Hawks, Tigers sweat on Etihad final (Herald-Sun)

[one-eyed]

Hawks, Tigers sweat on Etihad final

    Matt Windley
    Herald Sun
    August 06, 2013 9:47AM


HAWTHORN or Richmond may be shafted to Etihad Stadium in week one of the finals series.

The AFL is facing the distinct possibility of having four finals in Victoria in week one of September, meaning one game _ on the Saturday _ would have to be played at Docklands.

It is a scenario that is guaranteed to unfold if Hawthorn and Geelong finish first and second on the ladder as two of Essendon, Collingwood and Richmond are set to occupy fifth and sixth spots come Round 23.

Sydney is currently second, but under a Herald Sun predicted final eight it slips to third by season's end.

Hawthorn is slated to play Fremantle in week one of the finals, while Geelong will play Sydney in the other qualifying final.

Essendon and Collingwood are paired for what would be a blockbuster elimination final, while Richmond would host Port Adelaide in the other.

Any game involving Collingwood and another Victorian side will be played at the MCG and likely on Sunday, September 9 given the Magpies play North Melbourne on the Sunday of Round 23.

While any game involving Sydney and a power Victorian club is also likely to be played at the MCG given the Swans propensity to draw higher crowds in Melbourne than Fremantle or Port Adelaide.

Hawthorn was angered last year when, as the minor premier, it was forced to play its preliminary final a day later than Sydney because ANZ Stadium was unavailable on the Saturday.

The Hawks would rightly feel aggrieved if it were to again finish on top only to be made to play its first final away from the MCG.

But it would also be rough justice for long suffering Richmond fans if their team was not able to host a final at its spiritual home.

Any Tigers game at Docklands could also see fans locked out as demand for tickets for the club's first final since 2001 would be extremely high.

The AFL determines the game best suited to Etihad Stadium based on the finishing position of the finalists and the capacity of each game to draw high crowds.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/afl/hawks-tigers-sweat-on-etihad-final/story-fnia3gpf-1226691919944

[Judge Roughneck]

grubby grubby grubby

[pmac21]

This would be the single greatest injustice the league could ever hit us with!!!

Just cannot happen....

[Stripes]

If the finals becomes Hawks v Dons, Syd v Freo, Rich v Port and Pies v Ess then we may be in strife. The AFL would want the Collingwood/Essendon game definitely played at the 'G and I would suggest that the Hawks/Geelong game would draw a bigger crowd than our game too. If this scenario comes to fruition, we may be forced to Etihad.

Saying that, I would prefer to play Port at Etihad than Collingwood or Essendon at the 'G. There supporters will be in full voice early, where we will be very tentative (both supporter group and team) for our first final imo. 

[tony_montana]

If the finals becomes Hawks v Dons, Syd v Freo, Rich v Port and Pies v Ess then we may be in strife. The AFL would want the Collingwood/Essendon game definitely played at the 'G and I would suggest that the Hawks/Geelong game would draw a bigger crowd than our game too. If this scenario comes to fruition, we may be forced to Etihad.

Saying that, I would prefer to play Port at Etihad than Collingwood or Essendon at the 'G. There supporters will be in full voice early, where we will be very tentative (both supporter group and team) for our first final imo.

we'll be many things, tentative will not be one. I was there in 95 in our first final back   against nought and the crowd was deafening. Its party time stripes and we'll let every other club know about it

[peggles]

so the best thing is if we finish 6th/7th? i suppose then we would be playing collingwood or essendon, meaning definitely at the G?

[Dice]

Saying that, I would prefer to play Port at Etihad than Collingwood or Essendon at the 'G. There supporters will be in full voice early, where we will be very tentative (both supporter group and team) for our first final imo.

We will smash Essendon week one at the G if we play them. That'll be on the back of smashing them in Rd 23. How good will that be ! Getting to pump those cheating dogs two weeks in a row.
 Gonna be nasty trying fit all us tigers into Etihad if we have to play there. Port won't know what's hit em. It'll be a cauldron.
 Oh and as for the flog who wrote that article...for the last time mother ****er , I am not a 'long suffering' supporter. I frickin love following the tiges and haven't suffered in any way ever. Lazy cut and paste rubbish reporting.

[Francois Jackson]

Saying that, I would prefer to play Port at Etihad than Collingwood or Essendon at the 'G. There supporters will be in full voice early, where we will be very tentative (both supporter group and team) for our first final imo.

We will smash Essendon week one at the G if we play them. That'll be on the back of smashing them in Rd 23. How good will that be ! Getting to pump those cheating dogs two weeks in a row.
 Gonna be nasty trying fit all us tigers into Etihad if we have to play there. Port won't know what's hit em. It'll be a cauldron.
 Oh and as for the flog who wrote that article...for the last time mother ****er , I am not a 'long suffering' supporter. I frickin love following the tiges and haven't suffered in any way ever. Lazy cut and paste rubbish reporting.

hahaha   

[gerkin greg]

watch out for Dice in September 

[Dice]

watch out for Dice in September 

Ha ! I might not get out alive Gerks ? If the opposition supporters don't get me , the over indulgence in all substances , legal and otherwise , will 

[Andyy]

Why don't they just play two games at the G on Saturday, and one on Friday night?

I remember the days of having 'home games' against St Kilda at Etihad. Cost us four points pretty much every year...

[WilliamPowell]

If the finals becomes Hawks v Dons, Syd v Freo, Rich v Port and Pies v Ess then we may be in strife. The AFL would want the Collingwood/Essendon game definitely played at the 'G and I would suggest that the Hawks/Geelong game would draw a bigger crowd than our game too. If this scenario comes to fruition, we may be forced to Etihad.

Saying that, I would prefer to play Port at Etihad than Collingwood or Essendon at the 'G. There supporters will be in full voice early, where we will be very tentative (both supporter group and team) for our first final imo.

Stripes you had the Dons playing twice, thought you'd forgotten Geelong 

This entire article is based on the HUN's prediction of where peolpe will finish

What hapeens if the Bombes lose their points, that throws them out and brings in Carlton

Article is based on "what ifs", still 4 rounds to go

Tigers need to finish 5th, (unliklely) 6th or 7th (most likely) to ensure they stay in Melb at the MCG

Why don't they just play two games at the G on Saturday, and one on Friday night?

Logistical nightmare, pratically impossible actually

Arvo game even if it starts at 1.45pm instead of 2.30pm (finals always start later) would need everyone out of the ground and the carpark cleared by say 5.30 (impossible with a gaming finishing at 4.30pm) to enable the next lot of folks in by the start of the evening game at 7.40pm

As I said logistical nightmare

[Andyy]

True. Should just try for a top 4 finish then I guess.

[Dice]

Tigers need to finish 5th, (unliklely)

Why do you say that WP ? I think Essendon will lose three of their next four and Collingwood will get beaten by Sydney this week and Hawthorn next week. If we win our next two games we'll be going into the game against GWS two games clear of them and percentage. I think we most certainly can finish 5th.

[WilliamPowell]

Tigers need to finish 5th, (unliklely)

Why do you say that WP ? I think Essendon will lose three of their next four and Collingwood will get beaten by Sydney this week and Hawthorn next week. If we win our next two games we'll be going into the game against GWS two games clear of them and percentage. I think we most certainly can finish 5th.

All "what ifs" Dice, coupled with relying on other reuslts to fall our way.

Pies have a good record against Sydney out at Homebush, so they are chance. Agree think they will get beaten by Hawthorn

As for Essendon, who knows which Bumbling Bombers will turn up

You are also assuming we are going to win the next 3

As I said alot of "what ifs"

All we can do is keeping winning and see where it takes us