The venue for this year's AFLW grand final has come under scrutiny, with ABC commentator Chyloe Kurdas questioning whether the new Springfield training base is suitable for the occasion. The Brisbane Lions will host Melbourne at the facility, which holds around 8,000 spectators, with only 600 seats. Previous grand finals have been held at much larger venues, including Adelaide Oval (53,500 capacity) and Princes Park (24,500).
Brisbane secured home-field advantage after claiming the minor premiership by a narrow margin. However, with the Gabba configured for cricket and Carrara unavailable, the Lions considered moving the match to Cairns before the AFL cleared the newly laid Springfield surface on Friday. Kurdas noted that the surface was laid only a month ago, and the women's team has not yet trained on it.
Kurdas argued that playing the decider in a smaller venue could limit the game's growth. 'My head's still very much around that you're developing a product and you're developing a fanbase,' she told ABC Summer Grandstand. 'The biggest game in the calendar year is probably the opportunity to get new eyes.' She compared the situation to Richmond's semifinal against the Kangaroos at Punt Road, which has a capacity of 2,500, a decision criticized by Kangaroos skipper Emma Kearney.
Lions chief executive Greg Swann defended the choice, stating in a statement that the players are 'very excited' to play at home. He described Springfield as 'an AFL accredited stadium, with full broadcast compliance, excellent public transport and parking,' and said it was designed for a festive atmosphere with a hill for spectators and food trucks. Swann added that the venue will help grow women's footy in Queensland.
