Move aside NRL, AFL rules supreme at ANZ Stadium

[214Four]

The AFL also know that playing it at the SCG would be bad for the Swans in terms of both crowd and playing because the SCG is a tiny ground compared to the finals venues they'll be playing on. ANZ is far better, and I'll be surprised if the crowd is less than 50K.

Here are some swans crowd figures when playing at ANZ (only added against proper AFL sides, i didnt include GWS as it would have just skewed the figures).

2012 Round 20 - 45K (against Collingwood who finished 4th)
2011 Round 14 - 38k (against Collingwood who finished 1st)
2011 Round 22 - 25K (against St Kilda who finished 6th)
2010 Round 13 - 43K (against Collingwood who finished 1st)
2010 Round 18 - 30K (against Geelong who finished 2nd)

After looking at the above figures...

There is a very good chance the crowd will be below 50K, only 2 'blockbuster' AFL games have gone above 50K since 2008 at ANZ. In round 23 the swans are playing Hawthorne and not the Pies, and history shows only collingwood has ever really pulled crowds in sydney. cos of this i would say an expected crowd of 35 - 40K would be more likely (45K the max).

The swans should stick to the SCG, it looks alot better playing in a full capacity cricket ground then it will a half full ANZ. when will the AFL learn. there has not been large enough crowds at anz to warrent moving the swans big games out there for years.

Even half of the finals crowds below for the swans at ANZ have been well below 50K and not high enough to warrent moving away from the SCG. 2012 and 2006 was the only time in recent years there was a sufficient crowd attendance at ANZ to warrent the move, and both of these were grand final qualifiers...

2012 Week 3 of finals(grandfinal qualifier) - 57K
2010 week 1 of finals - 41K
2008 week 1 of finals - 19K
2006 week 3 of finals(grandfinal qualifier) - 61K

[Swans4ever]

With the SCG at a reduced capacity I would be inclined to say it should be at ANZ (only 36k). But you have a compelling argument

[214Four]

With the SCG at a reduced capacity I would be inclined to say it should be at ANZ (only 36k). But you have a compelling argument

thanks for your positive comment...

I didnt consider the 36K reduced capacity at the SCG. I still think though that the round 23 game against hawthorne should stay at the SCG, it will be sufficient for that game.

They may get an extra few thousand people attending if they move to ANZ, but it would be 5000 at the very most. when considering the better atmoshphere at a full(er) SCG than ANZ and how much better it looks for viewers on tv i think the SCG is easily the swans better option.

the swans i think should only move there finals games to ANZ, and only really their grand final qualifier games to ANZ after the SCG has been redeveloped.

[NRLCrap1]

One problem. None of those previous matches were the final round before the finals. 36,000 will not be sufficient.

[214Four]

One problem. None of those previous matches were the final round before the finals. 36,000 will not be sufficient.

*yeh none may have been round 23, but one was round 22 against a VIC team that wasnt collingwood and happends to be one of the lowest crowds,
*One was round 20 against collingwood (who draw the biggest AFL crowds in sydney) and it had a crowd of 41K.
*Then i included two figures from games played after the final round, the finals...
2010 week 1 of finals - 41K
2008 week 1 of finals - 19K

All showing evidence that the SCG would be more than sufficient.

[NRLCrap1]

The round 22 was not against a crowd puller.

This game will pull a crowd. A big one. It's a possible grand final preview.

[214Four]

what makes you think this game will somehow do what the previous two 'blockbusters' against collingwood havent. It may be a grandfinal preview, but your forgetting that for this game to pull a massive crowd it would require a large amount of sydneysiders unfamiliar to AFL to attend (bandwagoners). these people would not really no where hawthorne or the swans sit on the ladder nor would they really no much about hawthorne in general. these people would have no idea that this game could be a possible 'grand final preview' as you call it.

[Swans4ever]

Like I said you have a compelling argument from memory last years clash was a sell out might be the same - however I think Swans have to play 3 games a year at ANZ by contract, so moving it may not be an option.

[NRLCrap1]

There are more genuine AFL supporters in Sydney than you think, 2144. ANZ had pulled more than 50,000 before and it can again.

[cos789]

With reduced capacity at the SCG, playing Hawthorn, with Buddy thye face of football and it being the last game of the season there will be a decent crowd.
Historically Hawthorn has brought the crowds in a competitve match.
Since the game is expected to draw greater than the capcaity of the SCG then it's obvious to use.
The difference in crowd could be the size of one nrl game.
The atmosphere might not be as good as a packed SCG but it's good practice to play at a longer ground.
AS for TV, nothing looks worse than a stadium with gaping holes under construction.

[NRLCrap1]

^^^^This!

[214Four]

The round 22 was not against a crowd puller.

This game will pull a crowd. A big one. It's a possible grand final preview.

Hawthorne are not a big crowd puller either, better than St Kilda i agree but nowhere near as good as the pies...

Swans vs hawthorne at SCG
2012 - 31K 1st
2011 - 33K 3rd
2010 - 29K 7th

I would say hawthorne are similar to geelong in terms of crowd pulling power and they managed 30K at ANZ, i do however realise that particular game was round 18 and this game will attract more interest and thats why i gave the prediction of 35-40K earlier for the swans vs hawthorne round 23 clash.

[NRLCrap1]

You're ignoring the last round factor again.

[Stewie]

The round 22 was not against a crowd puller.

This game will pull a crowd. A big one. It's a possible grand final preview.

Hawthorne are not a big crowd puller either, better than St Kilda i agree but nowhere near as good as the pies...

Swans vs hawthorne at SCG
2012 - 31K 1st
2011 - 33K 3rd
2010 - 29K 7th

I would say hawthorne are similar to geelong in terms of crowd pulling power and they managed 30K at ANZ, i do however realise that particular game was round 18 and this game will attract more interest and thats why i gave the prediction of 35-40K earlier for the swans vs hawthorne round 23 clash.

2012 would have been over 40k if it wasn't for the reduced capacity.

[214Four]

You're ignoring the last round factor again.

no i didnt.. read my last paragraph