Finals 2021

[Pates 9,660]

7 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

I agree with you.

There’s no home ground advantage, and after begging and pleading to finish top 2 all year, I don’t really care anymore.

Saturday night is a dead rubber unless we have to win to avoid Port over there in week 1.

That’s it, dogs win on Friday I wouldn’t be surprised if Scott and Goody have a “gentleman’s agreement” to not go as hard at the ball. 

I would definitely prefer us playing Port at a stadium of our choice but none of the top 4 send shivers down my spine so I’d prefer fit players over getting the Dogs. 

[Pates 9,660]

11 hours ago, PaulRB said:

Let’s pick Alice Springs.

 

I would love this but NT are as twitchy as WA. But how awesome would that be for Alice Springs to host and AFL final. Us CHOOSING them as well would surely boost the local community’s support for us. 

It’s unlikely but put it to the AFL (publicly as well at the same time). 

[Dr. Gonzo 24,235]

1 hour ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Hadn't thought of that one but that's more of a home ground advantage than Adelaide Oval or Gabba, which is where I reckon the AFL (not us) will urge us to play.

Alice Springs against either geelong or Bulldogs would be great. Doubt either have played there before. Port Adelaide would probably be happy to play there, they've olayed there a few times from memory and generally draw a crowd. 

Having said that NT went into lockdown yesterday didn't they? So may not be an option.

[brendan 3,437]

So if port win Friday do we just say stuff it and rest players as we have to go interstate anyway so I see no point in risking our stars and just go play port 1st week, will be an interesting weekend 

[Ollie fan 3,421]

My expectation is that the way Goody speaks and the approach he  has always adopted, means that we will be going as hard as possible to win on Saturday night, as we should.

[GCDee 3,199]

For selfish reasons I'd love for the finals to be in QLD IF there is no way they can be played in Melbourne. 

However Adelaide oval would [censored] all over the Gabba for atmosphere in a big final and you would get a much larger turn out there. 

WA can GAGF.

I guess if we finish higher than Port and match up against them I'd expect we play in QLD. Everyone else play at Adelaide oval Inc the grand final. 

[The Jackson FIX 3,169]

39 minutes ago, brendan said:

So if port win Friday do we just say stuff it and rest players as we have to go interstate anyway so I see no point in risking our stars and just go play port 1st week, will be an interesting weekend 

Um, no.

[Lucifers Hero 39,976]

Looking at the injury lists, top 8 teams are in pretty good shape.  

https://www.afl.com.au/matches/injury-list

Ignoring the 'Test' players for the top 4 contenders:

• Brisbane:  Hipwood, Raynor out for the season.  They have had time to rejig their line up/play to contend.
• Geelong:  Stewart out for the season.  Tuohy 1-2 weeks.  Duncan 1-3 weeks.  No prefinals bye hurts them.  Can they stay in contention long enough to get the latter two back.
• Melbourne:  Hunt 3-4 weeks.  We will cover him.  Hope we stay in contention long enough to get him back.
• Port:  Jones 1-2 weeks, Hartlett 2-3 weeks.  Can cover them.
• Bulldogs: Bruce an Mc Clean out for the season.  Have other problems besides injuries.

Ess, Syd, GWS are also in good shape re injuries.  

[Demon17 5,188]

1 hour ago, Pates said:

That’s it, dogs win on Friday I wouldn’t be surprised if Scott and Goody have a “gentleman’s agreement” to not go as hard at the ball. 

I would definitely prefer us playing Port at a stadium of our choice but none of the top 4 send shivers down my spine so I’d prefer fit players over getting the Dogs. 

Agreed.  We all need to be Dogs supporters big time on Friday.

Then in the words of the inimitable Mitch Robinson, we play bruise-free footy on Saturday.  

Interestingly, Goodys demeanour is that we want to win any game , which I agree with in my head.  But gee, just give Maxy 75% game time, and rest Salem .

[Cheesy D. Pun 1,765]

1 hour ago, binman said:

Its actually narrower i think.

Which is weird. 

Cricket is the only other team sport that comes to mind that does not have uniform size playing field. 

I love this about our sport. 

[hardtack 10,555]

Can we please cease and desist with the “it’s a conspiracy, the AFL is out to get us (MFC)” posts. These are very difficult times and the AFL is trying their best to work logistical miracles with the continually moving target that the virus creates. If we’re good enough, we should be able to win regardless of where we have to play.

[Demonland 72,236]

 

[Demonsone 2,042]

34 minutes ago, hardtack said:

Can we please cease and desist with the “it’s a conspiracy, the AFL is out to get us (MFC)” posts. These are very difficult times and the AFL is trying their best to work logistical miracles with the continually moving target that the virus creates. If we’re good enough, we should be able to win regardless of where we have to play.

