I'd love to hear an official line from AFL Victoria on the crowds, but to the eye the crowds weren't much different to what they'd have attracted at TEAC Oval on a Prelim Final weekend in the past. At the breaks today the oval was filled with people having a kick. And there was certainly a lot more room at Box Hill on the hill for the fans to spread out and for the kids to kick the footy than there is at TEAC Oval.
Today's game was crap, but the larger ground made for a much better spectacle.
In the Footy Record this week, Peter Schwab wrote "during the off-season AFL Victoria will revisit which venues will host finals leading up to the VFL Grand Final".
Could we finally have seen the death of TEAC Oval as a VFL finals venue? Let's hope so...most neutral fans hate the joint.
Agreed footyman, although the ABC obviously likes the idea of dumping their OB gear at North Port Oval for the first 3 weeks of the finals, I believe the finals should be played at the home ground of the higher-finishing team in the game. You will get far better crowds than what turn up to Nort Port. Some of the crowds have been disgraceful, notwithstanding the poor weather.
Footyman,
The game was fantastic & agree 100% with you comments on Teac oval.
Box Hill is a good venue, but requires
more seats & more cover.
I have photo taken at Teac oval in 1935 & not one bloody thing has changed. As soon as I learn how to post it I will to give other posters a chance to agree or disagree.
Must admit people from the Eastern suburbs did appreciate the sunshine & the wide open spaces.
Still doesn't take away from the fact that the game should never have been played there.
A lot more planning required from the heirachy of VFL rather than when a comment was passed about Box Hill's advantage Peter Schwab stated " North Ballarat are a good club, they will get over it. !!!
It was fantastic for a Roosters supporter! My comment on the game being crap was more along the lines of Box Hill being uncompetitive for most of the game. A closer contest would have been nice for us neutrals!
Box Hill needs more seating and more cover, I totally agree. Hard to comprehend that they built that social club yet didnt invest in any seating area at all!
Probably the fairest and best way is that the team that finishes higher play at their home ground in all finals that lead up to the Grand.
If the team that finishes higher and their ground is not available then play at a neutral ground.
This way everything is clear, correct and fair. It is even and fair play for all.
Still not convinced about Ethihad Stadium hosting the Grand Final.
What if a crowd of 10,000 to 12,000 get there on Sunday.
Do they give it the big A for 2011 ?
What crowd figure is a pass mark ? Maybe 15,000 ??
Peter Schwab said 20,000 on TV today when asked by Fabulous Phil
I can't see 20,000 there in a fit.
I will be there of course as I always go to the VFA/VFL GF.
The crowd will be around 10,000 to 12,000 maybe 14,000 at max.
Digs how many buses from rooster land are making the trip ?
Will catch you there Digs. Same spot as last year ?
Neither club has much support so i think a crowd of 20,000 is most unrealistic ..... with a bit of foresight the VFL could cut a deal with the AFL that an AFL GF ticket also gives you admittance to the VFL GF, but that's probably expecting too much .....
would say it was a great result for the roosters,having to play away for our finals games,only made the boys more determined to win.Next sundays game should be a ripper,with the way the Bullants played yesterday is any indication.Hope the crowd responds by coming to see footy at its best.Box Hill today was hard for the fans,with nowhere much to sit,brings back memories of when we had to stand in the outer,thought maybe a couple of tempory stands could have been erected.Just as well it didnt rain.Would emagine that Willie would be shattered once again,not getting any further.The crowd certainly looked a lot bigger than than any of the other finals played so far.The Roosters played a great attacking game,that was just to great for the Hawks,who went far to short after starting well,their kicking early was long but inaccurate,causing not much scoreboard pressure.Fitzie showed why he was made coach of the year,with the team being very well drilled.
Quite agree Arab seating was at a minimal but terrific
crowd though VFL footy has alot of supoort it just needs to be run more professional and better advertisted .
footyman wrote: digs
Yep I turned off half way through the 3rd quarter when the game was well and truly over.How piss weak are Box Hill /Hawthorn reserves?they get given a game on their home ground in front of their supporters and still get flogged.
I only hope for the comps sake the GF is closer and more exciting for the viewers.
I still think the VFL if they have any brains would look at using the Junction Oval as a Finals venue for all the finals
Maybe the State Govent can tip in some $ afterall they have just squandered $300 million on an unwanted and already underused stadium for soccer and thugby!Still with the VFL firmly under the thumb of the AFL they would no doubt be too gutless to do anything so radical.