A-League grand finals in Sydney could end in ‘disaster’

AUSTRALIAN football great Matt McKay has voiced his worries about the upcoming A-Leagues grand finals set to take place in Sydney.

Despite a large amount of backlash from all involved in the game, the APL has re-affirmed its agreement with the NSW Government to move the next three A-League’s Grand Finals to Sydney.

As a player, McKay was a part of one of the greatest grand finals in A-League history where the Roar scored two goals in the final three minutes of extra-time before taking out the title on penalties.

Speaking to SEN, McKay explained why the A-Leagues shouldn’t follow the AFL or NRL’s traditions with having a host city for the decider.

“It’s hard to process their thought behind it, obviously I completely understand, but we are not rugby league, they have it (the grand final) Sydney because they have ten plus clubs there,” McKay said on SEN 1170 Afternoons.

“Melbourne you have the AFL final there because you have the majority of the clubs there, we are a genuine national game.

“I can just see it being a disaster if we have a Melbourne Victory-Melbourne City final, or a Brisbane-Melbourne [final] in Sydney, it’s just going to be a disaster.”

The 2022 A-League Men’s grand final saw just under 25,000 fans watch Melbourne City take on state-rivals Western United, falling 6000 people short of filling out AAMI Park.

“I know it comes down to dollars and I guess the government has really put out to try and do something, and they’re trying to create something,” McKay said.

“The one thing I can give the A-Leagues credit for is they’re trying hard to do new things, but they didn’t think this one through well enough.

“I can get into the process behind it, they’ve obviously done it for a reason and they’re trying to get that out there by saying they’re building a culture and tradition, but I feel there could be other ways to do that.

“You have to be transparent with how these things are run.”

– BY DOMINIC CRINITI/ SEN