Kochie fumes over grand final injusticeNews.com.au
2 Oct 2019David Koch has hit out at the AFL over claims Richmond received unfair help at the MCG during the club’s 89-point grand final thumping of the Giants.
Port Adelaide chairman Koch, who attended the AFL grand final with rival Crows chairman Rob Chapman, said he heard the MCG scoreboard and sound system play the tiger roar, which has been used to celebrate Richmond goals during home matches at the home of football this season.
Koch is the latest high-profile voice to question the AFL’s ongoing commitment to host the biggest game of the year at the MCG, following suggestions Richmond enjoyed an unfair advantage.
The MCG resembled a Richmond home game as the vast majority of 100,014 spectators cheered on the Tigers. Boos echoed around the stadium on Saturday when the Giants first walked out onto the field.
Koch told FIVEaa Radio on Tuesday morning he is concerned by the advantages given to Melbourne-based clubs after busting the MCG scoreboard breaking neutrality in the grand final.
“I did think whenever Richmond scored a goal, I’d hear the roar of the tiger on the scoreboard,” Koch said.
“I’m not sure you’re supposed to do that when it’s a final. It’s not a Richmond home game.
He said he has spoken to AFL commission chairman Richard Goyder about his concerns.
Koch also reminded AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan of his responsibility to promote the national game — rather than advance the cause of the game’s heartland in Melbourne suburbia.
“Gil, as I keep reminding him, comes from South Australian roots and he’s just got to keep that in mind,” Koch said.
“It’s little things like that.
“Rob (Chapman) and I and the other non-Victorian presidents just have to keep beating the drum that there is no ‘V’ in ‘AFL’ — it’s an ‘A’ now. We’ve got to be vigilant because the Victorians can get really cocky about this stuff, that’s it’s the home of football. It is not the home of football, it is a national sport that is right the way around the country.”
High profile Swans supporter and media personality Adam Spencer also spotted the moment at the MCG where Richmond’s roar was played through stadium loudspeakers.
Spencer labelled the audio support to Richmond: “Totally inappropriate”.
The AFL has already committed to play the grand final at the MCG through to the end of the 2057 season after signing a $500 million package deal with the Victorian Government.
However, there have been ongoing calls from interstate clubs for the decision to be re-evaluated.
Former Crows coach Don Pyke even told the AFL Coaches Association in 2018 to campaign for a best-of-three grand final series in the wake of his club’s grand final loss to Richmond in 2017.
https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/port-adelaide-chairman-david-koch-hits-out-at-richmond-grand-final-advantage/news-story/5969a84cdd6fe91e6af0db81179c3507