By: James Bresnehan - Mercury
TASMANIA has been guaranteed back-to-back VFL home finals if the Devils beat Frankston in their second elimination final at Bellerive Oval on Sunday.
VFL boss Ken Gannon confirmed yesterday that the red-hot Devils, who are on a nine-game winning streak, would play the first semi-final at home if they get past the Dolphins.
Football Victoria pockets the money for all finals gates.
The lure of an anticipated 10,000 to 12,000 Tasmanian crowd would make the league's hierarchy happy.
"It is our policy that if Tasmania finishes in the top eight, they get two finals, but not a third one," Gannon said.
"If they were to win this week, they would get another home final the following week.
"But if they win that one, they then come to Melbourne for the preliminary final, as they did last year.
"The only way for Tasmania to get a home preliminary final would be if they finished in the top four.
"They would host a home qualifying final and, if they won that, they would get a home preliminary final."
Devils president Guy Abel believes Sunday's sunny forecast and the absence of other local football will bring fans out in droves.
"We expect up to 12,000 people to the game and I think the VFL would be very happy about that," Abel said.
"It's a 2pm start, so I would urge people not to get to the ground at 1.30.
"Get there a bit after 1pm - otherwise you'll be lining up knee-deep in the water on Bellerive Beach because that's how long the line will be if everyone gets there at 1.30."
Coach Mathew Armstrong is concerned that the warm day will drain his running players.
He will decide today whether to take in a horde of ball-movers.
Sunday's match will be the Devils' 100th in the VFL since they entered the competition in 2001.
Last Modified on 26/08/2005 11:02