Home means home

WHEN the AFL became a national competition, fans were asked to adapt to the changes that came with it.

Bit by bit long-held traditions were replaced as part of the necessary growth and evolution from the suburban VFL to a truly national powerhouse competition. First came finals held at night, then came finals interstate and in 2013 Geelong fans were delighted when the Cats were granted a qualifying final at their home fortress Simonds Stadium.

Until then, a true home final was something Cats fans could only have dreamt of. For more than 100 years most finals were held at Melbourne’s showpiece MCG, but as the competition expanded and finals were increasingly being doled out to Waverley, Docklands and interstate, there came a compelling argument to justify a final in Geelong against the modestly-supported Fremantle.

The league’s long-held argument about fixturing finals in stadiums that could hold the biggest crowds was set aside last year when project club Greater Western Sydney was granted a home preliminary final at their 24,000-seat home ground Spotless Stadium. The decision was made by the AFL before the Giants’ opponents had been determined, with either Hawthorn (with 75,000 members) or the Western Bulldogs (40,000 members) the two teams most likely. In the end it was the Bulldogs fans who were forced to squeeze into Spotless even though the bigger capacity ANZ Stadium was available across the road.

After such a precedent was set last year, there shouldn’t be any doubt surrounding Geelong getting to play finals at its Simonds Stadium home.

The Cats have finished one of history’s most hotly contested home and away seasons in second place on the ladder and deserve to reap the benefits that they have earned. Where is the reward for finishing second if it means playing the third-placed team on their home soil?

The AFL set the precedent last year for GWS. This year’s Cats are no different. Home means home — and Geelong’s home is not Melbourne.