Drawing the Right Conclusion

The weekend’s drawn AFL Grand Final between Collingwood and St Kilda has caused an astronomical number of issues, with the most prominent being whether or not a full replay of the game one week later is the best way to decide a deserving winner. For the AFL, of course, it’s a terrific idea, for they will almost double their projected income from holding Australia’s most talked about annual sporting event twice in one season.
But for the players and spectators, the prospect of having to do it all over again is draining, and may result in the eventual winner forever having an asterisk beside the tag of 2010 Premiers. Already, a plea has come from the AFL Players Association earlier today that the players be financially compensated for having to front up again next Saturday. The 100,016 fans who attended the game last week, only to walk away without a result, also have the right to feel somewhat cheated. Some had lined up for days to secure a seat, while others paid as much as 10 times the recommended retail price to ensure they were there to witness the event. And this is very much just the tip of the iceberg goes when you consider the extent of this logistical nightmare – after-match functions canceled, the issue of whether to repeat Grand Final week functions, and the implications of all stakeholders’ end-of-season plans.
Despite the fall-out though, every single person attending the match, and probably 99% of those watching at home, knew exactly what would happen if both teams were level when the final siren sounded. It is a unique yet very much traditional part of VFL and AFL Grand Finals – and this is the third time it has happened in a competition just over 100 years old. I think it should stay.
Two extra periods of five minutes each just don’t seem to justify a winner after they have played 120 minutes already and neither has outscored the other. While it may appear greedy now, the AFL has always had this system in place, and the 1977 Grand Final is one of the most talked about now due it having to be played twice. Brendon Goddard’s towering mark and goal late in the game won’t be any less remembered because it saved a Grand Final rather than won a Grand Final.
The physical toll on the players is another issue, and they should indeed be well compensated by the AFL for having to delay and possibly reduce their holiday periods – especially when you consider Shane O’Bree, whose wedding is (was) planned to be held in Bali this weekend, with quite a few participating players on the guest list.