1 00:00:01,080 --> 00:00:03,240 Speaker 1: Here at Two Good Sports. We would like to acknowledge 2 00:00:03,240 --> 00:00:05,520 Speaker 1: the traditional owners of the land on which we record 3 00:00:05,519 --> 00:00:08,880 Speaker 1: this podcast. There were innerie people. This land was never seated, 4 00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:17,560 Speaker 1: always was always will be Hello and welcome to two 5 00:00:17,640 --> 00:00:20,479 Speaker 1: Good Sports. In a week in the sporting landscape, that 6 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:23,239 Speaker 1: kind of feels like those days between Christmas and New Year. 7 00:00:23,280 --> 00:00:25,200 Speaker 1: You don't know what day it is. It's been a 8 00:00:25,239 --> 00:00:27,600 Speaker 1: wonderful time. There's leftover food in the fridge because we 9 00:00:27,640 --> 00:00:30,159 Speaker 1: have had the AFL Grand Final and there is a 10 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:32,960 Speaker 1: gap to the NRL Grand Final, but it is just 11 00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:36,200 Speaker 1: a sporting smagert sport and joining us on the show 12 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:39,840 Speaker 1: this week Laura Spallway again, Laura are you going. I'm good, jeez, 13 00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:42,040 Speaker 1: I'm a bit tired from the weekend. A bit tired too. 14 00:00:43,159 --> 00:00:45,239 Speaker 1: It fits a marathon, isn't it. It is. It's a 15 00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:48,000 Speaker 1: long season. It comes to this point. It culminates in 16 00:00:48,040 --> 00:00:51,640 Speaker 1: this Grand Final, which should have been a bit tighter. 17 00:00:52,040 --> 00:00:55,040 Speaker 1: I feel, however, here we are, We've made it through 18 00:00:55,040 --> 00:00:56,959 Speaker 1: another year. I feel like the swansa be a bit 19 00:00:57,000 --> 00:01:00,560 Speaker 1: tired too. It was pretty anticlimactic, I think to last 20 00:01:00,640 --> 00:01:03,200 Speaker 1: year with the NRL Grand Final. If you were to 21 00:01:03,240 --> 00:01:05,560 Speaker 1: show someone a game and go this is our sport. 22 00:01:06,120 --> 00:01:08,360 Speaker 1: This is why it's drama and you love it. They 23 00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:11,000 Speaker 1: had the perfect showcase and so do we a four 24 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:13,399 Speaker 1: point result in the AFL. But then it comes to 25 00:01:13,440 --> 00:01:15,840 Speaker 1: this year and you're sort of like, do we need 26 00:01:15,880 --> 00:01:18,559 Speaker 1: a mercy rule? That need to get to three quarter 27 00:01:18,640 --> 00:01:21,199 Speaker 1: time where you can go And unfortunately for the Swans 28 00:01:21,240 --> 00:01:23,640 Speaker 1: that's twice in three years that they've probably got three 29 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:25,440 Speaker 1: quarter time and said if we could press a button 30 00:01:25,440 --> 00:01:28,440 Speaker 1: and go home, we probably would. It would have been 31 00:01:28,680 --> 00:01:31,920 Speaker 1: so painful playing that game out with the result that 32 00:01:32,000 --> 00:01:36,520 Speaker 1: we had. However, credit to the Brisbane lines, there's a 33 00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:41,480 Speaker 1: very credit to the boy very happy Georgie Tunny somewhere somewhere. 34 00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:45,480 Speaker 1: So she has messaged me somewhere from the Italian Mediterranean, 35 00:01:45,560 --> 00:01:48,400 Speaker 1: essentially saying could there be a more Georgie coded week 36 00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:50,920 Speaker 1: that I'm not here for? Brisbane have won it is 37 00:01:50,960 --> 00:01:53,760 Speaker 1: the NRL Grand Final. I could he rubbish on the 38 00:01:53,760 --> 00:01:57,120 Speaker 1: Panthers and I unfortunately am in Lake Como and I'm like, 39 00:01:57,160 --> 00:01:59,840 Speaker 1: you're really sorry for you, So hello, George. Sounds like 40 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:03,240 Speaker 1: having a terrible, terrible time, but we need to get 41 00:02:03,280 --> 00:02:05,559 Speaker 1: into our good sports, bad sport and I'm gonna start 42 00:02:05,560 --> 00:02:08,160 Speaker 1: off with a good sport that probably suits the way 43 00:02:08,200 --> 00:02:10,040 Speaker 1: that we talk about sports news and being told a 44 00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:13,240 Speaker 1: little bit differently. Katie Perry, she gave it everything this week. 45 00:02:13,600 --> 00:02:16,880 Speaker 1: No PR machine has worked harder. She did a great job. 46 00:02:17,200 --> 00:02:19,280 Speaker 1: And I know there's been a lot of conversation about 47 00:02:19,320 --> 00:02:21,880 Speaker 1: how much she may have been paid, the hypothetical figure 48 00:02:21,919 --> 00:02:24,880 Speaker 1: we've heard his five million dollars, five million dollars for 49 00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:28,560 Speaker 1: seventeen minutes. But it wasn't just the seventeen minutes. Was 50 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:32,080 Speaker 1: it all the pre promotion, She plugged the Tasmanian team, 51 00:02:32,440 --> 00:02:34,960 Speaker 1: she got the messaging from the AFL down pat. I 52 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:36,840 Speaker 1: thought she did a great job. She referred to the 53 00:02:36,840 --> 00:02:39,720 Speaker 1: footy as a Sharon, which was amazing, amazing. Even had 54 00:02:39,720 --> 00:02:42,400 Speaker 1: a chat being like, oh poor Oscar and his shoulder. 55 00:02:42,480 --> 00:02:45,040 Speaker 1: Didn't that look terrible? And I just went, you know what. 56 00:02:45,080 --> 00:02:47,160 Speaker 1: And I had the privilege of last year I did 57 00:02:47,200 --> 00:02:49,640 Speaker 1: the Kiss press conference, so I sort of got a 58 00:02:49,639 --> 00:02:52,120 Speaker 1: bit of an experience of them. But I guess the 59 00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:54,800 Speaker 1: benchmark was set with Robbie Williams, wasn't it. He's the 60 00:02:54,840 --> 00:02:57,240 Speaker 1: best pre match entertainment we've ever had. And again I 61 00:02:57,320 --> 00:02:59,480 Speaker 1: was lucky enough to interview Robbie in the lead up 62 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:03,160 Speaker 1: and it was very uh shall I say, sterile. And 63 00:03:03,160 --> 00:03:05,639 Speaker 1: this wasn't during COVID, but it was. He sat two 64 00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:09,079 Speaker 1: meters away sort of you had your seven minutes with him, 65 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:11,239 Speaker 1: and he sort of knew a little bit about footy. 66 00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:14,600 Speaker 1: We know now that he's the Carlton ambassador to the world, 67 00:03:15,160 --> 00:03:17,639 Speaker 1: but he certainly hadn't lent into it the way that 68 00:03:17,680 --> 00:03:20,240 Speaker 1: we saw Katie do it this week. She was great. 