🏼‍♀️

Most AFLW fans are fans of ALL women’s sport. They will likely want to watch the Matilda’s AND the AFLW finals, not have to choose!

— Meg Hutchins (she/her) (@hutchy_25) November 7, 2022

Chiocci said finals were about “promoting women’s footy” and the decision was a fail by the AFLW administration.

“This is my personal opinion, what would I want as a Collingwood captain? I would want to play the game on the best available ground with the biggest crowd available to us,” Chiocci, whose Magpies play Adelaide on Saturday afternoon, told RSN.

“It’s bigger than me, it’s bigger than the game itself, it’s about promoting women’s footy and putting on a show. That’s the way I look at it.

“I would probably be pushing for Ikon Park. It’s the best deck in Victoria … it’s wonderful facilities, it can cater for thousands of people.

“Why not put us on the biggest stage you can.”

Punt Roads capacity is less than the attendance at the in season fixture between the same 2 clubs, less than the season average attendance for all clubs, less than any final held last week.

No shelter, no seating. The fact its even considered a venue for AFLW is almost laughable

— sportsindustry (@footyindustryAU) November 8, 2022

The AFL said Richmond had “earned the right to host the semi-final and indicated a very strong preference to play on their home deck at Punt Road” and there was due consideration to many factors.

“When scheduling finals matches, the AFL takes into consideration a number of factors including the home team venue preference, days’ breaks for clubs (both the week before and the following week), timings for fans, clubs and broadcast, and forecasted crowd / venue capacity,” a league statement said.

Originally published as AFLW 2022: Critics lining up over fixturing of semi-finals at small grounds