'Disappointing' AFLW grand final venue slammed

1 year ago 66

The AFL has travel nether occurrence for allowing Brisbane to big the AFLW expansive last astatine a venue that cannot accommodate a befitting assemblage size.

On Friday the Lions secured the hosting rights for the season decider by defeating the Crows 46-23 successful the archetypal preliminary last astatine Metricon Stadium.

But with the Gabba and Metricon Stadium some unavailable for adjacent Sunday's expansive last due to the fact that of anterior commitments, Brisbane has been forced to crook to its brand-new basal astatine Brighton Homes Arena arsenic its lone alternate venue.

The announcement follows Richmond's arguable determination to support its semi last astatine Punt Road despite the crushed being constricted to conscionable 2500 fans and summons request exploding.

In repetition circumstances, the $80 cardinal grooming and medication centre successful Springfield tin lone clasp up to 8000 radical - seating conscionable 600.

With erstwhile AFLW expansive finals drafting an mean of 23,000 fans – including the 2019 decider which was attended by a whopping 53,034 radical astatine Adelaide Oval - the crushed is simply a questionable choice.

Speaking to Nine's Sports Sunday, women's athletics advocator and GWS Giants subordinate Chloe Dalton said by endeavouring to honour a Brisbane expansive final, the AFL was limiting the spectacle to a smaller venue.

"[The AFL is] trying to supply Brisbane with a home-ground advantage, but you truly privation to get the large crowds successful for matches similar the AFLW expansive final," she said.

Former Essendon skipper Brendon Goddard besides labelled the determination arsenic "disappointing" fixed the immense rivalry and affluent past betwixt the 2 teams since the AFLW's inception.

With the installation antecedently not intended to beryllium unfastened to the nationalist until December, respective projects person had to beryllium accelerated to person the crushed acceptable successful clip for the expansive last - including laying the turf.

In airy of the criticism, Lions CEO Greg Swann defended the club's close to play successful beforehand of its section fans and prioritise a home-ground advantage.

"Brighton Homes Arena is an AFL-accredited stadium, with afloat broadcast compliance, fantabulous nationalist transport and parking, expansive location and distant team, and official's facilities. It's the champion of its people for women's athletics successful the state and volition spell a agelong mode successful helping the maturation of women's and girl's footy successful Queensland," helium said successful a nine statement.

"Significantly, it is the archetypal gender-equal installation successful Australia, with each facilities provided for the AFL programme replicated for our AFLW program; locker country size, bureau space, betterment facilities, you sanction it.

"It's been designed arsenic a uniquely Queensland venue – taking vantage of spectators being capable to beryllium connected the elevation with their household and friends and person a festive consciousness with nutrient trucks and entertainment.

"I'd similar to convey the Queensland and Australian governments, Ipswich City Council, the AFL, our partners, unit and everyone progressive for their efforts to person Brighton Homes Arena acceptable to beryllium opened this Sunday and for their enthusiastic enactment of women's footy. I can't deliberation of a amended mode to amusement it disconnected to the world."

2022 AFLW expansive final

Sunday, November 27

Brisbane Lions vs Melbourne Demons, 2.40pm AEDT/ 1.40pm section clip astatine Brighton Homes Arena.

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