Kangaroos hold hope for future AFLW grand final shift
Shayne Hope |
North Melbourne premiership coach Darren Crocker isn’t convinced the AFLW grand final would draw a large enough crowd to justify being played at Marvel Stadium at this stage.
The Kangaroos will face the Brisbane Lions in the season decider for a third straight year at a sold-out Ikon Park on Saturday night.
A crowd of about 12,500 is expected, similar to that drawn by the two sides in the previous two seasons.
It comes amid ongoing calls for Melbourne-based AFLW grand finals to be played at AFL-owned Marvel Stadium, which has a capacity of more than 53,000.
“We love playing here to a packed stadium and we get great support here,” Crocker said at Ikon Park on Friday.
“When the game can actually justify filling a Marvel Stadium, I think that’s the time to move it.
“I’m not too sure whether that’s right now, but I know the players would love to play at Marvel one day, when the game can sustain filling that.
“And I’m sure as coaches we’d love to coach there.
“But whether we could sell that out at this stage, I’m not too sure.”
League boss Emma Moore said earlier this month the AFLW grand final will only be moved to Marvel Stadium when she is confident the game would sell out.
A record AFLW crowd of more than 53,000 attended the 2019 grand final at Adelaide Oval.
But the league, now in its 10th season, has endured fluctuating attendances and television ratings in recent years.
North Melbourne superstar Jasmine Garner hopes the AFLW can build to a point where the decider warrants being played at Marvel Stadium.
“We would all love to play at Marvel. Watching the men’s (games) on TV, it’s just a great stadium,” Garner said.
“But at the same time I know we’ll get a lot of North supporters here tomorrow night.
“For the time being, we love playing here, but hopefully one day we can pack out Marvel as well.”
AAP
