PREGAME: Rd 05 vs Essendon

[titan_uranus 24,575]

I imagine it could be Brown for Hibberd, with Petty back to defence, or Jordon for Hibberd with Brown missing out.

[Orion 332]

Gather Round should be called "COVID Round" because the entire competition is being moved interstate 

[DeelightfulPlay 2,503]

47 minutes ago, ElDiablo14 said:

I thought it was a sold out game already? Granted AO is only a 50k ground.

Yep it's sold out but that's because it is a double header.  Port Adelaide etc fans have to purchase a ticket to our game to go watch theirs apparently... so likely that our game will have low crowd numbers

[layzie 32,789]

Maybe Jordon makes a play 

[ElDiablo14 4,906]

5 minutes ago, DeelightfulPlay said:

Yep it's sold out but that's because it is a double header.  Port Adelaide etc fans have to purchase a ticket to our game to go watch theirs apparently... so likely that our game will have low crowd numbers

Ok got it. I thought it was a separate ticketing 

[layzie 32,789]

I hope Gather Round fails personally. 

[DeelightfulPlay 2,503]

8 minutes ago, ElDiablo14 said:

Ok got it. I thought it was a separate ticketing 

That would be more sensible imo!  But guess this is AFL after all...!

[Willmoy1947 3,957]

Key  here is get a fair bit of stringer up the ground by taking it heavily out of the middle. Grundy very important component here with his follow up after the bounce, and no stupid free kicks, because there will be all your favourite maggot numbers in this game and we all know how much maggots love bummers.

[WalkingCivilWar 39,256]

4 hours ago, leave it to deever said:

I know it's not against the crows or Port but our third game in 5 on the road? Thanks Afl.

 

Of our first 10 matches, five are interstate. Then a block of three home games at the ‘G, then the bye,  and then… (cue the shower scene from Psycho music) Geelong in Geelong *shudder*

But then we play every game bar one (round 24 in Sydney) at either the ‘G or Marvel.

It’s better to get the interstate games out of the way in the first half of the season. 

[titan_uranus 24,575]

2 minutes ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

Of our first 10 matches, five are interstate. Then a block of three home games at the ‘G, then the bye,  and then… (cue the shower scene from Psycho music) Geelong in Geelong *shudder*

But then we play every game bar one (round 24 in Sydney) at either the ‘G or Marvel.

It’s better to get the interstate games out of the way in the first half of the season. 

Not quite.

The week after Geelong we've got GWS in Alice Springs.

We also have North Melbourne in Round 21 in Hobart.

So post-bye we have Sydney, Hobart, Alice Springs and Geelong, with the other 6 games in Melbourne (one Marvel, 5 MCG).

The upside to it, I suppose, is that we don't have any genuine interstate games between Round 10 vs Port and Round 24 vs Sydney - only our own sold game in Alice Springs and North in Hobart.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,644]

I find this "travelling interstate" issue a distraction. Every club, bar those based in Victoria travel interstate almost every second week. Why should Victorian clubs complain?

[leave it to deever 17,446]

7 minutes ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

Of our first 10 matches, five are interstate. Then a block of three home games at the ‘G, then the bye,  and then… (cue the shower scene from Psycho music) Geelong in Geelong *shudder*

But then we play every game bar one (round 24 in Sydney) at either the ‘G or Marvel.

It’s better to get the interstate games out of the way in the first half of the season. 

I agree we have 2 down at least.

It's all fine and we'll for some teams to have soft draws but at the end of the day they will crumble against us.

[titan_uranus 24,575]

4 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

I find this "travelling interstate" issue a distraction. Every club, bar those based in Victoria travel interstate almost every second week. Why should Victorian clubs complain?

It's not the fact we have to travel, it's the unevenness between each Victorian club's travel schedules.

All interstate sides have the same number of interstate games every year, almost always spread out the same way (alternating each week).

Victorian clubs vary - some get 6 games away, some get 8, some get them all in the first half, some get them all in the second half, etc.

Last year I felt that too much of our travel was in the post-bye period of our fixture and compressed together (e.g. that six week period where each game was at a different venue) which was more difficult than some of our competitors.

[WalkingCivilWar 39,256]

4 hours ago, leave it to deever said:

Why do we have this Gather round and what does it represent?

Seriously curious.

 

It’s another money-making idea of Gil’s. Scrap one of the (official) practice matches, thereby making room for an extra round. Practice matches don’t make money for the AFL. An extra round does.

As to why it’s the Gather Round, my guess is that it’s the novelty aspect that the AFL hope is embraced. Although I just see it as players, players’ families, coaches and fans of all 18 clubs converging on one small city. Hence there’s those of us who have to make the car trip there and back, and in one day, coz what little accommodation is still available has - in most cases - doubled or even trebled in cost.

