Team locked out of home in 'baffling' controversy

2 years ago 87

As statement continues astir Richmond's determination to support its AFLW semi last astatine Punt Road, determination is interest that Brisbane volition beryllium locked retired of its ain authorities connected expansive last time - adjacent if it wins the hosting rights.

Brisbane booked a location preliminary last adjacent week by defeating Richmond 39-22 successful the archetypal qualifying last connected Saturday.

However, should the Lions triumph done to the expansive last and gain the hosting rights for the decider, the expansive last cannot beryllium played astatine Metricon Stadium due to the fact that of a clash with the Festival X Gold Coast event.

Endeavouring to honour a Brisbane expansive last should the Lions win, the AFL reached retired to The Gabba, but its petition to usage the venue was reportedly knocked backmost aft cricket bosses pushed against it.

Under the stadium's existent agreement, the Gabba's aboveground is being prepared for upcoming Sheffield Shield matches and the archetypal Test against South Africa starting connected December 17.

The lone different state-based alternate is the tract astatine Bond University. The Suns hosted a crippled determination past season, but the venue tin lone clasp 3000 spectators - seating conscionable 2000 of them.

The league has already copped aggravated disapproval for allowing Richmond to support Punt Road arsenic their semi-final venue contempt the crushed being constricted to conscionable 2500 fans and summons request exploding connected Monday.

Victoria Park (10,000 capacity), Ikon Park (22,00) and Marvel Stadium (53,000) were each confirmed arsenic disposable connected Saturday but Richmond's penchant for a home-ground vantage prevailed implicit moving the lucifer to a bigger venue.

"Sometimes you conscionable shingle your head," AFL fable Gerard Healy said connected SEN.

"The AFLW contention doesn't make excessively galore controversies. But fixed the longstanding conflict the AFL person had with Geelong implicit the scheduling of finals implicit the years distant from the Cattery to the MCG due to the fact that of bigger assemblage numbers, the Punt Road determination was ever going to beryllium 1 – a controversy.

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"(Richmond CEO) Brendon Gale said past nighttime that helium was entitled to combat hard for his nine and springiness them the champion home-ground vantage to alteration them the champion accidental to win.

"What happened to the logic applied to Geelong astir maximising crowds? There is none. How does it use to Geelong for a decennary and a half, and each of a abrupt doesn't use to the Tigers?

"It's baffling, bewildering and I conjecture disappointing for those who would similar to spell and present can't get in.

"It's conscionable bizarre nary mentation has been produced (by the AFL) to explicate the evident backflip connected a hardline policy.

"There's been nary mentation fixed and nary 1 disposable to springiness an explanation."

Last weekend, much than 4300 fans turned retired for the archetypal elimination last astatine GMHBA Stadium, portion much than 4800 attended the 2nd elimination last astatine Victoria Park.

Compounding the situation, the Matildas are hosting a affable against Sweden astatine the aforesaid clip astatine adjacent AAMI Park. With fans excluded from the AFLW, tens of thousands of footy followers are expected to marque the switch.

Week 2 finals match-ups

Saturday, November 12

First semi final: Richmond Tigers vs North Melbourne Kangaroos, 1:40pm AEDT astatine Swinburne Centre Punt Road

Second semi final: Adelaide Crows vs Collingwood Magpies, 3:40pm AEDT astatine Unley Oval

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