AFLW Grand Final Venue Sparks Heated Debate
A fiery debate has erupted over the location of the AFLW grand final, pitting expert commentator Kate McCarthy against North Melbourne president Sonja Hood. The controversy ignited after the AFL confirmed that any Victorian club earning hosting rights for the decider would play under lights at the 12,000-capacity Ikon Park.
The Case for Ikon Park's Boutique Atmosphere
Carlton's training base at Ikon Park holds significant historical importance for the women's competition, having hosted the inaugural AFLW game in 2017 plus numerous finals and grand finals. The boutique stadium creates an electric atmosphere when packed to capacity, easily selling out for major matches. North Melbourne president Sonja Hood strongly supports this approach, telling the ABC she believes Ikon Park is perfect for the current stage of the competition's development.
"I like the game at Ikon Park — but it's not the long-term answer and it's not the long-term answer for anybody," Hood stated. "The atmosphere there is terrific and filling it is terrific. Half-filling Marvel Stadium, if that's what we ended up doing, would just be deflating I think." Hood expressed concern about the lack of longer-term planning for facilities and the game's future needs rather than the immediate venue choice.
McCarthy's Fiery Response to Stadium Capacity Concerns
Kate McCarthy delivered a sharp rebuttal to Hood's comments during Channel 7's Talking W program, questioning the logic behind limiting grand final attendance. "I think it's interesting that Sonja Hood has made comments about a half-full Marvel, considering her club's men's side averaged 23,961 at their home games this year," McCarthy pointed out.
The AFLW expert argued that even 23,000 spectators at Marvel Stadium would significantly exceed Ikon Park's 12,000 capacity. She emphasized that the atmosphere of a grand final with 23,000 fans would be fundamentally different from a regular Sunday afternoon men's match. McCarthy challenged the notion that having more people at the game could be negative for a growing competition.
"In a competition that's growing, how do you not want more people at the game?" she questioned. McCarthy highlighted that casual AFLW fans often decide to attend games on the day, but sold-out venues at Ikon Park prevent this spontaneous participation.
Historical Precedent and Future Considerations
The discussion recalls the inaugural 2017 AFLW match between Collingwood and Carlton, where former AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan famously had to turn away fans from a packed Ikon Park. While disappointing for those locked out, the incident demonstrated the enormous excitement and demand surrounding women's football.
Talking W co-host Riley Beveridge suggested this memory might influence the AFL's preference for Ikon Park, creating an exclusivity factor that makes tickets highly sought-after. However, he noted the successful precedent of Adelaide Oval selling out its 50,000 capacity for a previous grand final, creating an spectacular showcase for the sport.
McCarthy concluded that the league shouldn't place artificial limits on growth. "Why not have the opportunity to have more than 12,000 people at a game that's sold out for two years in a row now in two hours? I just don't see why we're putting a ceiling on it," she argued. With North Melbourne positioned as red-hot favourites for a second consecutive AFLW premiership, the venue debate adds extra intrigue to this year's finals series.
