Newman, Catman clash over Geelong home finals debate

Geelong legends Sam Newman and Catman go claw to claw over whether the Cats deserve a home final. Decide who won turf war.

Catman and Sam Newman go claw-to-claw over whether Geelong should have a home final.

Sam Newman

Sam Newman

Should Geelong have a home ground final? Well, I suppose it depends on who they play.

If they play Collingwood, it would be ludicrous.

The game, I presume, is played for the fans. The fans keep the club going, and if you play it in Geelong and it’s against one of the blockbuster sides, it just reduces the number of people that can watch it.

I don’t know that Geelong’s home ground has been a great advantage in recent finals memory.

I’ll cite you back to when the Dockers came over during the finals in 2013 and beat the Cats by 15 points on their home ground.

That result alone should make people question whether playing at GMHBA stadium actually provides an edge in finals.

Sam Newman says there is no such thing as a home ground advantage. Picture: David Crosling

I think the finals should be played at the major stadium in Melbourne and then it’s pretty fair to everyone.

Not that it matters whether you’re being fair or not.

I understand the loyalty and the advantage, some perceive getting a home ground game.

But I don’t agree with it, I think you should play the finals at the MCG, and that’s pretty fair to whoever you play, whether they’ll be interstate sides or other sides in the competition.

In response to criticism that GMHBA stadium is not right for finals I’d say, the way the game is played these days, I don’t think it matters what the configuration of the ground is.

If you can chip for 15m around the backline at Geelong, you can do that down at Hobart, you can do that at the MCG and Alice Springs.

The game has changed so dramatically. It has evolved into a hardly recognisable contest from previous years, it doesn’t matter where it’s played.

While there is a propensity not to kick the ball down the ground and a reasonably quick opportunity to give the forwards a chance to do something with it, it doesn’t matter where it’s played I don’t reckon.

Home ground advantage? I think it’s almost irrelevant these days.

The Dockers players celebrate winning on the final siren next to Andrew Mackie of the Cats during the Second AFL qualifying final match at Simonds Stadium on September 7, 2013 in Geelong, Australia. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty Images

We are being penalised

Troy West (Catman)

I can’t believe after all these years that we are still having discussions on Geelong having a home final.

Of course we should.

Why are we made to play a home game over an hour away from our home? That’s 77km.

So tell me, when you tell your friends you’re going home to watch Netflix and have a cuppa, do you then travel an hour and 10 minutes from your house and stay in a motel and call it home? No!

Do you live in Geelong and visit Footscray and call it home? No!

Why are we refused a home final, citing “too small a stadium”?

We have just over 40,000 capacity.

Brisbane has 42,000, yet they get home finals in the first week, setting themselves up for a home prelim final if they finish top two.

That’s two finals at home.

We play all ours at the G.

SCG has only 48,000.

AO has 53,000.

Catman says it’s not a home game when it’s 70 minutes away from home. Picture: Tony Gough

Hardly MCG 100,000+ level, but they still get a home final.

In baseball in the USA, you play at the home ground, whether it’s 10,000 or 120,000-seat stadium.

Too bad if you miss out.

That’s their home and it’s tough luck.

It should be the same here.

It’s unfair and feels like we’re being treated like the smaller country cousin.

We are a powerhouse destination club and win games and deserve a fair system that treats all of us the same. Your home ground is your home ground.

Imagine the uproar if Collingwood or Richmond had to play a final at Marvel? They don’t even travel there as it is.

Yet we are subjected to home finals at a ground whose homes are Melbourne, Richmond, Hawthorn and Collingwood.

I think our unique regional location has saved us from mergers, extinction and closures like what’s happened to most of the Melbourne clubs – but it’s also been our nemesis.

Because we are “close” to the MCG in location, we are made to play there. Whether it’s a 70-minute drive or 70-minute flight, that is irrelevant.

What is relevant is where you call home.

Geelong’s home is GMHBA stadium. We are the only club who trains on the ground we play on.

We have spent millions on upgrades to make it a state-of-the-art ground that hosts concerts, cricket, VFL, women’s AFL and other events and sporting codes, yet we’re not up to date enough for a home final?

This is a major disadvantage for the Cats as every single other club plays their home finals at their home grounds.

Why are we any different because we are 70 minutes from the MCG?

Any time Chris Scott or any of us raise the subject, we are called “whingers” or other names.

Scott is looking out for our club and he’s only after what’s fair.

It would also bring incredible tourist dollars to the region.

It also brings diversity in ground use and not just the same old grounds that are used.

We’re a unique location and my friends from other cheer squads all say the same thing.

They love the “change of scenery”.

Bring the finals home!

Originally published as Newman, Catman clash over Geelong home finals debate