Fremantle doesn’t want to play Geelong in week one of the AFL finals at Simonds stadium.
The AFL has advised Fremantle that the MCG, Etihad Stadium or Simonds Stadium in Geelong are being considered as possible host venues.
In a strongly worded statement, the club voiced its disapproval of the possibility of playing Geelong at its home ground stronghold should the Dockers finish in third spot behind the second-placed Cats.
The possibility of Simonds being used for finals arises with the strong probability of four Victorian teams all winning the right to home games.
It was expected that Geelong’s week one final would be at either the MCG or Etihad, but the financial arrangements at Etihad are not as favourable as elsewhere.
Fremantle president Steve Harris said a decision to play the game at a venue other than the MCG or Etihad Stadium would prevent thousands of football fans from Perth and in Melbourne from seeing the match live.
“The club is strongly of the view that the location, capacity and facilities available at either the MCG or Etihad Stadium are superior to those available at Simonds Stadium in Geelong, and either venue is more deserving of staging what would be an eagerly anticipated finals game involving two top four teams,” Harris said.
“It is inconceivable that a venue such as Simonds Stadium with a capacity of 33,500 and which has not seen a crowd greater than 30,082 this season, and with an average of only 26,740 in 2013, would be considered for a game that is likely to attract 40,000 to 50,000 people, including several thousand people from Perth who would travel to Melbourne to see the game.
“As the world class 53,000 seat capacity Etihad Stadium would be available to host the game and has superior facilities for members, fans, corporates, players and coaches, it means that in the order of 19,000 football fans could be denied the opportunity to see the game live.”
In 2012, Fremantle played Geelong in week one of the finals before crowd of 44,460 people and in 2010 the same two teams clashed at the MCG in week two of the finals before a crowd of 42,719.
