The AFL’s message to the top four is clear – win your last game if you want to choose your finals venue.
In a thrilling climax to the home-and-away season, top-two heavyweights Melbourne and Geelong clash for the minor premiership, while third-placed Port Adelaide meets the fourth-placed Western Bulldogs.
The Demons, Cats and Power can all finish the season on top of the ladder. The Dogs can finish as high as second or slip out of the top four.
Should it earn the right, Melbourne wants to host a qualifying final at an empty MCG instead of travelling interstate.
Demons chief executive Gary Pert has been campaigning hard behind the scenes, but his words have so far fallen on deaf ears at AFL House.
The league has told Melbourne – and all other finalists - that its strong desire is to play the year’s most important games in front of crowds.
So Instead of the MCG, GMHBA or Marvel Stadium, Victorian-based finalists who earn home ground advantage will be given a choice from a set of AFL interstate options.
What remains unclear is whether the same rules will apply to Port Adelaide and Brisbane should they earn the right to a home final.
The AFL is yet to provide an answer, as recently as yesterday, on the issue.
Lions chief executive Greg Swann yesterday told Dwayne’s World he expected the club to play a home final at the Gabba.