69 00:03:20,320 --> 00:03:22,640 Speaker 1: I think she's worth the money, I really do. She 70 00:03:23,040 --> 00:03:26,360 Speaker 1: embraced it while she was here. She seemed enthusiastic at 71 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:29,400 Speaker 1: every opportunity. Maybe when you get a five million dollar paycheck, 72 00:03:29,440 --> 00:03:31,200 Speaker 1: that gives you more pep in your step. Is there 73 00:03:31,240 --> 00:03:34,360 Speaker 1: any sporting league in the world where someone who comes 74 00:03:34,440 --> 00:03:37,920 Speaker 1: as the pre show entertainment earns that much more than 75 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:41,080 Speaker 1: what the best player in the league does annually? I mean, 76 00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:44,040 Speaker 1: for one show super Bowl? Do you reckon though, oh 77 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:47,200 Speaker 1: Patrick Mahomes it out earned whatever their paying I suppose 78 00:03:47,360 --> 00:03:51,120 Speaker 1: that's fair, surely, surely. But what I will say is 79 00:03:51,160 --> 00:03:53,240 Speaker 1: I was lucky enough to be at the ground and 80 00:03:53,280 --> 00:03:56,320 Speaker 1: because so much of that show was built around the 81 00:03:56,440 --> 00:03:59,440 Speaker 1: television spectacle, myself and Beck Madam with err and I 82 00:03:59,520 --> 00:04:01,600 Speaker 1: was like, was that good? I don't know if that 83 00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:04,360 Speaker 1: was good, but the overwhelming response from home was that 84 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:07,920 Speaker 1: it was amazing, amazing. I did have one friend who 85 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:11,360 Speaker 1: I will not name, message me and say was that 86 00:04:11,440 --> 00:04:17,599 Speaker 1: hologram stuff just for the TV? And I replied, yes, yeah, babe, 87 00:04:17,760 --> 00:04:20,880 Speaker 1: Yeah it was yes. I couldn't see the CGI at 88 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:26,120 Speaker 1: the stadium. Oh we all have that one mate where 89 00:04:26,120 --> 00:04:29,800 Speaker 1: you're like, oh, you're right, Ah, you're right. But we 90 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:32,000 Speaker 1: have been speaking so much about AFL. But it's a 91 00:04:32,040 --> 00:04:34,640 Speaker 1: massive week for NRL. It is, so I'm going to 92 00:04:34,720 --> 00:04:37,320 Speaker 1: throw the Melbourne Storm in there for the good sport 93 00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:41,520 Speaker 1: as well. Should be. They've had an incredible year Minor premiers. 94 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:46,159 Speaker 1: They're coming up against an absolute dynasty in the NRL 95 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:48,320 Speaker 1: at the moment in the Penrith Panthers. Yeah, this is 96 00:04:48,360 --> 00:04:52,400 Speaker 1: their fifth consecutive Grand Final. They are the benchmark in 97 00:04:52,440 --> 00:04:54,960 Speaker 1: the rugby league in Australia at the moment. They've got 98 00:04:55,200 --> 00:04:58,360 Speaker 1: a gun in Nathan Cleary who is twenty six years 99 00:04:58,360 --> 00:05:02,400 Speaker 1: old and has already he stamped himself as a future 100 00:05:02,440 --> 00:05:05,800 Speaker 1: immortal in the game. His dad's the coach. It's just 101 00:05:05,880 --> 00:05:07,599 Speaker 1: really nice to have a co host that can say 102 00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:10,880 Speaker 1: the Panthers without going oh, I think they've just got 103 00:05:11,520 --> 00:05:14,920 Speaker 1: Georgie actually has a physical response. I feel where she's 104 00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:17,599 Speaker 1: coming from, and I think you've just got to respect 105 00:05:17,640 --> 00:05:20,479 Speaker 1: how good they've been. But this is why it is 106 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:24,960 Speaker 1: time for someone else, you think, But the Storm aren't new. 107 00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:28,760 Speaker 1: They're not new, they're not new. They're so successful, so 108 00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:33,360 Speaker 1: successful their coach Craig Bellamy, it's his tenth Grand Final. Yeah, 109 00:05:33,920 --> 00:05:37,320 Speaker 1: the man's record I think is unmatched in any code 110 00:05:37,400 --> 00:05:41,400 Speaker 1: in Australia. He is unbelievable. They've got a great team 111 00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:43,800 Speaker 1: as well. They've just had their open press day, so 112 00:05:43,839 --> 00:05:46,960 Speaker 1: we've come from talking to them. They're in a great headspace. 113 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:49,560 Speaker 1: Sunday nights the big battle. They've got to go to 114 00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:52,240 Speaker 1: Sydney to do it, which is fitting when we talk 115 00:05:52,279 --> 00:05:55,279 Speaker 1: about our subject matter today of where we play these 116 00:05:55,320 --> 00:05:59,080 Speaker 1: big games. But to me, I wish them all the best. 117 00:05:59,320 --> 00:06:01,960 Speaker 1: They've had a great I like it when we shake 118 00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:04,400 Speaker 1: up the premieres. Let's see someone new. Let's just hope 119 00:06:04,440 --> 00:06:06,960 Speaker 1: they can battle to be somewhere in the back pages, 120 00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:10,040 Speaker 1: because as we mentioned, they are such a successful team. 121 00:06:10,080 --> 00:06:13,000 Speaker 1: But to try to get interes during this week in 122 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:16,200 Speaker 1: the paper that are about anything other than AFL. They 123 00:06:16,200 --> 00:06:18,440 Speaker 1: are pushing it uphill. But Melbourne Storm couldn't have been 124 00:06:18,480 --> 00:06:21,920 Speaker 1: more successful, and that's why strategically I think they've separated 125 00:06:21,960 --> 00:06:24,560 Speaker 1: the Grand Finals. Yes, you shouldn't because happening them both 126 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:28,080 Speaker 1: in a weekend, well, it's a bit of a waste really, 127 00:06:28,120 --> 00:06:29,680 Speaker 1: like if you want to be able to celebrate the 128 00:06:29,720 --> 00:06:33,400 Speaker 1: occasion separately. They do have different audiences, but we're seeing 129 00:06:33,440 --> 00:06:36,039 Speaker 1: more of that crossover, I think absolutely. You mentioned the 130 00:06:36,040 --> 00:06:38,839 Speaker 1: fact that, of course the NRL Grand Final is in Sydney, 131 00:06:39,160 --> 00:06:41,520 Speaker 1: it's always in Sydney in the same world that the 132 00:06:41,560 --> 00:06:44,800 Speaker 1: AFL Grand Final is always on the hallow turf of 133 00:06:44,880 --> 00:06:48,799 Speaker 1: the MCG. But should that just inherently be the case? 134 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:51,039 Speaker 1: Is that fair and is that what we're going to 135 00:06:51,040 --> 00:06:53,080 Speaker 1: see going forward. That's our deep dive of coming up. 136 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:08,960 Speaker 1: Growing up as a sports lover in Australia, there was 137 00:07:09,040 --> 00:07:12,280 Speaker 1: no pinnacle higher than the thought of going to watch 138 00:07:12,320 --> 00:07:15,800 Speaker 1: anything at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. This is a stadium 139 00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:21,320 Speaker 1: that was built in eighteen fifty three. Given Australia's history, 140 00:07:21,360 --> 00:07:23,560 Speaker 1: there are not many things in our dear country that 141 00:07:23,720 --> 00:07:28,920 Speaker 1: has that much history and gravitas, it is special. So, Laura, 142 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:30,800 Speaker 1: I'm going to start our discussion today by saying, do 143 00:07:30,840 --> 00:07:33,120 Speaker 1: you remember the first time you went to the MCG. Yes, 144 00:07:33,200 --> 00:07:36,600 Speaker 1: I do. And I grew up in New South Wales. 