I see in the paper today that AFL Victoria are going to have a bit of a review as to why the Grand Final attendance last week was so poor.
Reality is that they got just under 11,859 to a game between traditional rivals - Port and Williamstown. I would say you'd account for at least 2,000 who went for the TAC Cup when you account for parents, friends and recruiters. There were a lot of teenagers there during the U18 game which involved two Metropolitan sides.
So, do they accept that about 12,000 is all they can ever get to the Grand Final, or do they do something about it?
Some discussion points...
(1) Review the timeslot. Maybe the Friday night experiment wasn't given long enough - should it be tried again? What about the Sunday following the AFL Grand Final?
(2) Change the venue. Etihad doesn't work, it's not popular. Maybe 10,000 at North Port would be better than 12,000 at Etihad.
(3) Bring the Reserves Grand Final back to the big day. In a lot of cases, the reserves teams and the reserves players are the heart and soul of a VFL club. They deserve to be the curtain raiser.
(4) Admission pricing. Is $20 a bit steep? Personally I don't think so, but are casual onlookers going to be interested in spending $20?
I'v got very strong view points on this
1.Move it back to Princess Park FOR GODS SAKE
2.Reserves Grand Final must be played on the same day as the seniors not at Teac Oval you donkeys
3.Spend what money you have got in promoting the grand final the VFL never do enough.
4.Half Time and Pre Game Entertainment ? half time sprint between other clubs which didn't make it or long distance kicking compition or even do an interview on the ground with former Grand Final Players.
at the end of the day Williamstown v Port Melbourne are the bigggest teams you can get playing off for the biggest prize and having 12,000 at Etihad is a embarrassment for the Compition
Im sorry to say 12,000 is about all the VFL can expect.
The AFL own Melbourne when it comes to support you only have to see the paltry crowds the football codes get to see how the AFL dominate the sporting landscape.
The soccer moved to the summer months becvause they know they cannot compete with the AFL head on.The VFL will always have the same problem.
If you look at the VFA/VFL GF attendences over the past 20 years not many have achieved more than 12,000 and quite a few have gotten less.
Punt Road Oval might be a good fit for the VFL finals central location, close to public transport and plenty of parking make it ideal.
12,000 would most likely see it out and Punt Road would have a great atmosphere with that sort of crowd.
There is nothing worse than seeing a 50,000 capacity stadium like Docklands with 40,000 empty seats.
I well remember covering the Sandy-Frankston grand final at Port Melbourne in 1997, and the atmosphere was something else. The place was packed to the gun holes. I'm pretty sure the official attendance was 7000, which I take to be the ground capacity.
Etihad is a terrific stadium, but with a crowd of 12,000 it's not for the VFL. I'd be shocked if we're not back at Carlton next year.
Billy, Punt Road would create terrific atmosphere but there is no room for a grand final crowd as you would be lucky to fit in 3000 at the moment. Maybe when all the extensions are complete and you can fit 12,000 to 15,000 you could have it at Punt Road. I have seen footage of the 1967 VFA GF between Port v Dandy and the place looked like a real GF. Close to publice transport and for the diehards easy access to the Cricketers Arms, Royal, Corner and Club Hotel.
For next year Princes Park is the go as if you had 15,000 for this years Port v Williamstown GF the place would be rocking.
Spot on Paul with the 1997 Sandringham v Frankston GF at Teac Oval. The place was buzzing and the atmsophere was awesome.
My money is that we have seen the last of Ethihad 'TURD DOME' Stadium for a Grand Final. Very embarassing getting just under 12,000 in a 50,000 stadium.
Princes Park will be the go in 2012.
vfa I was at Punt Road oval for the three VFA GFs played there 67,68,69 - 1970 it was back to the Junction IMO Punt Road had a far better atmosphere than the Junction as the crowd was packed in and closer to the action.
Dandenong won the 1967 GF from Port in sensatioanl fashion in front of officially 17,000 but it seemed like a lot more and Preston won 1968/69 The main problem Punt Road had in those days was it turned into a boghole very quickly if it rained during the week.
Thats one of the the reasons why the VFA returned to the much bigger and better facilities at the Junction Oval and Im pretty certain they also screwed a better deal out of the cricket club that was going bad financially at the time.
The reason the VFA left the Junction Oval was because Sandringham which was supposed to have a 19 year lease starting from 1966 from the St Kilda Cricket club to play at the Junction was kicked out by the cricket club (supossedly for not bringing in enough revenue to the CC social club bars) so the VFA decided to go to Punt Road in protest at the way Sandy was treated.
Lets hope the VFL do the right thing and go back there when the ground is fixed.
The only people who would like etihad are the players. 12,000 at optus oval would have been fantastic. That's more than what attended the 2002 and 2004 which was a pretty good atmosphere. Having a game indoors at etihad is basically the opposite of what the comp is about. People enjoy the sunshine, being close to the action, being able to stand if they like. The carnival type atmosphere is totally lost at a venue that is too big.
Maybe it is the product not the venue
That is part of the problem even the VFA when it was at its peak in 1970 - 80s was thought of as second rate by most VFL supporters.
As I have said before unless the now VFL can play the game the week after the AFL GF like the VFA did for many years it will get swamped in all the hoo har of grand final week.
EG
In 1962 when Sandy won the VFA flag at the Junction Oval the VFL played their seconds GF at the MCG on the same day because of a draw. The VFA had only 11,000 on a fine day and the VFL seconds playing at the same time with St Kilda as one of the teams playing got 17,000!
The year before at the Junction on a very hot day there were about 25,000 for the Port V Yarraville GF which btw Yarraville won "coached" by Ted Whitten on the day as the regular coach Kevin Drinan had to go OS because of his work.
The VFA in their wisdom took the GF to North Port for the next three years and with Port Melb in 2 GFs the Nort Port oval was packed both times with crowds supposed to be about 25,000.
The crowd for the TAC Cup game was mid 4000s so realistically, the VFL GF probably had about 8000 there.
I'd love to see the game back at Port Melbourne, but the renovations would need to be completed. Temporary stands could also be the go. They have been used before, and couldn't cost as much as paying for Etihad Stadium. Even temporary night lighting at Port could be an option for a Friday night.
I still think Whitten Oval is worth considering. Temporary fencing would be needed, but that's achievable.
I still think its way too much of an advantage to Port to play at North Port
The Western Oval at Footscray would be ok but like when Footscray played there it was difficult to get people to go over the bridge from the east.
I go past it a lot and it would have very little atmosphere and is way too open to the elements plus most of the infrastructure like toilets and ticket boxes have been removed.
It looks like Princes Park might have to do.