by Booney » Tue Aug 29, 2023 9:05 am
Three-time premiership Lion Jonathan Brown has taken an almighty swipe at the AFL over its finals fixturing and the treatment of one club in particular.
And no, it’s not his beloved Brisbane – but their opponents in week one of the AFL finals, Port Adelaide.
Brisbane, who finished second at the end of the regular season, will host the third-placed Power at the Gabba at 7.25pm AEST on Saturday night in the second qualifying final.
But a curfew at Brisbane Airport then means the South Australian side can’t return home until Sunday and would face a likely six-day turnaround to host its next final if it loses to the Lions.
And it’s not just the reduced recovery time Brown was concerned about for Port.
The 41-year-old former All Australian also feels the decision is based on ratings, opting to put second versus third on prime time on Saturday night, rather than a clash between St Kilda and Greater Western Sydney – who have two of the smaller supporter groups in the AFL.
“I’m happy being a Brisbane supporter playing Saturday night, but I think it’s a bad move by the AFL,” Brown said On the Couch.
“I think Port Adelaide’s been harshly affected. They finished top four, they deserve preferable scheduling.
“They deserve to be back home on Saturday night in their own bed.
“They won’t be able to do that, there’s a curfew out of Brisbane Airport, so they won’t get home until Sunday.
“If they lose, they have to back up essentially six days later. I think that’s poor from the AFL.
“Port Adelaide have earned the right to have a better schedule. That is a big mistake by the AFL.
“They want to go for the ratings. They probably think Brisbane-Port Adelaide is better than St Kilda-GWS on Saturday.”
PAFC. Forever.
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