145 00:07:37,320 --> 00:07:40,320 Speaker 1: I grew up with rugby league. I grew up not 146 00:07:40,480 --> 00:07:45,000 Speaker 1: knowing the experience of the MCG. And the first time 147 00:07:45,080 --> 00:07:49,119 Speaker 1: I went, which was for a regular home and away 148 00:07:49,800 --> 00:07:54,240 Speaker 1: AFL game, I could not believe, first of all, the 149 00:07:54,280 --> 00:07:57,120 Speaker 1: size of the venue. I could not believe the number 150 00:07:57,160 --> 00:08:00,920 Speaker 1: of people that turned up for a game that had 151 00:08:01,040 --> 00:08:07,480 Speaker 1: no consequence on finals or anything like that. And it 152 00:08:07,560 --> 00:08:11,160 Speaker 1: was just this moment, as someone who's always loved sport, 153 00:08:11,840 --> 00:08:15,280 Speaker 1: where I just went, what is this place? This is 154 00:08:15,400 --> 00:08:20,280 Speaker 1: unlike anything I've ever seen. It's a different feeling. It's 155 00:08:20,320 --> 00:08:22,840 Speaker 1: not just how big it is, it's a different feeling 156 00:08:22,920 --> 00:08:25,520 Speaker 1: when you go in there. The way that it's constructed 157 00:08:25,840 --> 00:08:29,360 Speaker 1: is you know, you're so close to the action and 158 00:08:29,400 --> 00:08:31,680 Speaker 1: you're so high, but you've got such a great view 159 00:08:32,920 --> 00:08:35,120 Speaker 1: and you look around and there's I think at that 160 00:08:35,600 --> 00:08:38,240 Speaker 1: time it was eighty five thousand people, but on the 161 00:08:38,280 --> 00:08:40,880 Speaker 1: weekend just gone we've seen one hundred thousand people in there, 162 00:08:41,480 --> 00:08:44,960 Speaker 1: so yes, I do remember it, and being from Sydney originally, 163 00:08:45,280 --> 00:08:49,520 Speaker 1: it's tough to say to people, Okay, there's nothing like 164 00:08:49,559 --> 00:08:53,400 Speaker 1: the MCG, because I constantly then hear from everyone back 165 00:08:53,400 --> 00:08:57,040 Speaker 1: home like what's happened to you? Where have you gone? 166 00:08:57,800 --> 00:09:00,320 Speaker 1: But I do remember it. Do you remember it? Yeah? 167 00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:03,760 Speaker 1: And at the risk of offending those that are religious, 168 00:09:04,000 --> 00:09:07,920 Speaker 1: it's almost spiritual. There's something about it that feels larger 169 00:09:07,960 --> 00:09:10,480 Speaker 1: than life. And again I realized that in terms of 170 00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:14,800 Speaker 1: world stadiums, we're probably a minno, but there is something 171 00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:18,560 Speaker 1: about the MCG and the history. And you know, I 172 00:09:18,640 --> 00:09:20,360 Speaker 1: grew up in Perth and we came over and did 173 00:09:20,800 --> 00:09:22,680 Speaker 1: the tour of the MCG when I think I would 174 00:09:22,679 --> 00:09:25,120 Speaker 1: have been no older than ten, and I've got photos 175 00:09:25,160 --> 00:09:27,160 Speaker 1: of me like there with my little jacket and going 176 00:09:27,200 --> 00:09:29,880 Speaker 1: through the sports museum and I just remember thinking, well, 177 00:09:29,880 --> 00:09:32,320 Speaker 1: I stole some of the grass, is point one. I 178 00:09:32,400 --> 00:09:35,120 Speaker 1: remember putting some of the grass in my sock and 179 00:09:35,160 --> 00:09:37,240 Speaker 1: wanting to get Lord knows where that's gone. But it 180 00:09:37,280 --> 00:09:42,240 Speaker 1: was just it was this other worldly colosseum and the 181 00:09:42,280 --> 00:09:44,640 Speaker 1: scale of it, as you said, is something that just 182 00:09:45,120 --> 00:09:47,480 Speaker 1: put me in awe and again on the weekend, as 183 00:09:47,520 --> 00:09:50,439 Speaker 1: you mentioned, we had an AFL Grand Final where there 184 00:09:50,480 --> 00:09:52,920 Speaker 1: was a six figure crowd. There was one hundred thouy 185 00:09:53,080 --> 00:09:56,160 Speaker 1: and thirteen people in a stadium with a capacity of 186 00:09:56,200 --> 00:09:59,280 Speaker 1: one hundred thy twenty four, so it was packed to 187 00:09:59,320 --> 00:10:02,840 Speaker 1: the rafters. But the two teams doing battle in Brisbane 188 00:10:02,840 --> 00:10:06,080 Speaker 1: and the Swans obviously are from interstate, so it was 189 00:10:06,160 --> 00:10:10,360 Speaker 1: really a state of origin game happening in Melbourne. And 190 00:10:10,360 --> 00:10:12,720 Speaker 1: it begs the question, and it begs the question every 191 00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:16,360 Speaker 1: year about the fairness of whether or not you should 192 00:10:16,480 --> 00:10:20,640 Speaker 1: just inherently have the big dance, the AFL Grand Final 193 00:10:20,760 --> 00:10:23,319 Speaker 1: held at the MCG. And there's a lot of different 194 00:10:23,440 --> 00:10:26,760 Speaker 1: arguments to this, some of them financial, others in does 195 00:10:26,800 --> 00:10:28,800 Speaker 1: it not give you the opportunity to grow the game 196 00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:32,080 Speaker 1: in different markets, But also for me, it's just the 197 00:10:32,200 --> 00:10:35,000 Speaker 1: romanticism of the fact that even these players, and you 198 00:10:35,040 --> 00:10:38,520 Speaker 1: could ask them for Brisbane or for the Swans, would 199 00:10:38,559 --> 00:10:42,520 Speaker 1: have grown up dreaming of being at the MCG on 200 00:10:42,559 --> 00:10:45,640 Speaker 1: the last Saturday September. Yes, So I was with the 201 00:10:45,640 --> 00:10:49,839 Speaker 1: Brisbane Lions yesterday and Chris Fagan, the coach of the 202 00:10:49,840 --> 00:10:53,200 Speaker 1: Brisbane Lions, actually said we'd love to play them more. Yes, 203 00:10:53,320 --> 00:10:57,240 Speaker 1: because their home grounds in Brisbane, and obviously being an 204 00:10:57,280 --> 00:10:59,960 Speaker 1: interstate team, you don't get that exposure to the MCG 205 00:11:00,200 --> 00:11:03,319 Speaker 1: during the season, but he said, we'd love to play 206 00:11:03,320 --> 00:11:07,760 Speaker 1: there more. Everyone loves playing at the MCG. The support 207 00:11:07,840 --> 00:11:10,440 Speaker 1: you get there, the crowds you get there, the atmosphere, 208 00:11:10,960 --> 00:11:13,920 Speaker 1: it's hard to emulate that anywhere else, and we've seen 209 00:11:13,960 --> 00:11:16,400 Speaker 1: that with some of the other finals games this season 210 00:11:16,440 --> 00:11:20,320 Speaker 1: where we speak of the GWS game where the crowd 211 00:11:20,520 --> 00:11:23,960 Speaker 1: was negligible, so I think it was about seventeen thousand 212 00:11:24,080 --> 00:11:27,600 Speaker 1: in a stadium that does hold. I mean, you just 213 00:11:27,640 --> 00:11:29,880 Speaker 1: remember a Mason Cox at the start of the year 214 00:11:29,920 --> 00:11:32,240 Speaker 1: being like, is this a showground? Are they going to 215 00:11:32,240 --> 00:11:34,520 Speaker 1: be cows? Is there a petting zoo? Like he was 216 00:11:34,559 --> 00:11:37,440 Speaker 1: really taking the mickey because they had a maximum capacity 217 