home finals

[mickey]

Just throwing it out as an alternative, and that is to rotate finals amongst the suburban grounds like a lot of country leagues do.

Double-headers for the first two weeks. Three clubs host the first three rounds of finals, then another three the next year, and then the last three the next. Which weekend of of finals a side hosts would also be rotated, so that over a nine year period each club hosts a EF/QF, semis, and a prelim.
If a club happens to get a home final, then good luck to them.
Season ticket holders of the hosting club get in with their ticket to help promote crowds.

Okay, what would happen, if for example Norwood hosted finals last year, as part of the nine year rotation, and this weekend it was West's turn to host a double header final?
Westies would in effect get a home final against a team that finished indisputedly top, while they themselves finished third. If they got up in a close one there'd be many who'd claim the system is highly unfair.
Nice to be thinking outside the square, but the above scenario surely would be the end for that system. Unless you could gaurantee that sides finishing lower don't get home finals against higher placed sides.

Every club would know at the start of the season what ground will host what game and if a lower ranked team jagged a home final then so be it..

The Super Bowl venue is known at the start of each season and they don't change it if the home team make it... same as champions league soccer in Europe.

[therisingblues]

Okay, what would happen, if for example Norwood hosted finals last year, as part of the nine year rotation, and this weekend it was West's turn to host a double header final?
Westies would in effect get a home final against a team that finished indisputedly top, while they themselves finished third. If they got up in a close one there'd be many who'd claim the system is highly unfair.
Nice to be thinking outside the square, but the above scenario surely would be the end for that system. Unless you could gaurantee that sides finishing lower don't get home finals against higher placed sides.

Every club would know at the start of the season what ground will host what game and if a lower ranked team jagged a home final then so be it..

The Super Bowl venue is known at the start of each season and they don't change it if the home team make it... same as champions league soccer in Europe.

Okay, so that's two competitions I don't know the exact details of, but I believe the Super Bowl teams come from different zones or divisions or whatever word they use (conferences?) so in theory one couldn't be placed above the other, I have no idea how the Champions league works. Whatever their systems, I know ours pretty well, and we spend a SEASON fighting for a spot on the ladder, the theory being the higher you finish, the better your path will be in the finals. I cannot see how a lower placed side jagging a final fits in with that.

[Jim05]

Only country footy I know but the BL&GFA operate this way. Finals are allocated early in the season and everyone knows where they will be played. This year it just so happens that the 4th placed side has won its way into the GF which is being held at their home ground.

[wild dog]

Stand alone minor finals at the home ground of the higher placed team with a fair financial package for the visiting club. GF at Football Park.

Should stay the same when Adelaide Oval is finished, unless the ground demonstrates some form of atmosphere for less than 15k crowds.

[FlyingHigh]

Just throwing it out as an alternative, and that is to rotate finals amongst the suburban grounds like a lot of country leagues do.

Double-headers for the first two weeks. Three clubs host the first three rounds of finals, then another three the next year, and then the last three the next. Which weekend of of finals a side hosts would also be rotated, so that over a nine year period each club hosts a EF/QF, semis, and a prelim.
If a club happens to get a home final, then good luck to them.
Season ticket holders of the hosting club get in with their ticket to help promote crowds.

Okay, what would happen, if for example Norwood hosted finals last year, as part of the nine year rotation, and this weekend it was West's turn to host a double header final?
Westies would in effect get a home final against a team that finished indisputedly top, while they themselves finished third. If they got up in a close one there'd be many who'd claim the system is highly unfair.
Nice to be thinking outside the square, but the above scenario surely would be the end for that system. Unless you could gaurantee that sides finishing lower don't get home finals against higher placed sides.

Happy to admit that I didn't quite think it though to that scenario. Unlikely but certainly possible. Would it be an issue for clubs for a semi-professional comp? Yeah, quite likely.
I enjoy the double-headers and would like to see an effort made to keep them. 8-12k around a suburban oval would be better than half-full suburban grounds with games being played concurrently. I love watching how the finals play out and I don't understand why people leave after their team has played. I'll be there for both games this weekend even though the Eagles aren't playing.
Let's face it, the old Adelaide Oval was the nearest-to-ideal situation we were going to get.

[CENTURION]

just play all finals at Adelaide when it is ready, end of conjecture. Being a redeveloped oval in the heart of town, more people will go to the minor finals...and if they don't it's still gonna look, feel & sound better than Footy Park.

[wild dog]

just play all finals at Adelaide when it is ready, end of conjecture. Being a redeveloped oval in the heart of town, more people will go to the minor finals...and if they don't it's still gonna look, feel & sound better than Footy Park.

I think your right, plus 8000 cramming into the hill area with 2000 dotted around the toilet bowl should make for an entertaining session.

[SDK]

My suggestion is to do it now !!!!
Norwood play West this Sunday @ Coopers
Centrals play North @ Playford.

