Beaussie wrote:Despite tickets already being on sale for the NRL game between ANZ Stadium tenant Canterbuy and Penrith, the AFL has said we want the stadium that night and we will get the stadium that night.
Get out of the way NRL, AFL rules supreme in Sydney. :<> :<> :<>
Battle of the AFL's big birds wins out over NRL
Date July 30, 2013
Emma Quayle
The AFL has had a win over the NRL, gaining access to Sydney's ANZ Stadium for the opening night of round 23.
The league was planning to advise clubs of the final-round match fixture on Tuesday, but it is understood Sydney will host Hawthorn on Friday, August 30, giving both top-four sides the longest possible break leading into September.
This is despite the NRL fixture, which was released earlier this month, listing a Bulldogs-Panthers game to be played at the same venue that night, and tickets to that game being available for purchase.
Hawthorn had been pushing to play on the Friday night given it had a day less than Sydney to prepare for last year's grand final, despite finishing higher on the ladder and winning its first final.
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It was also Channel Seven's preference for the Swans-Hawks game to be played on Friday night, with the other option for Hawthorn to play on Saturday afternoon or in a twilight game, allowing the club time to return to Melbourne that night.
While the Hawks' run home includes games against Richmond, Collingwood and the Swans, only a disaster would cause them to fall from the top four.
Securing ANZ Stadium means the AFL will likely schedule the Essendon-Richmond match for Saturday night at the MCG, with Collingwood to meet North Melbourne at the same ground on the Sunday.
The Port Adelaide-Carlton clash looms as perhaps the most crucial game of the round, with the Power tucked just inside the top eight and the Blues one game behind - the only side outside the eight with a realistic hope of squeezing in.
Port Adelaide had asked for a final-round Friday night match as part of the club's official fixture request, given the game will be the last played at AAMI Stadium ahead of next year's move to Adelaide Oval, but that request does not seem to have been granted.
Fremantle will most likely play St Kilda on Saturday afternoon at Etihad Stadium, giving the fifth-placed Dockers time to fly back to Perth and prepare for the start of their finals campaign, which could yet require further travel.
Geelong will host the Brisbane Lions at Simonds Stadium, a game that could also be played on the Saturday.
Gold Coast will play Greater Western Sydney, the Western Bulldogs will finish their season against Melbourne, and West Coast will play Adelaide.
An ANZ Stadium spokesperson did not return calls, while a NRL spokesperson said: "There is a possible clash of dates and a number of discussions are taking place."
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/AFL/AFL-news/batt ... z2aTmhYbG4





oh dear
what a blockbuster NRL game the fumbles n bumbles have had moved from ANZ





does anyone really think if it were a half important NRL game , ANZ stadium would not politely tell the fumbles n bumbles
to
find another night

the NRL & its clubs are the main tennent of ANZ stadium, last years final series proved it beyond doubt
the NRL is not in the slightest bit worried about playing this minor encounter on the Thursday .. n telling the boys to .. tear it up good too for the singlet wearers the following night

FFS .... what a non story