00:11:37,480 --> 00:11:40,040 Speaker 1: of twenty three thousand, And look, you can have a 218 00:11:40,040 --> 00:11:42,720 Speaker 1: great experience in a smaller arena as well, rely, but 219 00:11:42,760 --> 00:11:45,360 Speaker 1: you've got to have those impassion fans yep that carry it. 220 00:11:45,520 --> 00:11:49,040 Speaker 1: So outside of a few exceptions, the MCG has hosted 221 00:11:49,200 --> 00:11:51,880 Speaker 1: nearly every AFL Grand Final. There have been only eleven 222 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:54,880 Speaker 1: occasions when other venues were used. And when you think 223 00:11:54,920 --> 00:11:57,480 Speaker 1: in recent history, you're thinking about the fact there was 224 00:11:57,480 --> 00:12:00,560 Speaker 1: one opt To Stadium COVID, and then we're also thinking 225 00:12:00,559 --> 00:12:04,720 Speaker 1: about the Gabba COVID, and they're really difficult I guess 226 00:12:04,800 --> 00:12:08,720 Speaker 1: examples for us to compare the pair, because not everyone 227 00:12:08,840 --> 00:12:11,960 Speaker 1: wanted to go to a stadium when there was a plague, 228 00:12:12,520 --> 00:12:15,839 Speaker 1: and also that there was distancing and you didn't allow 229 00:12:15,920 --> 00:12:19,439 Speaker 1: home fans to travel, so you couldn't get into wa 230 00:12:19,520 --> 00:12:22,080 Speaker 1: And famously there are a few restauranteurs that still found 231 00:12:22,120 --> 00:12:24,160 Speaker 1: their way in and then found their way to jail 232 00:12:24,240 --> 00:12:26,880 Speaker 1: for Melbourne in order to go to OPTAs Stadium, but 233 00:12:27,000 --> 00:12:30,400 Speaker 1: you couldn't have that traveling pack of fans to show 234 00:12:30,440 --> 00:12:32,840 Speaker 1: their support, which also is what we've sort of seen 235 00:12:32,840 --> 00:12:35,840 Speaker 1: with gather Around, right, is that everyone travels to Adelaide 236 00:12:36,160 --> 00:12:39,040 Speaker 1: and what that does for tourism and sport in the state. 237 00:12:39,559 --> 00:12:41,959 Speaker 1: So I think what they're trying to do by putting 238 00:12:42,040 --> 00:12:46,360 Speaker 1: something like gather Around on and making opening round, opening round, 239 00:12:47,120 --> 00:12:50,000 Speaker 1: let's let's leave that. Let's see if that reads its 240 00:12:50,040 --> 00:12:53,320 Speaker 1: head again next year. Look. What they're trying to do, though, 241 00:12:53,520 --> 00:12:56,640 Speaker 1: is create these occasions in other states. Yes, because the 242 00:12:56,679 --> 00:12:59,400 Speaker 1: game is growing, and when you think about occasions like 243 00:12:59,480 --> 00:13:04,040 Speaker 1: things like like the ANZAC Day Game, MCG, King's Birthday, 244 00:13:04,080 --> 00:13:07,480 Speaker 1: Big Freeze MCG. So those bigger events are still held 245 00:13:07,520 --> 00:13:09,440 Speaker 1: at the home of football. That makes sense to me 246 00:13:09,520 --> 00:13:14,120 Speaker 1: because they involve Victorian clubs totally. And I think you know, 247 00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:18,000 Speaker 1: there's been this argument around the finals games and being 248 00:13:18,040 --> 00:13:21,560 Speaker 1: able to host those games if you're into state to 249 00:13:21,640 --> 00:13:24,679 Speaker 1: get somewhat of an advantage, But that's not happening in 250 00:13:25,280 --> 00:13:27,880 Speaker 1: Melbourne with the teams here that are making the finals, 251 00:13:27,920 --> 00:13:30,760 Speaker 1: is it that's automatically gone? All right, We're going to 252 00:13:30,800 --> 00:13:32,680 Speaker 1: have them at the MCG as well, which is where 253 00:13:32,720 --> 00:13:35,280 Speaker 1: the commercial argument comes into it, I think, and those 254 00:13:35,280 --> 00:13:38,400 Speaker 1: big clubs like Collingwood and Richmond that play their home 255 00:13:38,440 --> 00:13:42,440 Speaker 1: games at the MCG have an undeniable advantage. The other 256 00:13:42,480 --> 00:13:45,080 Speaker 1: thing is that we need to highlight here. Let's be real. 257 00:13:45,280 --> 00:13:47,960 Speaker 1: The AFL's current contract with the Melbourne Cricket Club is 258 00:13:48,040 --> 00:13:51,400 Speaker 1: locked in until twenty fifty nine. But is that a 259 00:13:51,440 --> 00:13:54,679 Speaker 1: contract allah player contracts that seem to mean nothing at 260 00:13:54,679 --> 00:13:57,160 Speaker 1: the moment, or is that a contract that we are 261 00:13:57,320 --> 00:14:01,040 Speaker 1: seeing some leaders from other clubs and Ely Sidney saying 262 00:14:01,240 --> 00:14:04,360 Speaker 1: how fair is this? Dom Longmeya always puts a slide 263 00:14:04,400 --> 00:14:07,080 Speaker 1: comment in there just being like, oh, yeah, because that's 264 00:14:07,080 --> 00:14:09,960 Speaker 1: not an advantage playing at the MCG all the time. It 265 00:14:10,040 --> 00:14:12,520 Speaker 1: is an advantage. It has to be and that's the thing. 266 00:14:12,520 --> 00:14:15,160 Speaker 1: You can't really argue with that. And you talk about 267 00:14:15,160 --> 00:14:17,760 Speaker 1: Collingwood being one of the big clubs, and I think 268 00:14:17,760 --> 00:14:20,800 Speaker 1: it was they played seventeen, sixteen or seventeen of their 269 00:14:21,520 --> 00:14:24,520 Speaker 1: games there this year. Like, that's a huge number of 270 00:14:24,560 --> 00:14:26,840 Speaker 1: games to have on your home turf, and especially when 271 00:14:26,880 --> 00:14:29,600 Speaker 1: you have games like Anzac Day that are locked in 272 00:14:29,600 --> 00:14:32,880 Speaker 1: in the fixture of being a team like Collingwood, you 273 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:35,600 Speaker 1: have the experience of running out in front of a 274 00:14:35,640 --> 00:14:40,440 Speaker 1: near capacity crowd of one hundred thousand people screaming if 275 00:14:40,440 --> 00:14:42,560 Speaker 1: you come from any of the other clubs. And also 276 00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:44,720 Speaker 1: that as an appeal for players to want to be 277 00:14:44,720 --> 00:14:47,000 Speaker 1: traded to your club to have that experience locked in. 278 00:14:47,160 --> 00:14:48,600 Speaker 1: And I think the thing is a lot of people 279 00:14:48,640 --> 00:14:51,040 Speaker 1: look at that and go, oh, I really envy clubs 280 00:14:51,080 --> 00:14:54,480 Speaker 1: like Collingwood. I really envy clubs like you know, Richmond 281 00:14:54,560 --> 00:14:57,320 Speaker 1: or Carlton who have these fixtures locked in. No, they're 282 00:14:57,320 --> 00:14:59,480 Speaker 1: going to get to play those games. No, they're going 283 00:14:59,520 --> 00:15:02,160 Speaker 1: to get those crowds. So even when we look back 284 00:15:02,200 --> 00:15:05,400 Speaker 1: to the final between the Western Bulldogs and Hawthorne, which 285 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:08,240 Speaker 1: was at the MCG because it was the only all 286 00:15:08,320 --> 00:15:11,120 Speaker 1: Victorian finals, so not a Grand Final, just a final, 287 00:15:11,240 --> 00:15:14,400 Speaker 1: just a final. The Western Bulldogs their home ground is 288 00:15:14,400 --> 00:15:19,040 Speaker 1: another stadium that holds around fifty thousand people. They were 289 00:15:19,080 --> 00:15:21,640 Speaker 1: the home side, but that was held at the MCG, 290 00:15:21,840 --> 00:15:24,200 Speaker 1: which is not a rule that's enforced in other states. 