Nearly threw my breakfast up yesterday morning reading Andy Collins suggestion that City Oval - that hole in the Eastern suburbs - host the Grand Final.
You know what I think of that place...
Is Collins serious?
I think he's right that the game should NOT be played at Optus Oval. But no way should the game be played at Box Hill.
Looking at the BoxHill City Oval on TV yesterday you would have to say Collins is joking. The facilities are poor and the ground surface is under standard for a finals venue.
I agree Optus is way too big, Victoria Park is a dump. The best IMO would be an upgraded Junction Oval.
Punt Road for me
Yeah Punt road or Port Melbourne. Boxhill would be a joke. there is undercover seating for about 30 people. Pretty rediculous suggestion. From what I have heard Gannon say, if all goes well with the council the grand finals will be at Port with extra seating added. Some may say its a home ground advantage but its pretty much the best ground in the comp surfice wise and easy for spectators to see.
Venues like Boxhill, Werribee, Coburg turn into a gluepot in the centre square whenever it rains and drainage is poor.
Frankston is fanatastic now but its not really a central location.
Imagine if we got a day like today at Box Hill City Oval. I was out there at that dump of a ground for the U18s today, dead set the place didn't have enough shelter for 50 people let alone 10,000 who we want at a Grand Final. Collins must be kidding. Maybe he should just worry about his new cricket job and coaching his struggling football side.
Geez.. get over it Footyman... onwards and upwards! :)
Hahaha, I'll keep going because it is crucial for the VFL to find the right venue for finals and at this stage nobody here has got a decent suggestion! And Box Hill isn't a good suggestion, nor are any other VFL grounds.
Maybe the VFL need to explore an option like Whitten Oval, Moorabbin or Windy Hill for hosting a Grand Final. I'd say Whitten Oval has plenty of seating, plenty of cover, public transport nearby, and is fairly central. Any venue will need extra infrastructure bought in like toilets and food/beer vans anyway so it is no different there.
I reckon the re-developed Whitten Oval would almost be a certainty to host VFL finals. Not so sure about the ground in its current shape.
Other options are the development going up on 'outer wing'/scoreboard area of TEAC Oval... Not sure whether they are planning for under cover seating as part of it or not.