Talking Footy

pussycat wrote: ↑Sat Jun 27, 2020 1:29 pm

We already have a *** Mardi Gras in Sydney. Why would we want anymore Victorians in our state?

NSW to become home of footy with new AFL hub, Grand Final bid
Ben Horne, The Daily Telegraph
July 3, 2020

NSW has doubled down on its new-found status as AFL HQ, with the State Government declaring ANZ Stadium should take this year’s Grand Final from the MCG.

On a historic day for AFL in the rugby league capital, it was announced a third of the competition would migrate to NSW, with Hawthorn set to find a new home on the waterfront at Coogee for the next month, and the Melbourne Demons to switch from bleak city to Manly beach for four weeks in paradise.

The SCG will host a blockbuster between Geelong and Brisbane next Thursday night – 117 years after the Lions’ parent club Fitzroy played in the first ever game of Aussie rules at the iconic Sydney ground.

But the NSW Government is determined to ensure the AFL super hub is only the beginning of a Sydney takeover of the Victorian game.

As first revealed by The Daily Telegraph last week, the NSW Government has its eyes on the AFL Grand Final, as the it looks increasingly unlikely the MCG will be allowed to host a capacity crowd for the 2020 decider.

Melbourne continues to be ravaged by COVID-19, with more than 60 new cases recorded every day, and NSW Sports Minister Geoff Lee has ramped up ANZ Stadium’s bid for the biggest prize in Australian sport.

“ANZ Stadium has the biggest capacity outside the MCG and Sydney would give the AFL the red carpet treatment in the Harbour City,” said Minister Lee.

“We have just announced the merging of the SCG Trust and Venues NSW to create one powerful entity that can attract the best events and Sydney is ready for an AFL Grand Final.”

Maintenance has taken place on ANZ Stadium’s retractable stands to ensure it would be right to host 80,000 fans for an AFL blockbuster, as restrictions in NSW continue to ease.

Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland have also thrown their hats in the ring for the AFL Grand Final, which is a Melbourne institution and is otherwise locked in at the MCG until 2057 — a decision Geelong coach Chris Scott labelled a “travesty.”

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan was on Friday buzzing about the silver lining to Melbourne’s COVID-19 crisis – a chance to give NSW and Queensland the platform they’ve been craving.

In NSW and the ACT last year, overall participation totalled a record 294,947 participants and female football grew 15 per cent, and 211 per cent since the inception of AFLW.

Community football this season in NSW is on track for record levels of participation, after it also grew by 7 per cent in 2019.

TV ratings in Sydney are also booming so far this AFL season.

Sydney chief executive Tom Harley said the arrival of Hawthorn, Melbourne, Collingwood, Geelong, Gold Coast and Brisbane could take AFL in NSW to new heights.

“I think absolutely. It really does emphasise the point that we are a global city and we’re a sports-mad city and the growth of the game, which has been building over the past 20 years reflects, how strong participation numbers are,” said Harley.

“Ratings for the AFL in Sydney has been really strong, viewership is up. So to have that extra content and give people in Sydney other AFL opportunities is a great opportunity for us and I’m sure the supporters of the code in Sydney will appreciate the AFL spotlight being there, and that’s absolutely appropriate.”



The Daily Telegraph can reveal the Hawks will be based in Coogee, Melbourne in Manly and Collingwood and Geelong likely to be in the Sydney CBD for their one-week stay.

The Western Bulldogs will also stay in Manly when it’s their chance for hub-time in NSW, after passing through Queensland first.

GWS and Sydney are both willing to throw open the doors to their training facility for visiting clubs, with the Swans Lakeside facility at Moore Park, GWS HQ at Tom Willis Oval in Sydney Olympic Park, Blacktown Sports Park and North Dalton Park all likely training venues for interstate clubs.

Gold Coast will be based in Wollongong.

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport ... 40d379a54a

Fred wrote: ↑Fri Jul 10, 2020 8:44 am

Not at that stadium .... have it at SCG.... smaller crowd but in the city and make a carnival atmosphere.

Beaussie wrote: ↑Fri Jul 10, 2020 8:11 am

$50 million potential windfall for the AFL going to Sydney.

lonnieharperc wrote: ↑Wed Sep 30, 2020 11:10 am

It will be interesting to see how the night granny goes at the Gabba. Hopefully they revamped the whole thing rather than just move the timeslot.

In its current format the Watch AFL Grand Final 2020 Online at the MCG isn't something I would sell a kidney for as a neutral observer. I'd rather go to a packed Anzac day game or a prelim if I had a choice.