Brisbane should be a lay-down misere to host AFL grand final

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With a move from the MCG seemingly inevitable, it would be morally bankrupt of the AFL to move the competition elsewhere but Brisbane for its grandest occasion, writes Caroline Wilson | OPINION agerealfooty

The West Australian government's job in keeping the state healthy is commendable but that should not be a consideration for McLachlan as he decides the grand final venue. Optus Stadium is more than worthy of the game and clearly in another stratosphere in comparison with the Gabba, and Western Australia is a great football state, but that does not change Perth's logistical challenges.

Port bosses have pointed to their exemplary attitude and behaviour during the troubled early hub days back in June, the relative ease of flying opposition teams into Adelaide for finals, the quality of their venue and loyalty of their supporters and ultimately the fact that their club should not be stripped of home finals just because circumstances dictate other clubs will be.

AFL legend and Brisbane Lions director Leigh Matthews still - in something of a twist - believes a football state and not Queensland should host the game, but you can argue that Queensland has earned its stripes this year in that regard. And the size of the government financial package speaks volumes but the long-term economic and social benefits of the Gabba outweigh short-term financial deals and McLachlan is acutely aware of that.

The historic agreement that secured at the MCG until 2057 in 2018 in a three-way deal with the Victorian government, the AFL and the MCG is estimated to be worth $500 million and also signalled a complete rebuild of the Great Southern Stand, probably within the next decade.

 

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agerealfooty After the abuse the AFL copped today ftom the WA Premier. the Grand Final should go to Adelaide or Brisbane. How can he blame the AFL for the actions of one, who happens to be from WA. The idiot premier grand standing will now loose him the Grand Final.

agerealfooty My 4 yr old son could argue Caro under the table. Easy to write an article with no basis or fact and not have to back it up. Weak

agerealfooty If the AFL GF is in a non (real) footy state (Qld/NSW), it will trivialize the rugby comp. even further. gopies

agerealfooty Caro..... should we perhaps not talk about moral bankruptcy for Qld decision and talk actual bankruptcy which was the VFL on late 80s..... WA footy cash saved the league. Time for payback to WA footy..... to not do so would be moral bankruptcy.........regards, Ben

agerealfooty 'The grand final should be in Brisbane, and in Perth last of all because Richmond can't beat West Coast at Optus Stadium' If Caroline Wilson was honest her argument would fit comfortably into a tweet. She's argued for Brisbane all season. Origsmartassam is right about her.

agerealfooty The AFL grand final should be played at the MCG with no live audience. Remember this is COVID19 season, and surely holding it anywhere outside of Victoria, with a live audience, could potentially spread the virus. Common sense must prevail.

agerealfooty Caro forgets WA Footy bailed her broke VFL back in 1987. And $27-30 million can be made from Optus Stadium to stage the GF. Then writes this rubbish. Clearly she has issues with WA - the richest state that contributes the most in the country. !! What’s really your beef Caro?

agerealfooty IF Caro said this THEN It’s in Perth

agerealfooty The Queensland teams have needed hand outs since their inception. Low crowds, poor TV viewing for 30 years....but yeah they need rewarding! FFS

agerealfooty Absolutely not. The AFL has given the biggest stimulus package in the history of Australian sport by paying for the hubs- in what would otherwise be empty QLD resorts with thousands of job losses if they had not. That’s enough of a reward for QLD. The GF should be in Adelaide 👏

agerealfooty Why not Perth Bigger stadium , more passionate AFL supporters

agerealfooty I agree with Caro, they as a state did more for the viability of the season than any of the other states. They deserve it.

agerealfooty Oh, NOW you care about a moral outcome

agerealfooty should be cancelled altogether. what a joke.

agerealfooty WA - An AFL State Should host Grand Final

agerealfooty By the time the GF comes the the ground at Brisbane won’t be fit to play on.

agerealfooty Here’s a picture of five nurses leaving Perth tonight, bound for Melbourne, being farewelled by the WA Health Minister, Roger Cook. Caroline Wilson puts Perth last, right at the moment we are putting Melbourne first.

agerealfooty Morally bankrupt and corrupt

agerealfooty HOW DARE YOU use the phrase 'morally bankrupt' with reference to the AFL GF...the all important decider that's been locked in to the home ground of your club for the next 50 years! Why? The biggest stadium? You are as morally bankrupt as they come!!

agerealfooty If not hosting the Grand Final is the price we in WA pay for not compromising on the hard border during the darkest days of this crisis, then I suppose we will miss out. The West Australian Football League was founded in 1885... It is sad that such a long history is ignored.

agerealfooty Load of crap! Best football stadium is in Perth, but let’s not the truth stand in the way of a good story

agerealfooty Just forget about the narcissistic AFL players and administration. At this time we have more to worry about than these self entitled brats! Start worrying about front line staff!

agerealfooty To be honest I will move it somewhere else just to spite her! There are so many great women journalists unfortunately she’s not one of them

agerealfooty Still think it should be a Perth. Daylight saving will give East Coast a 3 hour time difference. We could get a late afternoon to night Final event without too much effort. Great opportunity to give it a go.

agerealfooty I hope they gave put a crop of spuds in the MCG.

agerealfooty Adelaide. Best venue outside of MCG.

agerealfooty Bugger morals . Need all the $$ they can get

agerealfooty If you go to Perth I will unfollow the AFL !

agerealfooty I'd prefer it went somewhere where they weren't so smug.

agerealfooty weather makes surface too slippery up there for a night time final

agerealfooty Thanks Dan. Buggered the economy and now stuffed the Grand final. You have literally destroyed it all with your quarantine donuts

agerealfooty 'morally bankrupt' 🙄

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