Of course, it’ll be worth every sore muscle (from being in a car for so long) and every headache (from lack of sleep) if we can just go out there and SMASH THE BOMBERS LIKE THEY’VE NEVER BEEN SMASHED BEFORE!!!!! 

[DeeSpencer 24,690]

1 hour ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Didn't I read somewhere that the SA government is paying the AFL $10m for the rights to hold this round? And did I also read that each club will get $500,000? Or am I thinking of something else?

It still doesn't explain why the competition has been expanded so that each team now plays 23 home and away games, though. 

Personally, I think it's a stupid idea but I am sure the spinners and their media acolytes will tell us next week that it was a huge success, whatever happens.

The people getting a free weekend interstate in posh hotels and tickets to watch a stack of games with corporate hospitality will like it, who knew?!

I reckon it’s probably a good deal for the governments too, even if it’s a huge price. If they get 50k tourists dropping a a grand each that easily covers the outlay.

The 23rd game stops teams losing a home game.

I just can’t believe they’ve got the plays on board for such a low fee IIRC. I’d be asking for a lot if I was a player. 

[WalkingCivilWar 39,256]

12 minutes ago, titan_uranus said:

Not quite.

The week after Geelong we've got GWS in Alice Springs.

We also have North Melbourne in Round 21 in Hobart.

So post-bye we have Sydney, Hobart, Alice Springs and Geelong, with the other 6 games in Melbourne (one Marvel, 5 MCG).

The upside to it, I suppose, is that we don't have any genuine interstate games between Round 10 vs Port and Round 24 vs Sydney - only our own sold game in Alice Springs and North in Hobart.

You’re right. I forgot about the Alice game (probs coz I know I can’t attend it 😭) and the Hobart game (coz we don’t know what day/time therefore haven’t been able to book anything yet). I was going by memory. And my brain doesn’t compute well when it comes to anything after going to Geelong. *again, shudder*

[Bay Riffin 1,454]

4 hours ago, Elwood 3184 said:

Bad luck to Sam Weideman on getting concussion and missing out on playing this week. At least it means he can’t do a Jayden Hunt and star against his old team.

yeah not sure he starred. he played a decent game, turned it over a bit but got 20 possies. 

[Diamond_Jim 12,351]

2 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

The people getting a free weekend interstate in posh hotels and tickets to watch a stack of games with corporate hospitality will like it, who knew?!

I reckon it’s probably a good deal for the governments too, even if it’s a huge price. If they get 50k tourists dropping a a grand each that easily covers the outlay.

The 23rd game stops teams losing a home game.

I just can’t believe they’ve got the plays on board for such a low fee IIRC. I’d be asking for a lot if I was a player. 

Nothing wrong with the concept but the execution leaves a lot to be desired.

Stretching it over two weeks with a bye for the non participating clubs would deliver a lot more revenue

Event construction be it the GP or a flower show is here to stay.

[leave it to deever 17,446]

33 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

I find this "travelling interstate" issue a distraction. Every club, bar those based in Victoria travel interstate almost every second week. Why should Victorian clubs complain?

Because it's our game and they are just along for the ride.

[Stevienic23 1,183]

I won an all expenses trip to Angove Winery through work last year but was too busy to go. When the footy fixture released I always look for the Essendon game as my fiancee is Essendon. I was happy to see it was the gather round so I made this trip work around this game. Flights, accommodation, eftpos card, car, the whole works. The only thing that isn't covered is the coin toss. Really looking forward to the buzz around Adelaide for the week

[WalkingCivilWar 39,256]

6 minutes ago, Stevienic23 said:

I won an all expenses trip to Angove Winery through work last year but was too busy to go. When the footy fixture released I always look for the Essendon game as my fiancee is Essendon. I was happy to see it was the gather round so I made this trip work around this game. Flights, accommodation, eftpos card, car, the whole works. The only thing that isn't covered is the coin toss. Really looking forward to the buzz around Adelaide for the week

We need to talk, Stevie 😑

[Diamond_Jim 12,351]

Bombers kicked 11:22 against GWS

they will try to play a magpies style game against us

Could be closer than many think

[homsar 416]

God a lot of you have a victim complex 

[monoccular 17,314]

14 hours ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Keep Stringer Quiet 

He was on it today

On what this time?

5 hours ago, leave it to deever said:

If Hibbo isn't injured I want him in. But I also want Bbb up fwd.

I have no idea who to drop.

Maybe Hibbo is the sub.

 

Not sub if not 100%

5 hours ago, leave it to deever said:

Why do we have this Gather round and what does it represent?

Seriously curious.

 

Seriously curious.
 

Sure is.  
 

Which American sporting media code did he copy this from?

[Stevienic23 1,183]

8 minutes ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

We need to talk, Stevie 😑

I almost went full junket and stayed an extra week to go to the LIV event haha