TonyK
CibbuanoAFL defends GF rematch scheduling
October 30th 2009 03:27
THE AFL has defended the scheduling of just one grand final rematch between Geelong and St Kilda in 2010.
The grand finalists of 2006, '07 and '08 have clashed in the opening round of the following year but next season the Cats and Saints won't face each other until round 13.
AFL chief operating officer Gillon McLachlan said the league elected not to open the season with the blockbuster because this year's round one clash between 2008 grand finalists Hawthorn and Geelong didn't receive the attention it warranted.
"There was discussion about playing that in the opening round like Hawthorn and Geelong did last year," McLachlan said.
"(But) ultimately the Hawthorn and Geelong game got lost in the build-up ... to the start of the season ... it didn't rate and didn't attend any greater than we think those two teams should've done ordinarily."
McLachlan also said the decision to stage the match in the second week of the split round was aimed at building anticipation for the encounter.
"By playing it in round 13, a stand-alone game, we hope that will draw a lot of anticipation in these two standout teams, there will be a focus towards that game," he said.
"We believe when you've got two teams that are exceptional as those two teams St Kilda and Geelong were last year, by putting it in Round 13, hopefully, and there's some risk in this, they're travelling well."
"But we actually will get four or five (or) six weeks build-up potentially to that game and we really can showcase our game obviously to all our existing supporters in the southern markets but in the north as well (and) it's about creating an event around that game."
The grand finalists of 2006, '07 and '08 have clashed in the opening round of the following year but next season the Cats and Saints won't face each other until round 13.
AFL chief operating officer Gillon McLachlan said the league elected not to open the season with the blockbuster because this year's round one clash between 2008 grand finalists Hawthorn and Geelong didn't receive the attention it warranted.
"There was discussion about playing that in the opening round like Hawthorn and Geelong did last year," McLachlan said.
"(But) ultimately the Hawthorn and Geelong game got lost in the build-up ... to the start of the season ... it didn't rate and didn't attend any greater than we think those two teams should've done ordinarily."
McLachlan also said the decision to stage the match in the second week of the split round was aimed at building anticipation for the encounter.
"By playing it in round 13, a stand-alone game, we hope that will draw a lot of anticipation in these two standout teams, there will be a focus towards that game," he said.
"We believe when you've got two teams that are exceptional as those two teams St Kilda and Geelong were last year, by putting it in Round 13, hopefully, and there's some risk in this, they're travelling well."
"But we actually will get four or five (or) six weeks build-up potentially to that game and we really can showcase our game obviously to all our existing supporters in the southern markets but in the north as well (and) it's about creating an event around that game."
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