291 00:15:24,360 --> 00:15:26,840 Speaker 1: That's not what we see in Sydney, right. But I 292 00:15:26,880 --> 00:15:30,440 Speaker 1: think being here and having access to the MCG, you 293 00:15:30,600 --> 00:15:33,520 Speaker 1: just have to accept that that's where the AFL wants 294 00:15:33,560 --> 00:15:35,640 Speaker 1: to play these big games because you're going to get 295 00:15:35,880 --> 00:15:38,440 Speaker 1: double the crowd, They're going to make a lot of money, 296 00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:41,000 Speaker 1: and hey, this is a commercial exercise. It is a 297 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:43,760 Speaker 1: commercial exercise. And when you talk about those arguments for 298 00:15:44,560 --> 00:15:48,080 Speaker 1: obviously for you and I and little teeny boppers thinking god, 299 00:15:48,120 --> 00:15:51,200 Speaker 1: the MCG is amazing, the arguments for is the history 300 00:15:51,680 --> 00:15:53,960 Speaker 1: and the wealth of history the MCG takes with it, 301 00:15:54,040 --> 00:15:57,120 Speaker 1: the tradition if it ain't broke, don't fix it. There's 302 00:15:57,160 --> 00:16:00,520 Speaker 1: something beautiful about knowing what Grand Final week is going 303 00:16:00,560 --> 00:16:03,680 Speaker 1: to be and having that consistency. But you mentioned capacity 304 00:16:03,720 --> 00:16:05,880 Speaker 1: and finances, so I went and found out the numbers 305 00:16:05,880 --> 00:16:08,600 Speaker 1: because I actually thought, wait, how many how many do 306 00:16:08,760 --> 00:16:12,440 Speaker 1: these different stadiums hold, and again something like Stadium Tasmania 307 00:16:12,520 --> 00:16:14,800 Speaker 1: being built, how many are they planning to hold there? 308 00:16:15,080 --> 00:16:17,320 Speaker 1: So the MCG, as we mentioned, just a touch over 309 00:16:17,320 --> 00:16:20,880 Speaker 1: one hundred thousand. The next largest is Sydney Stadium, which 310 00:16:20,920 --> 00:16:23,480 Speaker 1: is out at Olympic Park. If you haven't been there, 311 00:16:23,520 --> 00:16:27,240 Speaker 1: dear listener, my god, they spent six hundred and ninety 312 00:16:27,240 --> 00:16:32,120 Speaker 1: million dollars on something that has zero ATMOS. Well, it 313 00:16:32,280 --> 00:16:34,920 Speaker 1: is a long way from anything. Ah. And also it's 314 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:37,240 Speaker 1: just not a joy to watch sport there. Well, it's 315 00:16:37,280 --> 00:16:39,800 Speaker 1: just hard to get to. That's the other thing, and 316 00:16:39,880 --> 00:16:43,040 Speaker 1: I think Sydney Olympics has a lot to answer for. Again, 317 00:16:43,080 --> 00:16:46,200 Speaker 1: it's an eighty three and a half thousand capacity stadium, 318 00:16:46,480 --> 00:16:49,240 Speaker 1: So from the MCG to the next you're looking about 319 00:16:49,240 --> 00:16:53,040 Speaker 1: a twenty thousand jump, yep. And that is a lot 320 00:16:53,080 --> 00:16:56,320 Speaker 1: of dollars. Yes, it's also a lot of spots for 321 00:16:56,360 --> 00:16:59,360 Speaker 1: the fans who want these seats at Grand finals, which 322 00:16:59,400 --> 00:17:00,920 Speaker 1: are hard to get yet because there's a lot of 323 00:17:00,920 --> 00:17:04,800 Speaker 1: commercial corporates who get these seats in the round finals. 324 00:17:04,800 --> 00:17:07,080 Speaker 1: So the other thing is the fans are always complaining 325 00:17:07,080 --> 00:17:10,080 Speaker 1: about how we've only got this sort of allocation because 326 00:17:10,080 --> 00:17:12,720 Speaker 1: income the corporates for the Grand Final after not being 327 00:17:12,720 --> 00:17:16,320 Speaker 1: there all years. So that is a significant jump twenty 328 00:17:16,320 --> 00:17:18,679 Speaker 1: thousand people. And the next is Perth Stadium, which has 329 00:17:18,680 --> 00:17:22,119 Speaker 1: built only recently at sixty one thousand, two hundred and 330 00:17:22,240 --> 00:17:25,080 Speaker 1: my brain when they built that, it felt like they 331 00:17:25,080 --> 00:17:27,040 Speaker 1: were extending a freeway. You know, when you see all 332 00:17:27,040 --> 00:17:29,360 Speaker 1: that construction and they extend a freeway by one lane, 333 00:17:29,880 --> 00:17:32,560 Speaker 1: and you go, why wouldn't you just extend it by two, 334 00:17:32,800 --> 00:17:35,680 Speaker 1: Like if you're building a world class stadium and the 335 00:17:35,760 --> 00:17:38,320 Speaker 1: highest capacity in the countries one hundred thousand. Yes, budget 336 00:17:38,400 --> 00:17:40,560 Speaker 1: has to come into it, but wouldn't you build an 337 00:17:40,560 --> 00:17:43,560 Speaker 1: eighty thousand seat stadium if you ever wanted to be 338 00:17:43,600 --> 00:17:45,720 Speaker 1: eligible to put your hands up for these things? Well 339 00:17:45,760 --> 00:17:48,520 Speaker 1: they missed out on Taylor Swift, they did, and did 340 00:17:48,560 --> 00:17:51,280 Speaker 1: they want at Speaking of which, Katie Perry is now 341 00:17:51,359 --> 00:17:53,679 Speaker 1: going to Adelaide Oval and they have fifty three thousand, 342 00:17:53,720 --> 00:17:56,400 Speaker 1: so they're number four. Docklands, as you mentioned, Marvel has 343 00:17:56,440 --> 00:18:00,280 Speaker 1: fifty six, SCG forty eight, the Gabba forty two, and 344 00:18:00,320 --> 00:18:03,720 Speaker 1: then you find your way down at Hobart Stadium, which 345 00:18:03,800 --> 00:18:05,880 Speaker 1: is the new one that they're building. And I understand 346 00:18:05,920 --> 00:18:08,960 Speaker 1: this because of the population and how sparse it would 347 00:18:08,960 --> 00:18:11,600 Speaker 1: look in the regular season to have anything bigger than this. 348 00:18:11,960 --> 00:18:14,240 Speaker 1: But it's only twenty three thousand that it can be 349 00:18:14,240 --> 00:18:17,080 Speaker 1: able to watch a game at Hobart. So when you 350 00:18:17,119 --> 00:18:21,359 Speaker 1: think of arguments against ie why should it move around? 351 00:18:21,440 --> 00:18:25,000 Speaker 1: And you look at global examples IE the NFL and 352 00:18:25,040 --> 00:18:26,760 Speaker 1: what they do with the Super Bowl in that they 353 00:18:26,840 --> 00:18:29,480 Speaker 1: lock in a venue and it's a neutral venue and 354 00:18:29,520 --> 00:18:32,120 Speaker 1: you know that well in advance, so fans can plan 355 00:18:32,240 --> 00:18:36,720 Speaker 1: to travel there. There's stadiums that the curve ain't that's 356 00:18:36,720 --> 00:18:41,119 Speaker 1: steep in terms of capacity and what they can really offer. Well, 357 00:18:41,160 --> 00:18:44,040 Speaker 1: if you're not going to sell the seats, I would understand. Yeah, 358 00:18:44,080 --> 00:18:47,160 Speaker 1: but every year it's a sellout. There's one hundred thousand 359 00:18:47,200 --> 00:18:49,520 Speaker 1: people that come, and this year with two interstate teams, 360 00:18:49,880 --> 00:18:52,439 Speaker 1: it was still a sellout. So that argument that the 361 00:18:52,480 --> 00:18:55,919 Speaker 1: fans wouldn't travel, or that people wouldn't come because you 362 00:18:55,960 --> 00:18:58,720 Speaker 1: know there wasn't a Victorian side that made the Big Dance, 363 00:18:58,800 --> 00:19:01,760 Speaker 1: Well that's redundant. Could you have things like the AFL 364 00:19:01,800 --> 00:19:06,320 Speaker 1: Grand Final Parade in Brisbane, I would argue, no, I 365 00:19:06,320 --> 00:19:08,480 Speaker 1: don't know in the same way that the NRL Grand 366 00:19:08,480 --> 00:19:10,760 Speaker 1: Final wouldn't feel the same if they held it here. 367 00:19:11,240 --> 00:19:14,679 Speaker 1: I think there's a bigger gap with that sport in 368 00:19:14,760 --> 00:19:17,840 Speaker 1: Victoria because there's only one team in the NRL that 369 00:19:17,920 --> 00:19:22,480 Speaker 1: is from Victoria. Whereas obviously you know the Brisbane Lines 370 00:19:22,520 --> 00:19:24,879 Speaker 1: now they're the premiers and they're one of the teams 371 00:19:24,880 --> 00:19:27,520 Speaker 1: to beat in the competition. But also you've got the 372 00:19:27,520 --> 00:19:30,000 Speaker 1: Gold Coast Sons who are languishing a bit further behind. 