The last seven teams to win the flag had a genuine home ground advantage?

Question

Obviusly a home final is a huge advantage but the grand final is at the MCG.

Is the momentum gained during the home and away season and the fact that these teams will always be harder to beat on there home ground the X factor in winning the flag, or is it just a coincidence and will the teams without a genuine home ground advantage will have there day in the sun soon?

Answer 1

No, the answer is there in the lack of Vic teams winning the flag recently. There is an advantage having finals at home but those teams are the best for that year so home ground or not they should be winning those finals.

Having the GF in your home town is a HUUGGGGEEEE

advantage but hasn't seemed to help vic teams -Geelong could have won this year in Siberia so MCG made no difference.

I think whatever system you use to make the finals draw it should always favour the top few teams.

Answer 2

Well, I guess the Cats have a genuine home ground advantage (being 'the trip down the Highway) but much less than AAMI or Subiaco.

Given the concept of Australain FL - not VFL - then that's gonna be part of it.  But I do remember the days when North travelling to the Junction Oval was considered a big deal.

Anyway - the fact is though that, perhaps with the exception of West Coast a few years back (who really struggled most of the year in Melbourne), the champion teams have all built momentum by winning plenty of games in the away states.  

Cats walloped Port, Sydney, Brisbane, West Coast, Adelaide at their respective home grounds (and then lost to Port at home :-S).  I think the other champions did much the same.

So short answer .... No.  I think champions will cope with "Home and Away")

Answer 3

Well, we did it in 97 and 98.

If you're good enough to get the flag, you'll get it.

I think too much emphasis is put on travel these days.

We all travel, our boys are professional athletes, they should be able to handle a few plane trips.

Look at other sports, tennis, golf, etc. They play all over the world and seem to do ok.

I'm not bitchin about having to play away, I just hope we do ok this year, which I seriously doubt :((((

Answer 4

As part of joining the AFL teams outside Victoria have to expect to travel a lot & play away from home. Having said that, some Victorian teams, due to media hype & whatnot, do receive favourable treatment over other Victorian teams in relation to travel & game schedules.

It will be interesting to see what transpires when the current contract at the MCG runs out. I know many states want less matches played at that ground. Instances have occurred whereby teams higher on the ladder (in finals) have had to travel to the MCG to play a team who finished below them - thus losing their rightful home ground advantage.