Black backs Brissie for Brownlow bash
BRISBANE Lions legend Simon Black has called for this year’s Brownlow Medal ceremony to be held in Brisbane.
But he said Perth’s Optus Stadium was a better option than the Gabba to host the AFL grand final should the MCG be ruled out.
Queensland has become the 2020 home of the AFL due to the crisis in Victoria and there is a push for both the Brownlow Medal and grand final to be staged in Brisbane.
Lions midfielder Lachie Neale is the current favourite to win the Brownlow and Black is all for the award ceremony to be held in Brisbane.
Only once has the ceremony been staged outside of Melbourne, with Sydney hosting it in 1999.
“After 20 years it would nice to see it outside of Melbourne,” said Black (pictured). “With Queensland doing a lot for the game, it would be a natural fit in Brisbane.”
The money-spinning grand final is a different kettle of fish.
“It would be fantastic at the Gabba, but when you’re talking about a 40,000-seat stadium compared to 60,000 in Perth in a stadium regarded as the best in the world it’s hard to go past that one,” he said.
“The game brings in a lot of money being based in bigger stadiums … but either Perth or Brisbane would be great.”
Black was a cornerstone of the Lions’ 2001-2003 premiership hat-trick. Since then, it has been lean pickings for Brisbane but the Lions are now second on the ladder and favourites to win the flag.
Brisbane forward Lincoln McCarthy vowed his side would not be distracted.
“Things are looking pretty good for us at the moment … but we know how quickly things change,” he said.