Move aside NRL, AFL rules supreme at ANZ Stadium

[Beaussie]

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

[ParraEelsNRL]

As far as most NSW ppl are concerned, the Swans can stick ANZ stadium where the sun don't shine, let the Swans or whatever other team they have use it, the place is a pain in the arse to get to, it looks ugly with with stuff all crowds in it esp if it's under 30k, the view it's too far from the pitch as well.

[Fred]

That's a little arrogant of the AFL ! Should they use their power and popularity this way in Sydney ? Would it not piss of fans of rl when they read this ? Just because they are bigger and stronger doesn't mean they should be bullies.

[Stewie]

The nRL are pushovers.

[Swans4ever]

Well the last game at ANZ for Canterbury only got 16k so the AFL is doing them a favour considering Penriths drawing power

[adamj1300]

That's a little arrogant of the AFL ! Should they use their power and popularity this way in Sydney ? Would it not piss of fans of rl when they read this ? Just because they are bigger and stronger doesn't mean they should be bullies.

more so it just proves the NRL is an amateur run shit show
the AFL draws up its fixture well before the start of the season so it can book stadiums, the NRL lets channel 9 and foxtel dictate its fixture,
first in best get

[NRLCrap1]

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.

[Rabbit]

http://www.news.com.au/national-news/vi ... 6688356904 lol

[Swans4ever]

http://www.news.com.au/national-news/vi ... 6688356904 lol

Rabbit you idiot this happened with the approval of the AFL -

[eelofwest]

http://www.news.com.au/national-news/vi ... 6688356904 lol

Rabbit you idiot this happened with the approval of the AFL -

It happened with the approval of the State government of Victoria you idiot..............the AFL had no choice in the matter..... :_<> :_<> :_<> :_<>

MCG = Melbourne Cricket Ground.................................Cricket world cup, millions of dollars for state coffers...................You singlet wearers had no choice....... =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D>

[eelofwest]

Turf war between AFL and cricket brewing over drop-in pitches at the Gabba after World Cup snub


A BITTER turf war is brewing and cricket between football over drop-in pitches following a Gabba snub by World Cup cricket organisers.

The issue is compounded by the AFL's desire to push forward the start of the premiership season to help the Brisbane Lions and Gold Coast Suns compete with the rugby codes.

The Lions fully endorse the league's moves to go head-to-head with the NRL's season kick-off, which is traditionally in the first week of March, but are not prepared to spend the first month on the road because the Gabba is unavailable.

Lions chairman Angus Johnson yesterday renewed his calls for a drop-in pitch after the Gabba missed out on any 2015 World Cup finals.

Though the Gabba will host an Ashes Test in November, it becomes an international wasteland the following year with the possibility of no Test matches and three unattractive World Cup games, the most high profile being Australia's clash with minnows Bangladesh.

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It has reignited a highly charged conflict between the two sports.

Australian football is the major financial contributor to the redevelopment of the Gabba and the Lions' annual crowds far surpass those of cricket.

However senior cricket figures such as former captain Ricky Ponting have implored officials to maintain the individuality of Australian pitches such as the seaming, pace friendly nature of the Gabba.

Acting Queensland Cricket chief executive Richard Powell last night voiced his objection to drop-in wickets.

"The Gabba if you talk to any player it is the best wicket in Australia and one of our strongest advantages in having the wicket block as it is now," he said.

Johnson said the Lions' drop-in pitch agenda had always been driven by player welfare but claims the AFL lobby's case was strengthened by the diminishing financial returns cricket made for the venue.

"What is of paramount importance to us has always been the safety of our players," he said.

"If there is going to be less cricket played at the Gabba, is there an opportunity for us to sit down with the AFL, Queensland Cricket and Cricket Australia and revisit the position in relation to the wicket and what has always historically been a pretty intransigent position from cricket.

"There is now a fair weight of evidence throughout the world that drop-in wickets actually have advantages over standard wickets."

Johnson said Brisbane could not afford to continually concede headstarts to the NRL and Super Rugby competitions.

"We have a strong preference and we have made our thoughts known to the AFL that we would love the start of the season pushed forward to allow us to compete with the rugby codes," he said.

"There are discussions that I would have thought needed to be had between the AFL and Cricket Australia .

"We don't want to spend the first month travelling."

AFL spokesman Patrick Keane said the AFL Commission would rule on the starting time of the 2014 season next month.

"The primary thing for us is the fact with our season not starting sooner we lose a significant amount of media coverage against rival sports, and that's why the consideration is being made," he said.

Read more: http://www.foxsports.com.au/AFL/AFL-pre ... z2aZrKoNtd



Looks like the AFL will be booted from the Gabba also, 2 in one day has to be a record................... :_<> :_<> :_<> :_<> :_<>

[Stewie]

Lol how the nRL got booted from its own ground after already scheduling a game there!

When was the last time the AFL got booted from a ground just weeks away from the match after it had already scheduled a game there eels?

[cos789]

That's a little arrogant of the AFL ! Should they use their power and popularity this way in Sydney ? Would it not piss of fans of rl when they read this ? Just because they are bigger and stronger doesn't mean they should be bullies.

You think that rl fans in any way care.
Really, it's it's a win/win situation for both codes.

[NRLCrap1]

http://www.news.com.au/national-news/vi ... 6688356904 lol

Rabbit you idiot this happened with the approval of the AFL -

It happened with the approval of the State government of Victoria you idiot..............the AFL had no choice in the matter..... :_<> :_<> :_<> :_<>

MCG = Melbourne Cricket Ground.................................Cricket world cup, millions of dollars for state coffers...................You singlet wearers had no choice....... =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D>

Nice try, twerp. The AFL would have approved it with the humungous amount of notice, and they still have Etihad as an option. They might even use Visy Park! Plenty of choice! Unlike the NRL!

[Swans4ever]

http://www.news.com.au/national-news/vi ... 6688356904 lol

Rabbit you idiot this happened with the approval of the AFL -

It happened with the approval of the State government of Victoria you idiot..............the AFL had no choice in the matter..... :_<> :_<> :_<> :_<>

MCG = Melbourne Cricket Ground.................................Cricket world cup, millions of dollars for state coffers...................You singlet wearers had no choice....... =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D>

God your stupid - the AFL has contractual agreements with the MCC, MCG Trust and the state Gov - in order for cricket to bid for the right to host the final they would have to have a letter of agreement from the AFL that they would not stand on their contractual rights - thats why the AFL gave the green light - think a bit before you gob off - you look really silly now!