David HardingPies query KGV finals snub
August 29th 2010 04:22
Sourced: The Mercury - The Voice of Tasmania
by THE MERCURY
GLENORCHY was never expecting a home final in this year's State League but coach Ben Reid admits the club is still "bemused" by AFL Tasmania's decision not to use KGV as a finals venue.
The Magpies meet North Hobart whose home ground was written off for finals by AFL Tasmania general manager Scott Wade last week at Bellerive today, with the loser sent packing from the premiership race.
Reid said he couldn't understand why league administrators didn't consider KGV worthy of finals action, despite the SFL moving this year to use the venue for its preliminary and grand finals.
"The surface is certainly as good as some other preferred finals venues and the facilities are catching up real quick," Reid said.
"We would have loved to have a home final and we feel as though, in this instance, we probably deserved one.
"Two weeks ago, we drew a really good crowd to the North Hobart-Glenorchy game and the atmosphere was terrific.
"How one competition can consider it their preferred premier venue and another says it's not up to finals footy is a bit bemusing but so are a lot of decisions coming out of Argyle St recently.
"There will still be a decent crowd but considering the groundswell of public support in the last couple of days, they love going to North Hobart and they love going to KGV.
"There is a strong feeling Bellerive lacks atmosphere. They [AFL Tasmania] have got to get back in touch with what the general football public and, just as importantly, clubs and players want."
Bellerive appears to favour neither side, with the Magpies and Demons having far from impressive recent results at the ground.
North Hobart has not won there since round 10 in 2008 and has lost its past five and the Magpies have lost four of their past five at the ground.
However, Glenorchy does take a slight mental edge over the Demons into the clash after beating them all three times this season but Reid said the slate was wiped clean when it came to finals.
"It does give you a deal of confidence, having had three solid victories over them this year, but at the same time we are well aware it doesn't entitle us to anything it doesn't give us a head start," he said.
"We have to start well and get ourselves in the game and look to play four good, hard, consistent quarters.
"Particularly in sudden-death finals, you don't want to fall behind and start chasing and trying to catch up with that scoreboard."
by THE MERCURY
GLENORCHY was never expecting a home final in this year's State League but coach Ben Reid admits the club is still "bemused" by AFL Tasmania's decision not to use KGV as a finals venue.
The Magpies meet North Hobart whose home ground was written off for finals by AFL Tasmania general manager Scott Wade last week at Bellerive today, with the loser sent packing from the premiership race.
Reid said he couldn't understand why league administrators didn't consider KGV worthy of finals action, despite the SFL moving this year to use the venue for its preliminary and grand finals.
"The surface is certainly as good as some other preferred finals venues and the facilities are catching up real quick," Reid said.
"We would have loved to have a home final and we feel as though, in this instance, we probably deserved one.
"Two weeks ago, we drew a really good crowd to the North Hobart-Glenorchy game and the atmosphere was terrific.
"How one competition can consider it their preferred premier venue and another says it's not up to finals footy is a bit bemusing but so are a lot of decisions coming out of Argyle St recently.
"There will still be a decent crowd but considering the groundswell of public support in the last couple of days, they love going to North Hobart and they love going to KGV.
"There is a strong feeling Bellerive lacks atmosphere. They [AFL Tasmania] have got to get back in touch with what the general football public and, just as importantly, clubs and players want."
Bellerive appears to favour neither side, with the Magpies and Demons having far from impressive recent results at the ground.
North Hobart has not won there since round 10 in 2008 and has lost its past five and the Magpies have lost four of their past five at the ground.
However, Glenorchy does take a slight mental edge over the Demons into the clash after beating them all three times this season but Reid said the slate was wiped clean when it came to finals.
"It does give you a deal of confidence, having had three solid victories over them this year, but at the same time we are well aware it doesn't entitle us to anything it doesn't give us a head start," he said.
"We have to start well and get ourselves in the game and look to play four good, hard, consistent quarters.
"Particularly in sudden-death finals, you don't want to fall behind and start chasing and trying to catch up with that scoreboard."
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