Football chiefs "enlisted the Victorian Government" to convince the Australian Football League "to play ball in the codes’ bitter grand final ground dispute," according to Davutovic, Baker & Windley of the HERALD SUN. Football Federation Australia "wants Etihad Stadium freed for a potential A-League decider on Sunday, May 17 and held talks as recently as last week with the Labor government to garner support." But Western Bulldogs President Peter Gordon said shifting its Round 7 game against Fremantle on that date to Simonds Stadium "has got some formidable problems." The MCG "has been booked for the A-League on Friday, May 15 in case of an all-Melbourne grand final." But FFA "is otherwise adamant that if Etihad is not made available to it on its preferred Sunday grand final date it will not play at AAMI Park." It said that "the 30,000-capacity venue is too small to host its showpiece event." The AFL "has not yet ruled out a rare fixture switch, but is unlikely to budge despite being lobbied by a government that is aware of the economic benefits that come with hosting an A-League decider." The Bulldogs and Dockers "drew a crowd of just 14,913 at Etihad Stadium last June." Three A-League grand finals at the ground "have averaged 51,090" (
HERALD SUN, 3/3).
