AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou has fired a shot at Fremantle, guaranteeing any Dockers member a seat at Simonds Stadium, while he has slammed the West Australian Football Commission's (WAFC) decision to host a rugby union Test at Patersons Stadium during the finals.
The AFL's decision to hold the Cats' qualifying final against the Dockers at Simonds Stadium in Geelong has received plenty of criticism from the west.
Fremantle president Steve Harris claimed last week that his club's supporters would miss out on tickets if the match was held at the 33,500-capacity Simonds Stadium but Demetriou has rubbished suggestion the decision was unfair or done purely for financial reasons.
Demetriou also took a shot at the Dockers, claiming they would struggle to use their allocation of 4,000 tickets for the qualifying final.
"I can assure you that any Fremantle supporter who wants a ticket, or a member, will get a ticket," Demetriou said on Monday.
"We've made 4,000 tickets available and my guess is the 4,000 won't be taken up.
"But any Fremantle supporter or member who wants a ticket will turn up."
Demetriou was in a prickly mood at the launch of the AFL finals series and also had a crack at the WAFC, which operates Patersons Stadium in Perth.
The AFL boss made clear his displeasure at the WAFC's decision to host the Wallabies' Rugby Championship clash against Argentina on September 14, which means Collingwood or Port Adelaide will only get a six-day break between their first and second finals, if Fremantle lose to the Cats.
"It was a decision that the football commission shouldn't have made," Demetriou said.
"It is true that once that (rugby union) game is stuck on a Saturday night, it limits our opportunities to play the final to a Friday night or Sunday.
"We're not happy with that decision, it does compromise our finals and unfortunately we could be in the same position next year.
"I understand that the football commission has a contract for another game next September so again we'll face that issue.
"Not being disrespectful but Australia-Argentina on the Saturday night isn't really of interest to us.
"We're more interested in Fremantle or West Coast Eagles playing in the finals.
"It's (next year) something where we'll have to appeal to rugby to move the game.
"It could all have been avoided if they had played that game on Sunday."