373 00:19:30,080 --> 00:19:32,320 Speaker 1: Let's be honest, but you have made an effort to 374 00:19:32,359 --> 00:19:34,760 Speaker 1: create a two team town. You've done that in New 375 00:19:34,800 --> 00:19:37,439 Speaker 1: South Wales as well. Obviously there's always been a good 376 00:19:37,520 --> 00:19:42,080 Speaker 1: rivalry in South Australia and Western Australia, so maybe that 377 00:19:42,160 --> 00:19:44,720 Speaker 1: gives it a bit more sway. Whereas you know, the 378 00:19:44,840 --> 00:19:48,600 Speaker 1: NRL Grand Final this week Melbourne Storm one team in Victoria, 379 00:19:48,920 --> 00:19:53,440 Speaker 1: very successful team, but you're drawing on people to support 380 00:19:53,440 --> 00:19:55,439 Speaker 1: that one team only. And I think we've seen a 381 00:19:55,440 --> 00:20:00,359 Speaker 1: good success story in the AFL of GWS coming through 382 00:20:00,560 --> 00:20:03,800 Speaker 1: of the Sun's coming through, where you're trying to expand 383 00:20:03,920 --> 00:20:06,760 Speaker 1: those fan bases, give people an option of someone else 384 00:20:06,800 --> 00:20:09,600 Speaker 1: to support, and now that they've been able to do 385 00:20:09,680 --> 00:20:11,800 Speaker 1: that and grow the game, that's why they're saying, hey, 386 00:20:11,840 --> 00:20:14,480 Speaker 1: we'll give you a home final, maybe not the big one, 387 00:20:14,800 --> 00:20:16,920 Speaker 1: but we'll give you a home final in a stadium 388 00:20:16,920 --> 00:20:21,720 Speaker 1: that holds twenty three thousand people. Not many, if any, 389 00:20:22,400 --> 00:20:26,560 Speaker 1: if any, but the game does need people that come 390 00:20:26,560 --> 00:20:30,080 Speaker 1: out without landish things, and we absolutely love when people 391 00:20:30,160 --> 00:20:32,639 Speaker 1: just go, hey, what about this? And one of those 392 00:20:33,280 --> 00:20:37,160 Speaker 1: is Sydney Swan's president Andrew Priddam. Now you may remember 393 00:20:37,240 --> 00:20:39,440 Speaker 1: him as the bloke that said we're the most popular 394 00:20:39,440 --> 00:20:42,320 Speaker 1: team in the competition. I do. I love him, I 395 00:20:42,440 --> 00:20:44,680 Speaker 1: love him. He was like stuff Collingwood. We've got two 396 00:20:44,680 --> 00:20:48,600 Speaker 1: million fans, which as again as news journals we go, 397 00:20:48,720 --> 00:20:52,040 Speaker 1: we'll take that headline, thank you very much and blow 398 00:20:52,040 --> 00:20:54,600 Speaker 1: it up deluxe. And he doesn't care. He stands by it. 399 00:20:54,640 --> 00:20:56,840 Speaker 1: But he's someone that's come out with this theory of 400 00:20:56,880 --> 00:21:00,440 Speaker 1: going the AFL is throwing money out the window. Why 401 00:21:00,440 --> 00:21:03,560 Speaker 1: don't we have a best of three AFL Grand Final? 402 00:21:04,040 --> 00:21:06,760 Speaker 1: Is his suggestion that it could move around to different 403 00:21:06,840 --> 00:21:12,840 Speaker 1: venues and therefore showcase the sport in different states. You 404 00:21:12,960 --> 00:21:16,399 Speaker 1: make me do this week three times? I am in 405 00:21:16,440 --> 00:21:20,000 Speaker 1: the ground. That's a very selfish response, but he's basically 406 00:21:20,040 --> 00:21:22,960 Speaker 1: saying that you're missing out on forty million dollars worth 407 00:21:22,960 --> 00:21:26,320 Speaker 1: of revenue. Hiss his argument to the AFL, and given 408 00:21:26,359 --> 00:21:29,240 Speaker 1: Sydney's recent success in finals, that's probably why he wants 409 00:21:29,240 --> 00:21:31,320 Speaker 1: a best of three so they can eat one where 410 00:21:31,320 --> 00:21:34,080 Speaker 1: they choke and then hopefully come back and prove why 411 00:21:34,080 --> 00:21:38,399 Speaker 1: they're the minor prepers. But Caroline Wilson probably put it 412 00:21:38,440 --> 00:21:41,159 Speaker 1: best in her response to the suggestion that we should 413 00:21:41,160 --> 00:21:43,600 Speaker 1: have a best of three, Get over yourself the Grand 414 00:21:43,600 --> 00:21:47,600 Speaker 1: Finals at the MCG. What a brilliant competition to have 415 00:21:47,680 --> 00:21:50,520 Speaker 1: those two clubs playing at the best stadium in the land. 416 00:21:50,720 --> 00:21:56,439 Speaker 1: Best of three, you'll never die wondering. Like I do 417 00:21:56,520 --> 00:21:59,320 Speaker 1: agree with her, but I do love Andrew Pridham and 418 00:21:59,359 --> 00:22:01,600 Speaker 1: what he brings to the landscape. I think that he's 419 00:22:01,640 --> 00:22:04,479 Speaker 1: so important to have those people that keep challenging and 420 00:22:04,560 --> 00:22:07,359 Speaker 1: keep asking questions. But the next question is and I 421 00:22:07,440 --> 00:22:10,800 Speaker 1: feel strongly I'm a traditionalist. If it ain't broke, don't 422 00:22:10,840 --> 00:22:13,879 Speaker 1: fix it. But I deeply believe that the AFL Grand 423 00:22:13,880 --> 00:22:16,840 Speaker 1: Final would be a better spectacle as a twilight game. Ah. Yes, 424 00:22:17,119 --> 00:22:19,760 Speaker 1: the old time of day debate. It has to be. 425 00:22:20,520 --> 00:22:23,159 Speaker 1: It has to be. I mean, if you're Katie Perry 426 00:22:23,520 --> 00:22:26,080 Speaker 1: and you're coming out onto the field on the giant 427 00:22:26,160 --> 00:22:32,240 Speaker 1: duster buster is a description sure, yeap, either or both 428 00:22:32,320 --> 00:22:36,640 Speaker 1: great Australian things exactly, and you're singing firework and you've 429 00:22:36,640 --> 00:22:40,000 Speaker 1: got the Pirate tech and there's no lighting. It's bright, 430 00:22:40,359 --> 00:22:43,320 Speaker 1: the sun's in your eyes. Yeah. I mean I think 431 00:22:43,600 --> 00:22:46,399 Speaker 1: obviously with a specky show, I think if it's a 432 00:22:46,400 --> 00:22:49,840 Speaker 1: little bit darker, it would have looked better. But even 433 00:22:50,000 --> 00:22:52,720 Speaker 1: being at the MCG like, forget the entertainment because of 434 00:22:52,760 --> 00:22:56,800 Speaker 1: course that's going to look better underlights. The Brisbane Geelong 435 00:22:57,200 --> 00:23:01,960 Speaker 1: pre limb was perfect. Yep. It was perfect with that 436 00:23:02,040 --> 00:23:05,280 Speaker 1: five o'clock slot, Like, I just think it's that time, 437 00:23:05,320 --> 00:23:07,560 Speaker 1: and you know what if it's less, be honest, if 438 00:23:07,600 --> 00:23:09,879 Speaker 1: it's a broadcaster's fault and we wanted at two o'clock, 439 00:23:10,160 --> 00:23:13,720 Speaker 1: you're gonna watch all day anyway. Yep. The only reason 440 00:23:13,720 --> 00:23:15,639 Speaker 1: I could think that there would be arguments against is 441 00:23:15,760 --> 00:23:18,199 Speaker 1: God love Australians, but we do love a drink on 442 00:23:18,320 --> 00:23:21,000 Speaker 1: Grand Final day, so how blind would everyone be by 443 00:23:21,000 --> 00:23:23,040 Speaker 1: the time I got to five pm to watch the granny, 444 00:23:23,480 --> 00:23:24,960 Speaker 1: and you're just saying, you know, this has been a 445 00:23:25,080 --> 00:23:27,199 