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THE Western Bulldogs and AFL say it is still premature to discuss the possibility of Etihad Stadium hosting an elimination final.


The MCG has given its blessing for the Dogs to host a cut-throat final on their indoor fortress, but unless they are scheduled to host Adelaide it would take a change in AFL tradition.


Since Etihad Stadium opened in 2000 only one final between two Victorian teams has been played there — when Geelong hosted Hawthorn in that season.


Since then Hawthorn (twice), Essendon, North Melbourne and most recently St Kilda in 2011 have hosted elimination finals against interstate clubs at the venue.


Should the Bulldogs host Richmond in the first week of the finals the AFL would likely schedule that match at the MCG to maximise attendance.


The Tigers and Bulldogs drew 49,945 to the MCG in Round 2 — the biggest crowd the Bulldogs had played in front of since early 2011.


The Dogs and North Melbourne drew 28,512 and 27,164 to their Etihad Stadium contests last year.


They meet for the first time this season on Saturday.


The Dogs are 10-2 at Etihad Stadium this year with their seven 100-plus scores all coming on their home deck — for seven wins.


MCC chief executive Stephen Gough said this month the MCG was well ahead in its requirement to play 10 finals over five years in the first two weeks of the finals.


“If Richmond finished fifth they would play at the MCG in week one and if the Western Bulldogs finished sixth they would play at Etihad,” he said.


“That is their home ground and they would have the right to have a view on where they would play.”


Etihad Stadium confirmed the venue was available and communications manager Bill Lane said while the AFL determined the September fixture, they would be “delighted” to host a final.


“We’d be especially delighted if a match involved one or two of our partner clubs,” Lane said.


Dogs president Peter Gordon said he wouldn’t contact the league until his side was a September certainty.


“When we get to a position where we are a mathematical certainty to make the finals then I may turn my attention to it,” Gordon said.


“As I do the maths we are not mathematical certainties, so like everyone else ... we are completely focused on this weekend.”


An AFL spokesman said: “The AFL will assess it once our finalists are known, as we haven’t yet had a detailed discussion about venues with the ladder still so open to movement.”