Footy fans accuse the AFL of making a shocking error with the field for the grand final – but there’s an explanation

The 2024 AFL Grand Final is just days away, with the Brisbane Lions taking on the Sydney Swans. But fans are already furious over an apparent on-field error.

Saturday’s deciding match is the first between two interstate clubs since West Coast beat Sydney in a thrilling match in 2006, which has dampened the excitement in Melbourne at the start of the week.

The MCG pitch appears to be in excellent condition ahead of the match, but some fans are complaining about a mistake in the team logos, pointing out that Brisbane is on the left and Sydney on the right, when it should be the other way around.

Traditionally, the AFL places the home team’s logo at the front. Although neither team was Victorian in this year’s deciding game, the Swans won the minor premiership and should be on the left.

An X user posted a photo of the MCG on Wednesday and complained: ‘The logos are the wrong way round.’

“I never understand how they do that. It happens all the time,” another replied.

Other social media users have indicated that the reason for the swap is to ensure the logos match where the teams’ benches are located on the field.

A similar situation arose last year when the Lions – who finished second in the table – had their logo displayed on the left side of the MCG when they played minor champions Collingwood in the Grand Final.

The Swans (pictured against Brisbane in round 19 this year) finished in the minor premiers this year, with the Lions finishing the home and away season in fifth place

The Lions flew to Melbourne on Wednesday and the Swans will join them on Thursday.

Both teams have already made a decision on their early selection, thanks to the injuries they have suffered.

Brisbane replace ruckman Oscar McInerney (shoulder) with understudy Darcy Fort, while Sydney omitted disabled captain Callum Mills on Wednesday, with all-rounder Robbie Fox expected to retain his place.

Dane Rampe is tipped to captain the Swans in Mills’ absence, while the Lions have co-captains Harris Andrews and Lachie Neale available.

Both clubs must announce their teams by Thursday evening at the latest.

Minor champions Sydney will be hoping to avoid a fourth finals defeat in 11 years, including a crushing defeat to Geelong in 2022.

Coach John Longmire is chasing the second championship title in his successful coaching career, after his victory in 2012.

Brisbane are looking to bounce back from last season’s heartbreaking finals defeat to Collingwood and claim Chris Fagan’s first Premier League title, the first time the club has been crowned since 2003.

The 2024 AFL deciding match kicks off on Saturday, September 28 at 2:30pm AEST

The Lions, who finished the season in fifth place, are bidding to become the second team to win the championship title after the Western Bulldogs defeated Sydney in the 2016 decider.

“If you dare to dream, it gives me goosebumps… it has a lot of similarities (to 2016), but we all know you just have to do your job,” current Lions and Premier League Bulldogs midfielder Josh Dunkley said this week.

Brisbane decided to travel to Melbourne a day early to get in an extra training session before Saturday’s match.

The Lions will be unable to train at the MCG on Thursday and will instead train at Punt Road Oval due to pop star Katy Perry’s rehearsals in preparation for Saturday’s grand final.

The captains and coaches will address the media for the final time before taking part in the grand final parade on Friday.

The AFL has already confirmed that Lions coach Leigh Matthews will present the Premiership Cup if Brisbane win, while former Sydney captain Stuart Maxfield will receive the same honour if the Swans win.

The week of the grand final did not go smoothly for the competition headquarters.

This week, at least 1,000 corporate hospitality tickets for the match were illegally downloaded, forcing the league to cancel the barcodes on the affected tickets.

The planned delivery of these tickets was delayed on Tuesday, while replacement tickets were to be distributed.

But general manager Andrew Dillon is confident the league avoided a ticket sales disaster.