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The Western Bulldogs would appear likely to be able to play a final at Etihad Stadium if they maintain their form and hold on to fifth or sixth place and earn the right to host a final.
The first week of finals in Melbourne would likely see at least one game at the MCG and possibly one at Etihad Stadium.
If, as seems likely, the two West Australian teams finish as the top two they would both host finals in Perth. With the bottom four teams in the eight all Victorian it would, on current form, appear like there would be two finals in Victoria in week one.
The AFL is required to play one final at Etihad in either week one or two of the finals, or else bank that game for another year. But given the Bulldogs, presently fifth, could earn the right to host a final then the logical move would be for the Dogs to play at Etihad.
Doubtless the Bulldogs would prefer to play at Etihad if it were their choice as it is their home ground, they play it well and they have seldom been at the MCG.
While the Dogs beat Richmond at the MCG in round two when Marcus Bontempelli starred, they also lost comfortably to Melbourne there in round eight.
The logic of the game being at Docklands is stronger when North Melbourne and Geelong (both presently in seventh and eighth positions) could be their opponents, or failing that, the most likely alternative would be an interstate team.
In the unlikely event that the bigger drawing Collingwood fell into eighth place to play the Dogs in fifth and Richmond finished sixth and was able to host a final then the AFL might be inclined to play two MCG finals.
The AFL is free to put games where it pleases in the first week as the deal with the MCG requires ten finals to be played at the ground over a five-year period and the AFL is significantly in credit on that arrangement.
The Western Bulldogs would appear likely to be able to play a final at Etihad Stadium if they maintain their form and hold on to fifth or sixth place and earn the right to host a final.
The first week of finals in Melbourne would likely see at least one game at the MCG and possibly one at Etihad Stadium.
If, as seems likely, the two West Australian teams finish as the top two they would both host finals in Perth. With the bottom four teams in the eight all Victorian it would, on current form, appear like there would be two finals in Victoria in week one.
The AFL is required to play one final at Etihad in either week one or two of the finals, or else bank that game for another year. But given the Bulldogs, presently fifth, could earn the right to host a final then the logical move would be for the Dogs to play at Etihad.
Doubtless the Bulldogs would prefer to play at Etihad if it were their choice as it is their home ground, they play it well and they have seldom been at the MCG.
While the Dogs beat Richmond at the MCG in round two when Marcus Bontempelli starred, they also lost comfortably to Melbourne there in round eight.
The logic of the game being at Docklands is stronger when North Melbourne and Geelong (both presently in seventh and eighth positions) could be their opponents, or failing that, the most likely alternative would be an interstate team.
In the unlikely event that the bigger drawing Collingwood fell into eighth place to play the Dogs in fifth and Richmond finished sixth and was able to host a final then the AFL might be inclined to play two MCG finals.
The AFL is free to put games where it pleases in the first week as the deal with the MCG requires ten finals to be played at the ground over a five-year period and the AFL is significantly in credit on that arrangement.
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