Speaker 1: very long week. Can we just start this already? The 446 00:23:27,240 --> 00:23:29,359 Speaker 1: Melbourne Bulldogs Grand Final in Perth that was in a 447 00:23:29,400 --> 00:23:32,359 Speaker 1: twilight slot to allow for the time difference, and that 448 00:23:32,440 --> 00:23:35,920 Speaker 1: also looked fantastic. Every year they defend this two thirty 449 00:23:35,920 --> 00:23:38,639 Speaker 1: slot because it comes up. I like a twilight fixture 450 00:23:38,640 --> 00:23:41,560 Speaker 1: as well. I agree, but I also think, you know, 451 00:23:41,640 --> 00:23:43,760 Speaker 1: one of the arguments they throw at it is, oh, 452 00:23:43,800 --> 00:23:46,439 Speaker 1: that's really family friendly having it at two thirty in 453 00:23:46,440 --> 00:23:50,280 Speaker 1: the afternoon. Everybody can watch without any dramas of it 454 00:23:50,320 --> 00:23:53,439 Speaker 1: being too late. You don't care during the season, No, 455 00:23:53,600 --> 00:23:56,359 Speaker 1: you're prying your eyes open to watch the end of 456 00:23:56,400 --> 00:24:00,639 Speaker 1: a semi because they're finishing at stupid o'clock seven to four. Start. 457 00:24:00,760 --> 00:24:04,359 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, I can't stay what like Again, granted, I 458 00:24:04,440 --> 00:24:07,400 Speaker 1: probably have some some indurances with my villainy to stay 459 00:24:07,400 --> 00:24:10,360 Speaker 1: awake late in the third drimester, but I was trying 460 00:24:10,359 --> 00:24:13,479 Speaker 1: to nap during the daid to plan to stay up. Like, 461 00:24:13,520 --> 00:24:15,200 Speaker 1: if the AFL really want to make the argument that 462 00:24:15,240 --> 00:24:17,160 Speaker 1: they're trying to make it family friendly by not having 463 00:24:17,200 --> 00:24:19,080 Speaker 1: a twilight, you have to look at what you're doing 464 00:24:19,080 --> 00:24:21,479 Speaker 1: mid seas during the season for sure, and I do 465 00:24:21,560 --> 00:24:23,640 Speaker 1: wonder whether that will change because that comes up as well. 466 00:24:23,680 --> 00:24:26,080 Speaker 1: But yeah, I like a twilight fixture as well. I 467 00:24:26,119 --> 00:24:32,119 Speaker 1: think there's got to be broadcast restrictions or preferences that 468 00:24:32,160 --> 00:24:34,679 Speaker 1: come into this, but yeah, I don't see why they 469 00:24:34,680 --> 00:24:36,560 Speaker 1: couldn't do it. People are going to watch no matter 470 00:24:36,600 --> 00:24:38,920 Speaker 1: what time of date is maybe clearly not if it's 471 00:24:38,920 --> 00:24:42,200 Speaker 1: too late, but I think it's also it probably is 472 00:24:42,240 --> 00:24:45,600 Speaker 1: about the teams as well, their movements. When can they leave, 473 00:24:46,280 --> 00:24:49,040 Speaker 1: how can they slink off like the Swans did in 474 00:24:49,200 --> 00:24:52,560 Speaker 1: deep disappointment? And well, I think something that we probably 475 00:24:52,600 --> 00:24:56,119 Speaker 1: haven't considered here is also the financial expectation of fans. 476 00:24:57,440 --> 00:25:00,520 Speaker 1: So the pilgrimage, and we do stories on week about 477 00:25:00,560 --> 00:25:03,600 Speaker 1: the fact that Quantus in virgin conveniently decided that a 478 00:25:03,600 --> 00:25:07,159 Speaker 1: flight from Brisbane or Sydney to Melbourne that week is 479 00:25:07,200 --> 00:25:10,359 Speaker 1: going to be exorbitantly more expensive. Then you have to 480 00:25:10,400 --> 00:25:13,160 Speaker 1: look for accommodation, which is again going to be spiking. 481 00:25:13,920 --> 00:25:17,040 Speaker 1: It's a lot more expensive for these fans to have 482 00:25:17,119 --> 00:25:20,600 Speaker 1: to travel into state to have the opportunity to go, 483 00:25:20,800 --> 00:25:24,280 Speaker 1: and that's a hindrance too. The thing is it takes 484 00:25:24,320 --> 00:25:27,920 Speaker 1: a lot of planning to free up grounds, the size 485 00:25:27,920 --> 00:25:32,040 Speaker 1: of the MCG probably even valid Sydney Stadium in advance 486 00:25:32,280 --> 00:25:35,200 Speaker 1: for events when you're factoring in not just the AFL, 487 00:25:35,240 --> 00:25:38,960 Speaker 1: but NRL concerts, whatever else is going on. So you 488 00:25:39,040 --> 00:25:42,520 Speaker 1: probably can't pivot that late on a game of that 489 00:25:42,640 --> 00:25:46,480 Speaker 1: magnitude and that size. True, it's probably going to be 490 00:25:46,520 --> 00:25:49,920 Speaker 1: difficult to say, you know what, oh man, a week out, 491 00:25:50,200 --> 00:25:52,760 Speaker 1: it's too into state teams. Maybe that means we should 492 00:25:52,840 --> 00:25:56,000 Speaker 1: change things. It's not going to be doable. That's the 493 00:25:56,040 --> 00:25:58,080 Speaker 1: reality of it. And I think the ex selling corporate 494 00:25:58,119 --> 00:26:00,680 Speaker 1: spaces because as you mentioned, a lot of people, particularly 495 00:26:00,680 --> 00:26:02,680 Speaker 1: for a Grand Final, which is why some people say 496 00:26:02,680 --> 00:26:05,560 Speaker 1: that the prelims actually have better atmosphere than a Grand 497 00:26:05,560 --> 00:26:08,359 Speaker 1: Final because they're the real fans, whereas a lot of 498 00:26:08,359 --> 00:26:10,760 Speaker 1: corporate boxes have just been sold that you know you're 499 00:26:10,800 --> 00:26:12,400 Speaker 1: going to a Grand Final, but you don't know who 500 00:26:12,400 --> 00:26:15,600 Speaker 1: particularly you're going to see. That's also something that I 501 00:26:15,640 --> 00:26:17,359 Speaker 1: think a lot of the fans when they have this argument, 502 00:26:17,400 --> 00:26:20,440 Speaker 1: don't consider is just how much is sold in advance. Yeah, 503 00:26:20,480 --> 00:26:23,040 Speaker 1: a lot of it is, And so yeah, the atmosphere 504 00:26:23,240 --> 00:26:26,600 Speaker 1: is different, and I mean there were i'd say good 505 00:26:26,680 --> 00:26:30,480 Speaker 1: contingent of interstate fans, particularly Sydney Swans fands there on 506 00:26:30,520 --> 00:26:33,720 Speaker 1: the weekend. Oh, it was so sad. You were sad. 507 00:26:33,880 --> 00:26:37,200 Speaker 1: I know it was sad. And you know the footage 508 00:26:37,200 --> 00:26:39,400 Speaker 1: of them at the airport on their return to Sydney. 509 00:26:39,440 --> 00:26:42,680 Speaker 1: Can you imagine driving home? It was like a funeral. Oh, 510 00:26:42,720 --> 00:26:46,959 Speaker 1: in mourning, in mourning. But I think speaking of a funeral, 511 00:26:47,000 --> 00:26:49,520 Speaker 1: I think that this argument is dead. I think I 512 00:26:49,600 --> 00:26:51,600 Speaker 1: think that I don't see it way it should be 513 00:26:51,640 --> 00:26:55,120 Speaker 1: at the MCG until what was it, fifty eight twenty four? 514 00:26:55,640 --> 00:26:58,520 Speaker 1: Just lock it in, Yeah, lock it in in our 515 00:26:58,600 --> 00:27:03,720 Speaker 1: completely impartial, non Victorian opinions. Hey, I like Queensland's warm. 516 00:27:04,160 --> 00:27:06,879 Speaker 1: I mean, if you said to me, you can go 517 00:27:06,920 --> 00:27:10,919 Speaker 1: to Brisbane and escape whatever is going on in Melbourne 518 00:27:10,920 --> 00:27:12,679 Speaker 1: at this time of year, we were lucky we had 519 00:27:12,840 --> 00:27:16,840 Speaker 1: nice weather, considering Sunday was horrendous then yesterday or Sunday 520 00:27:17,680 --> 00:27:23,000 Speaker 1: in the rain with the Brisbane Lions. Anyway, No, the 521 00:27:23,160 --> 00:27:31,680 Speaker 1: MCG forever, may it stay, Laura. It is time for 522 00:27:31,840 --> 00:27:34,520 