Sports · Other Sports · 8 hrs ago
Geelong and Gold Coast may have to play AFLW finals away from home venues
Geelong has climbed to second on the AFLW ladder under coach Mick Stinear and has won its last eight games.
The Cats are poised to host a qualifying final, but GMHBA Stadium in Geelong is booked for the AUSX Supercross Championship.
Their possible alternatives are Ikon Park or Whitten Oval.
Gold Coast is fourth and, if it loses its first-week final against North Melbourne, may have to host another final.
Its usual ground, People First Stadium in Carrara, is booked for cricket, so the Suns may instead play in Ipswich.
The AFL and both clubs knew about the venue clashes before the season and are working through options.
The situation could leave teams and supporters without finals at their usual home grounds.
Geelong and Gold Coast may have to play AFLW finals away from their home venues because of booking clashes.
Geelong are poised to host a qualifying final but cannot use GMHBA Stadium, which is booked for the AUSX Supercross Championship.
If Gold Coast lose their first-week final, they would host a match but People First Stadium is booked for cricket.
The clubs are working through options with the AFL and other parties, according to sources familiar with the situation.
Former Port Adelaide AFLW coach Lauren Arnell said the venue issues were disappointing and reflected the league’s ongoing development.
- Who
- Geelong and Gold Coast, two AFLW clubs.
- What
- Both may be unable to use their home venues for finals because of booking clashes.
- When
- As the 2026 AFLW finals approach.
- Where
- Geelong’s GMHBA Stadium and Gold Coast’s People First Stadium.
- Why
- GMHBA Stadium is booked for the AUSX Supercross Championship, while People First Stadium is booked for cricket.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
A large percentage of Geelong supporters live in and around the Geelong area, so I think that would be disappointing no doubt
There’s obviously financial constraints within AFLW 11 seasons in, and that’s a clear element of the decisions that have been made here.
the league is nowhere near the finished product
I would make some heavy assumptions that the Geelong decision with GMHBA Stadium is around money … and so it’s really just another sign of where the league is currently at
Sources familiar with the situation said the AFL and both clubs knew about the double-bookings.
The league announced the AFLW grand final would be held on Friday, November 27, to avoid a clash with the Victorian state election.
The SMH reported that Geelong and Gold Coast may have to play finals away from their home venues.
- Geelong’s ladder position
- Second
- Geelong’s winning streak
- Eight games
- Geelong venue clash
- GMHBA Stadium is booked for the AUSX Supercross Championship.
- Gold Coast’s ladder position
- Fourth
- Gold Coast venue clash
- People First Stadium is booked for cricket.
- AFLW grand final date
- Friday, November 27
Sources
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