TOPIC:

Johnny Leonard wrote: I'm happy to own up to being a fool, but not to being a south Freo supporter.

My 'last' word on the subject: it was a great day and for a long time it looked like we weren't even going to have a wafl season. I really enjoyed the season.

Hear hear...

ArkRoyal wrote: they were very lucky it was a dry day -- would have got no more than three or four thousand. Nineteen thousand is the record for the ground, from what I nave read.

23,0000 1979 GF - but it has changed a lot since then.

dont forget it was pre sold out so the crowd was there regardless of whether.

Turned out a glorious day weather wise.

Not sure how old you are , but every GF in the WAFLs big days of 70s and 80s about 90% of crowd stood in the open on concrete terrace and open grass hill.

mikeh wrote: Yeah nah... Fremantle Oval was OK as a stop gap this COVID year but not as a long term solution. I've heard a number of WAFL players say that they love playing the grand final at the best football ground in WA because it is a special event and such a rare occurrence for the average player. Surely the geniuses at the WAFC can work out some sort of financial model to make OPTUS feasible even if it means charging a bit more and closing off the upper tiers of the ground. Then market the game properly and you will get 20000 plus all packed together and plenty of atmosphere.

Quite right with the best ground for the best teams. Perhaps there could be an election in a couple of years & General Mac & his government may pay for next years GF as goodwill for those good people during this COVID pandemic & make it FREE. Could win a lot of votes.. Is he that smart?

Southerner wrote: unfortunately it appears the WAFL Grand Final will once again be held at another suburban ground next year due to current conditions by all information
at least there will be 12 months for whatever ground this time to get prepped
but no state stadium

Yep agree mate, like it or not it wont be at Optus for at least another year due to finances, as you say and the general vibe was so good after the game it was considered a sucess , Freo was a last minute stop gap and they did well to get it set up in short time, full credit to ground keeper staff the surface was a treat.

Given a full year lead up time to better prepare a ground - ditching stupid covid restrictions and you could get 15K at Leederville or Fremantle.

I actually had a brief chat with Wayne Martin after the game and he thought the atmosphere was terrific.

Interesting interviewing the players after the game Brook Higgins and a few others said they enjoyed the atmosphere far better although Curley said he would like Optus.

yeh, have it at Fremantle again, is this another WAFC joke ?
a concrete jungle, how appealing for fans..

Beasley Hutton wrote:

Southerner wrote: unfortunately it appears the WAFL Grand Final will once again be held at another suburban ground next year due to current conditions by all information
at least there will be 12 months for whatever ground this time to get prepped
but no state stadium

Southy if the weak as urine WAFC wanted too they could just tap the WCE (as their owner) on the shoulder for that 100k to play at Perth Stadium and then there is no issue.
The fact they wont and refuse to touch the $50+ million sitting in the WCE bank account is absolutely disgusting especially when you read their original prospectus from 1986 that Ron Alexander brought up in the recent parliamentary enquiry!

And just another point for the muppets at WAFC HQ to digest 10,179 attended the GF when there was 11,000 available too.
-10,179 is the smallest WAFL GF attendance since 1930 (outside the WWII underage comp years).
That by any measure is not a success it is actually a massive failure!

Attendance numbers are basically tanked all over the world at every sporting level , in case you haven't noticed , the FA Cup was played with 0 people, the AFL decided to play the GF at a crap venue and its GF will be 25,000 lowest in 100 years , its been a weird year and given that only 7 or 8k more turned up at Optus last year in a 60k stadium with no Covid, we are not exactly talking huge numbers.

If were you I'd be more interested in getting SD competitive enough to play in a GF than dreaming arguing about venues that you are miles off playing in.

MarkOlsen wrote: yeh, have it at Fremantle again, is this another WAFC joke ?
a concrete jungle, how appealing for fans..

Not appealing ? Tickets sold out in 2 days, could of sold another 5000 plus easy.

just cos people went along doesnt make it appealing, it wasnt like they were presented with an option..ask the players, parents and supporters from Subi, EP and Claremont if they would have preferred Freo or Optus.
hopefully if this joke continues the grand final is played at the ground of the winner of the 2nd semi.

MarkOlsen wrote: yeh, have it at Fremantle again, is this another WAFC joke ?
a concrete jungle, how appealing for fans..

As I posted earlier MO the SANFL boys must just piss themselves laughing at what a joke the WAFL has become under the current crew!
Playing our GF at a suburban ground (and not just Fremantle either all WAFL grounds are not GF standard) with 1 grandstand that is in another postcode from the playing field and the rest of the ground is just uncomfortable concrete slabs and all whilst they play at the world class Adelaide Oval.
FMD what an embarrassment!

MarkOlsen wrote: just cos people went along doesnt make it appealing, it wasnt like they were presented with an option..ask the players, parents and supporters from Subi, EP and Claremont if they would have preferred Freo or Optus.
hopefully if this joke continues the grand final is played at the ground of the winner of the 2nd semi.

The large EP crew voted with their feet....straight out of the gate after the Ressies finished and who could blame them!