Speaker 1: our fun fact And this is me being a little 523 00:27:34,520 --> 00:27:36,800 Speaker 1: bit cheeky, because really I wanted to have two good sports, 524 00:27:36,800 --> 00:27:39,119 Speaker 1: but we're allowed to have one. We try to limit it. 525 00:27:39,240 --> 00:27:42,160 Speaker 1: So I found a roundabout way of bringing another good 526 00:27:42,160 --> 00:27:45,280 Speaker 1: sport into the fun fact. So do you know what 527 00:27:45,359 --> 00:27:48,720 Speaker 1: the term medita means? I do not. So Medita is 528 00:27:48,760 --> 00:27:50,960 Speaker 1: a Buddhist term and it means and I love this 529 00:27:51,520 --> 00:27:56,400 Speaker 1: sympathetic joy, being able to find happiness in other people's 530 00:27:56,600 --> 00:27:58,879 Speaker 1: joy and the person that there's a term that you 531 00:27:58,880 --> 00:28:02,440 Speaker 1: can just take out into your But Oscar McInerney, has 532 00:28:02,520 --> 00:28:06,000 Speaker 1: anyone ever been more impressive in a Grand final week, 533 00:28:06,040 --> 00:28:10,360 Speaker 1: and also in a Grand final without actually playing, as 534 00:28:10,400 --> 00:28:13,240 Speaker 1: an example to young children about how you can be 535 00:28:13,720 --> 00:28:15,399 Speaker 1: when you're injured. And we saw that he had a 536 00:28:15,440 --> 00:28:19,920 Speaker 1: double dislocation in his shoulder. That footage, I can't watch it. 537 00:28:20,280 --> 00:28:23,000 Speaker 1: He is so much pain his face and the agony 538 00:28:23,040 --> 00:28:25,600 Speaker 1: and the realization that he's not going to be able 539 00:28:25,640 --> 00:28:27,360 Speaker 1: to play in a Grand Final. But it went back 540 00:28:27,400 --> 00:28:30,480 Speaker 1: out there anyway. But the way that he handled himself 541 00:28:30,520 --> 00:28:34,560 Speaker 1: this week, the way that he mentored Darcy fought in 542 00:28:34,600 --> 00:28:37,159 Speaker 1: the lead up to the Grand Final, he was just 543 00:28:37,200 --> 00:28:40,560 Speaker 1: so impressive. He was, And those pictures of him, if 544 00:28:40,560 --> 00:28:45,280 Speaker 1: you didn't see them, hugging Darcy for joy with such 545 00:28:45,360 --> 00:28:49,880 Speaker 1: joy after they'd won the premiership. He was so happy 546 00:28:49,960 --> 00:28:52,800 Speaker 1: for him and his teammates and it was earnest, it 547 00:28:52,920 --> 00:28:58,240 Speaker 1: was it was this authentic joy and I just went, oh, 548 00:28:58,360 --> 00:29:01,360 Speaker 1: it was so impressive. It is a a really nice 549 00:29:01,560 --> 00:29:05,680 Speaker 1: lesson for people because I think so often in competitive industries, 550 00:29:05,720 --> 00:29:08,440 Speaker 1: ours is another example of that. You know, you're looking 551 00:29:08,480 --> 00:29:11,320 Speaker 1: at other people that get opportunities, you find it really 552 00:29:11,400 --> 00:29:15,120 Speaker 1: hard to muster up the well done, you know, sometimes 553 00:29:15,160 --> 00:29:18,080 Speaker 1: it just falls that way. Yeah, but in his case, 554 00:29:18,200 --> 00:29:21,040 Speaker 1: it was a great example of someone who just got 555 00:29:21,080 --> 00:29:25,920 Speaker 1: some crap luck at the worst time and you know, 556 00:29:26,040 --> 00:29:30,360 Speaker 1: tapped his teammate on the back, mentored him and then 557 00:29:30,720 --> 00:29:33,200 Speaker 1: congratulated him on his performance. So he doesn't get a 558 00:29:33,200 --> 00:29:36,840 Speaker 1: Premiership medal. No, and I think that's something that should change. 559 00:29:36,880 --> 00:29:39,520 Speaker 1: All players that played in the final should receive a medal. Yeah, 560 00:29:39,560 --> 00:29:42,600 Speaker 1: and that's something that I think might get some serious 561 00:29:44,040 --> 00:29:46,080 Speaker 1: this example well yeah, and you know what, it was 562 00:29:46,120 --> 00:29:50,200 Speaker 1: the same last year with Taylor Adams for Collingwood and 563 00:29:50,240 --> 00:29:53,680 Speaker 1: Taylor Adams again this year arguably. Yeah. I mean, I 564 00:29:53,720 --> 00:29:56,760 Speaker 1: think the saving grace there is that they lost. Had 565 00:29:56,800 --> 00:30:00,240 Speaker 1: they won without him, that would have been really, really tough. Yeah, 566 00:30:00,280 --> 00:30:04,880 Speaker 1: I agree. I think he conducted himself so well, maybe 567 00:30:04,920 --> 00:30:08,800 Speaker 1: the reality will hit. Of course there's some sadness there, 568 00:30:09,000 --> 00:30:11,680 Speaker 1: of course there has to be. But I think the 569 00:30:11,680 --> 00:30:15,000 Speaker 1: way that he for me, I just think as a 570 00:30:15,000 --> 00:30:18,800 Speaker 1: young man that put himself out on was able to 571 00:30:19,000 --> 00:30:22,000 Speaker 1: handle himself the way that he did under so much 572 00:30:22,040 --> 00:30:25,120 Speaker 1: pressure with so many eyes on him, and it's what 573 00:30:25,160 --> 00:30:28,280 Speaker 1: you grow up dreaming of. And obviously the way that 574 00:30:28,320 --> 00:30:30,280 Speaker 1: the Lions have supported him, it says so much for 575 00:30:30,320 --> 00:30:32,720 Speaker 1: their club and their ethos. The fact that they had 576 00:30:32,720 --> 00:30:35,080 Speaker 1: his guernsey hanging up. We know they do the boxing 577 00:30:35,120 --> 00:30:36,640 Speaker 1: gloves as they run out and they all touch the 578 00:30:37,040 --> 00:30:41,040 Speaker 1: boxing gloves. They were also tapping his guernsey in the runout, 579 00:30:41,360 --> 00:30:43,239 Speaker 1: and that had obviously been part of the message. But 580 00:30:43,280 --> 00:30:46,280 Speaker 1: what terrifies me is I'm like, how motivated are they 581 00:30:46,320 --> 00:30:49,840 Speaker 1: going to be for next year to win him one? Yep, yep, 582 00:30:49,960 --> 00:30:51,920 Speaker 1: nat So let's get back there and do it again. 583 00:30:52,120 --> 00:30:55,680 Speaker 1: Got some great talent coming in as well. They're going 584 00:30:55,680 --> 00:30:58,000 Speaker 1: to be a force, I think sometimes and why we 585 00:30:58,080 --> 00:31:00,000 Speaker 1: love sports. It can be the example of the best 586 00:31:00,280 --> 00:31:03,240 Speaker 1: in people. And I think the moodita that we saw 587 00:31:03,400 --> 00:31:05,120 Speaker 1: in Oscar mac and there needs such a message for 588 00:31:05,200 --> 00:31:07,479 Speaker 1: kids and a message for everyone that you can find 589 00:31:08,080 --> 00:31:11,720 Speaker 1: in yourself in a really, really, as you said, cracky situation, 590 00:31:12,600 --> 00:31:15,240 Speaker 1: the ability to find joy for other people. Let's just 591 00:31:15,320 --> 00:31:17,120 Speaker 1: hang that up in our office, shall we. App Yeah, 592 00:31:17,120 --> 00:31:19,880 Speaker 1: I think we should. I think I think we should 593 00:31:19,880 --> 00:31:22,000 Speaker 1: also hang up the mics for this episode. Thank you 594 00:31:22,080 --> 00:31:25,160 Speaker 1: so much for listening to Two Good Sports and iHeart production, Laura. 595 00:31:25,240 --> 00:31:27,920 Speaker 1: Thank you as always for coming in. We've absolutely loved it. 596 00:31:27,960 --> 00:31:31,040 Speaker 1: Please follow us at two Good Sports Podcasts. We'll catch 597 00:31:31,080 --> 00:31:32,720 Speaker 1: you next week and where I'm sure it's going to 598 00:31:32,760 --> 00:31:35,560 Speaker 1: be a NRL. We've had our AFL stint. It's going 599 00:31:35,600 --> 00:31:37,880 Speaker 1: to be talking about whoever comes out on top in 600 00:31:37,920 --> 00:31:40,320 Speaker 1: the Grand Final. But until then, be a good sport.