I applaud the AFLW’s call not to lock in their grand final venue and - as a still-bitter Adelaide fan - wonder why the AFL don’t follow suit.

“We’ve set the location of the grand final venue in each state and communicated that with the clubs as part of the fixture release, and so that’s where the grand final will be played in each location, with no plan to move it,” AFL footy operations GM Laura Kane said on Friday.

So essentially whoever finishes highest on the ladder will get a home grand final with each State having allocated stadiums.

Playing the AFL grand final at the MCG is just what the league has always done, COVID years aside. As a bitter South Australian, it makes me wonder if Adelaide played the 2017 decider at Adelaide Oval (remember they were minor premiers) would we still have been thumped by Richmond, who were playing at their home venue?

Maybe, yes, and maybe as a Victorian it’s hard to get your head around because its never been done any differently. But it does make you question.

This injustice doesn’t exist in the women’s league. The women get home-state advantage with their own ground and sleeping in their own beds and hopefully winning in front of their own crowd as reward for their efforts during the home and away season. I love it.

We firstly need to understand that the timing of the AFLW means Optus Stadium, Adelaide Oval, the Gabba, MCG and SCG are cricket ovals, so they can’t be used. So then the question about Marvel Stadium comes in to play.

Why isn’t this used when the last two grand finals were sold out within a day, as 12,000- and 8000-capacity stadiums were the ones on offer?

And, I get that, and maybe we need to give it a go before I say we won’t fill Docklands but ticket trends throughout the season suggest we won’t so we need to look at this objectively.

The women’s grand final doesn’t attract the same amount of fans, doesn’t have the same amount of clout, and doesn’t have Robbie Williams playing at half-time. The game is still growing to this and, when it does, it’s a different conversation.

More purpose-built infrastructures for AFLW in each State is what I would rather be pressuring, which is good for everyone. I’m talking about upgrading Norwood Oval, or giving Fremantle Oval some real grandstands. It’s good for the game to have better-sized grounds for the women’s game and much needed facilities that are up to scratch.

And, it means we can keep the women’s tradition of a rotating grand final, rather than buying in to the men’s tradition of keeping it at one venue.

Bigger isn’t always better.