Case dismissed.
Next patient please !

[SDK]

Seriously the home finals scenaro HAS to happen and it has to start next year.
More money would go to the clubs and rightly so. I am sure the home side would split the gate but keep the catering.
Don't talk about it for 3 years DO something !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Pseudo]

Seriously the home finals scenaro HAS to happen and it has to start next year.
More money would go to the clubs and rightly so. I am sure the home side would split the gate but keep the catering.
Don't talk about it for 3 years DO something !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am certain that the SANFL would pocket the gate.

[Hondo]

i agree with Centurion's solution re AO in future hosting all finals.

I think the players deserve to play finals at the states premier footy stadium. AAMI now and AO in future regardless of how it looks on TV or what the atmosphere is.

It's the players few chances to play at these grounds. Let them have that chance instead of trying to make the crowd sound better by hosting the games at smaller grounds. Guaranteed neutral finals has been part of the SANFL for years.

Anyone know what the players would prefer?

[RB]

i agree Hondo. Adelaide Oval or Football Park for all finals. I know suburban ground finals might generate some atmosphere, but then again that's what they said about having the State game at Glenelg and look how that turned out. Even though West Lakes is generally less than a quarter full for minor finals, it does increase the sense of occasion and has a novelty value. From what I've seen on the ABC, finals at suburban grounds in the VFL and WAFL are just like an extension of the minor round; they lack something that SANFL finals have. Every year when the draw is released we hear that SANFL players prefer to play finals at Football Park because they don't play at that sort of ground very often, and fair play to them. Adelaide Oval is a better place to watch football than West Lakes IMO but until that's ready, I hope all SANFL finals continue to be played at Footy Park.

[goraw]

definately always should play all finals at footy park

[cennals05]

i agree Hondo. Adelaide Oval or Football Park for all finals. I know suburban ground finals might generate some atmosphere, but then again that's what they said about having the State game at Glenelg and look how that turned out. Even though West Lakes is generally less than a quarter full for minor finals, it does increase the sense of occasion and has a novelty value. From what I've seen on the ABC, finals at suburban grounds in the VFL and WAFL are just like an extension of the minor round; they lack something that SANFL finals have. Every year when the draw is released we hear that SANFL players prefer to play finals at Football Park because they don't play at that sort of ground very often, and fair play to them. Adelaide Oval is a better place to watch football than West Lakes IMO but until that's ready, I hope all SANFL finals continue to be played at Footy Park.

I agree with everything you've said.

I would hate to have to play a final at a sh!t hole like The Parade.

[Dutchy]

Its a good point about Adelaide Oval, didnt some of the double headers in 6-7 years back get over 20k? I remember 12-13k was considered poor.

However now with West/North Prelim its not too late for the SANFl to take a punt and put this game at Richmond Oval, hell even open the gates and get 10k there, would be fantastic atmosphere and really pump it up during the week.

[wild dog]

Its a good point about Adelaide Oval, didnt some of the double headers in 6-7 years back get over 20k? I remember 12-13k was considered poor.

However now with West/North Prelim its not too late for the SANFl to take a punt and put this game at Richmond Oval, hell even open the gates and get 10k there, would be fantastic atmosphere and really pump it up during the week.

Adelaide Oval was the perfect place for finals, but its going to be a stadium soon. Hope it does retain the same atmosphere.

[NFC]

i agree Hondo. Adelaide Oval or Football Park for all finals. I know suburban ground finals might generate some atmosphere, but then again that's what they said about having the State game at Glenelg and look how that turned out. Even though West Lakes is generally less than a quarter full for minor finals, it does increase the sense of occasion and has a novelty value. From what I've seen on the ABC, finals at suburban grounds in the VFL and WAFL are just like an extension of the minor round; they lack something that SANFL finals have. Every year when the draw is released we hear that SANFL players prefer to play finals at Football Park because they don't play at that sort of ground very often, and fair play to them. Adelaide Oval is a better place to watch football than West Lakes IMO but until that's ready, I hope all SANFL finals continue to be played at Footy Park.

I agree with everything you've said.

I would hate to have to play a final at a sh!t hole like The Parade.

Cause you'd never win.

[Barto]

The WAFL play finals at the home ground of the highest ranked team. Grand Final at Subi.

Stand alone minor finals at the home ground of the higher placed team with a fair financial package for the visiting club. GF at Football Park.

Should stay the same when Adelaide Oval is finished, unless the ground demonstrates some form of atmosphere for less than 15k crowds.

Not a bad idea if crowds are that low.

[Dutchy]

WAFL GF got 18k on the weekend.

[Wedgie]

One thing noticed this week was that there were 3000 more at the game with Norwood playing instead of the Eagles.
Weird too as according to the stats Phil H has been giving us all year the Eagles have more supporters than Collingwood!