Geelong and Richmond expected to draw more than 80,000 people of MCG qualifying final

AN EPIC MCG crowd of more than 80,000 is expected to attend Friday week’s qualifying final blockbuster between Geelong and Richmond.

Richmond’s cheersquad during the game against Collingwood.

AN EPIC MCG crowd of more than 80,000 is expected to attend Friday week’s qualifying final blockbuster between Geelong and Richmond.

The closest AFL season on record came down to the last of 198 matches, as West Coast dumped Melbourne from September with a 29-point win over Adelaide.

At the 20-minute mark of the last quarter the Demons were still in the eight on percentage but the Eagles kicked the final two goals to qualify.

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Richmond will take on Geelong in a qualifying final and Adelaide will host Greater Western Sydney in the other qualifying final.

Essendon’s win over St Kilda pits them in an SCG elimination final against Sydney, while Port Adelaide host the Eagles in an elimination final.

The final round saw Dustin Martin’s latest dominant display surely seal the Brownlow Medal as Lance Franklin’s 10 goal-haul stole the Coleman Medal from Josh Kennedy.

Steven Motlop runs away from Dustin Martin. Picture: Michael Klein

Meanwhile, the Cats said they would accept the AFL’s ruling that their “home” final be played on Richmond’s home ground.

But Geelong chief executive Colin Carter again called on the AFL to introduce a concrete set of policies on home ground scheduling in finals.

The Tigers have won eight of their 10 MCG games this year, with Carter telling the Herald Sun recently all Cats finals bar the Grand Final should be at Simonds Stadium.

MCC chief executive Stuart Fox said the final - the only one in Victoria on Week 1 of finals - could draw a massive crowd.

“After such an exciting home-and-away season we’re looking forward to hosting two Victorian teams in a huge final at the ‘G,’’ Fox told the Herald Sun.

“We expect members and supporters of both clubs, as well as our own members, to really get behind this one and turn out in large numbers.”

The Tiger Army is back in the finals. Picture: Michael Klein

As the only AFL game in Victoria next week internal MCG estimates are that a crowd of over 80,000 are realistic.

The result will see the winner progress to a home preliminary final and loser play a home semi-final - so there will be an MCG final in every week of September.

Had the Tigers lost to St Kilda they would have hosted an MCG elimination final, and Geelong would likely have hosted a Simonds Stadium final against GWS.

“We understand it’s a huge issue so we think it’s a subject for discussion when the AFL is not under the pressure of making decisions,” Carter told 3AW.

“Clarity at the start of the year is important. Half the teams have a clear right to the Grand Final at home and others don’t. It’s not a great position to be in over the long haul.”

The Tigers and Cats teams haven’t played in September since Geelong stopped the Tigers’ 1995 charge in a 40-point preliminary final victory.

Patrick Dangerfield in action for Geelong against GWS.

Geelong has beaten Richmond in the past 13 games, the most recent a 14-point victory at Simonds Stadium in Round 21.

Martin was again spectacular the day before he consulted father Shane in New Zealand.

After a 36-possession, two-goal masterclass, captain Trent Cotchin said: “I am just enjoying watching the Dusty Show but he has got 21 other teammates who try their arses off each week as well.”

Sydney hosts Essendon in an elimination final at the SCG after the Dons climbed off the bottom of the ladder with an emotional surge.

The Swans stole a one-point defeat over Essendon in Round 14 after Brendon Goddard played on with seconds left.

Originally published as Geelong and Richmond expected to draw more than 80,000 people of MCG qualifying final