Simonds Stadium could be the “key that unlocks Football Federation Australia’s stoush” with the Australian Football League over use of Etihad Stadium for its grand final, according to Matt Windley of the HERALD SUN. AFL side Geelong CEO Brian Cook said “a couple of months notice” would need to be given before moving the May 17 Western Bulldogs-Fremantle game "down the highway." A “war of words erupted between the two governing bodies in October” after the AFL blocked FFA from pre-booking either Docklands or the MCG for its grand final. The move could see Melbourne Victory, currently the A-League title "favourite and last remaining undefeated team," forced to host a grand final interstate as FFA “does not want to play its showpiece event at the 30,000 capacity AAMI Park.” FFA chiefs will resume talks with the newly elected Labor state government in the coming weeks and they “remain hopeful a resolution can be reached.” Cook said, “There would also have to be a deal with Etihad because of the minimum number of games that are contracted to them. It becomes a governance issue, but if you can get through the governance issue then it becomes an issue of whether you really want to give your opposition a free kick. And Melbourne Victory are in opposition to Australian Rules. That’s another issue.” Broadcasters, Bulldogs members, corporates, caterers, parking staff and hotels are “just some of the stakeholders that need to be considered if a switch is entertained.” With that in mind, Cook said a decision needed to be made “sooner rather than later” (HERALD SUN, 12/11).
