AFL Finals: Sydney's Qualifying Final to be Held at SCG
Venue Decision
AFL CEO Andrew Dillon has confirmed that the highly anticipated qualifying final between Sydney and Greater Western Sydney will take place at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), despite the larger capacity of Accor Stadium (Stadium Australia). Dillon stated that the decision was not contemplated due to Sydney's consistent use of the SCG as their home ground.
Scheduling Rationale
While other teams such as Geelong and Western Bulldogs have had to relocate their finals to accommodate larger crowds, Dillon explained that a combination of factors including crowd attendance, viewership, and venue availability led to the decision to schedule the Sydney match at the SCG on Saturday afternoon. This timeslot historically draws the highest attendance in Sydney.
Wildcard Round Consideration
Dillon also indicated that the league is considering the implementation of a wildcard round, recognizing the feedback received regarding the pre-finals bye.
AFLW Fixture Adjustments
Regarding potential fixture clashes between AFL and AFLW matches during the finals series, Dillon emphasized that the league has a fixed schedule in place and will only consider adjustments after careful consideration. However, in the case of the Western Bulldogs' AFLW match, the decision was made to move it to the MCG to accommodate the men's elimination final against Hawthorn.
Lifetime Ban for Unruly Behavior
Dillon acknowledged an incident involving a fan throwing a water bottle at an umpire in Carlton's loss to St Kilda and reiterated that such behavior will not be tolerated, resulting in lifetime bans for offenders.
Grand Final Awards
For the first time, the winning Grand Final captain will receive the Ron Barassi Medal, named after the legendary player and coach who won 10 VFL/AFL premierships. The medal will be presented by 1963 Geelong premiership captain Fred Wooller, the oldest living premiership captain.
Additionally, former Geelong player Steve Johnson will present the Norm Smith Medal to the player adjudged best on ground in the Grand Final, while retired West Coast champion Josh Kennedy will serve as the premiership cup ambassador.