No doubt the AFL has a very hard job to continue to run the comp inc running the finals & gf to meet the commercial agreements of so many plus provide integrity to the finalist...lets hope the integrity isn't thrown out the window to appease sponsors, tv so we can have 15-20k at a game and not  reward the higher finishing teams. The fairest outcome would be to move the whole final series inc GF to Perth as no WA team will be playing in the Finals...but WA premiers is to [censored].

[Pulp Fritschon 753]

As professional as the AFL is the lack of integrity as a 'competition' is mindboggling. (How you can have a 22 game season for an 18 team competition). The 2021 finals series will be another example of this. 

In spite of this I still follow the game closely. I guess the enjoyment I get from seeing the Dees win trumps it.

Go Dees

Edited August 18, 2021 by Pulp Fritschon

[Jaded No More 68,966]

So if we end up hosting Port in a home game it’ll end up being a big disadvantage to us no matter where we choose to play. Adelaide is the shortest travel time so is a plus. But obviously we can’t play Port there without giving up a massive advantage. Which means we need to go to Brisbane and spend yet more time on planes. Just a joke. 
Why can’t we play the first two weeks at the MCG?! 

[Diamond_Jim 12,598]

The idea of rent a crowd which is all that you will get interstate for the first finals round is laughable.

Saints v Bulldogs drew 10,651 last year in the first week.

In the second week Richmond v Saints drew 13k

The GF and the prelims where States will actually pay money for a team to play there is another case altogether

Edited August 18, 2021 by Diamond_Jim

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,863]

14 minutes ago, Jaded said:

So if we end up hosting Port in a home game it’ll end up being a big disadvantage to us no matter where we choose to play. Adelaide is the shortest travel time so is a plus. But obviously we can’t play Port there without giving up a massive advantage. Which means we need to go to Brisbane and spend yet more time on planes. Just a joke. 
Why can’t we play the first two weeks at the MCG?! 

Because it upsets Gerard Whateley.

[Superunknown 4,217]

Seems pointless to have a neutral ground and low crowd. May as well maximise broadcast and eyeballs at the G whilst ensuring integrity of finals apropos higher teams getting home ground.

That said, would we not get a decent crowd at Kardinia (never GMHBA) v say Port or Dogs? 
 

Must win this week to ensure we control our destiny.

we beat port over there though so we shouldn’t fear that.

[roy11 3,858]

2 hours ago, binman said:

Cricket is the only other team sport that comes to mind that does not have uniform size playing field. 

Soccer has some guidelines for sizes; but according to the rules;

Length (touchline):  minimum 90 m (100 yds) - maximum 120 m (130 yds)

Length (goal line): minimum 45 m (50 yds) - maximum 90 m (100 yds)

But for International matches

Length (touchline): minimum 100 m (110 yds) - maximum 110 m (120 yds)

Length (goal line): minimum 64 m (70 yds) - maximum 75 m (80 yds)

 

[Diamond_Jim 12,598]

5 minutes ago, Superunknown said:

That said, would we not get a decent crowd at Kardinia (never GMHBA) v say Port or Dogs? 

10k max if not lower.

The ground will have a 50% cap which limits the crowd to 16k only.

Add to that the ticket price of say $40 per head and being limited to regional supporters.

And of course who gets the game receipts, beverage rights, super box payments and sponsorhip rights etc. (Remember that Geelong controls all those things for Kardinia Park)

[roy11 3,858]

30 minutes ago, Jaded said:

Why can’t we play the first two weeks at the MCG?! 

Who gets the $ from tickets sales of the finals?  Imagine it's the AFL so no wonder they want crowds.

[Diamond_Jim 12,598]

Just now, roy11 said:

Who gets the $ from tickets sales of the finals?  Imagine it's the AFL so no wonder they want crowds.

After ground rental costs the net revenue for a crowd of 20k would be zero.

Most of the costs are for security and ushers etc so a closed ground would be much cheaper plus of course the ground gets a fair share of the boundary advertising rights.

[DubDee 25,921]

We should not flirt with form or agree to 'not go too hard' with the Cats if the dogs win.  not going in 100% can result in more injuries not less from my experience.  Also, we have some good form and if we lose that continuity it is hard to get back.  I don't mind Gawn or 1-2 others being rested if they are sore but the players selected should go in 100%

[Ouch! 2,266]

Not being selfish at all ;)  But I think the Dees tend to play Blundstone pretty well. Not sure if Port has played down in Tassie before, but in terms of fly in and fly out it works better than WA or Brisbane.

Only problem is our Premier is pretty trigger happy on cancelling AFL matches, and he's grumpy with Gil atm

[DubDee 25,921]

I think I am in the minority here but I would prefer we play in front of a crowd over an empty MCG. Even if only a couple thousand MFC fans can see the game that is better than none.  They got 60K for the neutral dreamtime game so I think a top 4 final would be a sell out in AO, Gabba or Optus.

It is soulless watching us play to empty stadiums and hard for the players to get up, whether that is being spurred on by boos, or cheered on. Watching at home is hard enough, but having no crowds its like its not even real or happening.

Anyway, that's my two cents