Lucifers Hero

Can't imagine why we would want to be "closer to Collingwood FC"? Baffling.

I would say so but check the club. The Access Membership is Priority 3 so it may differ to that of an existing membership. My recollection of 2018 finals is that lower priority tickets could not be bought simultaneously with higher priorities so seating may not be together (if both are successful in getting a ticket).

I changed the heading to make it more obvious it is for i/state fans.

This is for interstate fans that can get into WA for the GF. I contacted the club re member ticketing priorities. They advised people can still buy an 'Access Membership' for $49 which gives Priority 3 opportunity to GF tickets. One of our posters here mentioned that GF participating teams are allocated 10 to 15K tickets. I would be surprised if we have that many i/state members to use up the Priority 1, 2 and 3 allocations. We may not make the GF but a $49 'Access Membership' may be the best chance to buy a ticket. As an aside, the 'Access Membership' gives member priority to buy a ticket during the 'pre-sales' period for the Preliminary final ie before tickets at Optus are available for public purchase. So Tassie, NT, SA and WA folk, buy the $49 membership this week and go to both games! I wasn't able to find a link to Membership packages so it may be best to call/email the club if i/state fans are interested.

If needed, I would be surprised if Freo and Eagles staff don't offer to help. When the northern states had to leave their state this year various clubs lent them equipment, physios etc.

I'm not putting up any red and blue decor inside or outside until I know we are in the GF. MFCSS or superstition? Either way, don't want to jinx us.

Thanks for the extra info. He is gone! Without Toby Cats win. We have and can beat the Cats in the Prelim especially after a rest for us and no rest for them.

I certainly wouldn't be happy if it was Oliver for him to miss the Prelim and maybe the GF based on what so far, is inconclusive video. Lets wait for the facts before we hang Toby.

I'm not fussed who wins. They are in the Lions/Port side of the finals draw. We can only play them if one of them get past the Lions and Port in the next few weeks and we make the GF. Doubt they will.

The 'litmus test': What would people on here be saying if it was Oliver? I rest my case.

Not flawed at all. If he had thrown a punch there is clear evidence of threatening behaviour. I have yet to see clear evidence that Toby's behaviour was verbally of physically threatening. Anyway, I've said my piece and will now bow out of the discussion and wait and see what happens.

Love your optimism, od. Agree with your assessment. PF is ours to lose and I don't think we will.

If the umpire hadn't stepped aside there would have been body to body contact. But he did. To me it looks like no body to body contact was made. Brushing of arms is about it. Toby wasn't in his face yelling and screaming like Neale was. Neale showed clear disrespect verbally and physically and got a fine. Toby's 'incident' looks much more tame than Neale's and should get the same or a lesser penalty.

Close inspection of the vision shows Toby's hand (and therefore his arm/shoulder) moving away from the umpire and it looks like the umpire voluntarily moves the angle of his body slightly backwards to let Toby pass. At worst Toby's forearm or upper arm brushed that of the umpire. Unless there is conclusive vision from the other side showing contact Toby should play on. Crikey, Neale got off with a fine a few weeks ago for angrily yelling at and slapping the umpires upper arm. Where was the hue and cry from the commentators then. Crickets.

Does that man ever stop whinging! He is a clever man but doesn't he realise everyone including opponents, can see his constant carping is that he doesn't have confidence his team a fit enough to make it through to a GF. Opps will think: be ahead or stay with them until 3/4 time then run them off their feet will be opp strategy. Anyway, on what grounds can he demand their finals are in Perth? The winning Qualifying final team always gets a Home Prelim. Without covid they would have still played Port in SA. Returned to Victoria for the second semi at the G (now go to Perth). If Lions win tonight Geelong would be flying to the Gabba for the Prelim. Covid has changed very little for them given where they ended up on the ladder. Ha, Ha! Geelong supporters will be barracking for us tonight so they can stay in Perth! The irony.

I think finals tickets for this week started at $35. Maybe those low priced ones are sold out and all that is left are the more expensive ones. Could be wrong.

Silly b-ggers! Glad they aren't taking the accolades too seriously. They have a big job to do tomorrow night. Taking the micky out of school boy blazers perhaps? Or maybe they are ACDC fans! Would they be that disrespectful to the occassion... Must admit the blazers remind me of the Cameron Schwab days. From mfc instagram. Wonder where May and Lever are. The location doesn't look very salubrious!

If umpires follow the coaches we should know if Oliver can win after round 19 votes. Bontempelli will be in front but he scored once in the last 4 rounds with 7 (4+3) votes so unlikely to get BOG. Oliver's votes in the last 4 rounds: 9, 3, 0, 10. Possibly two BOG's? Wines will be close @19 and his votes in the last 4 rounds: 6, 2, 2, 8. I just hope the umpires didn't buy the media hype all year of how fantastic Bontempelli is - bit of a media darling. Oliver won the coaches award by quite a margin. Lets see if the umpires do the same.

Just goes to show how meaningless statistics can be. No Steven May in either team makes the whole rating thingo a joke. Are they serious with the backline of the second team 😲

Good insight into how things work in WA. Thanks. What makes me sad about 'no families' is that players will have no-one special (other than club folk) to share the finals experiences with especially for which ever team wins the GF. I wrote earlier today in this thread that MCG aside, I'm happy to have our finals at Optus as I think we have an advantage over other finalists at that ground. I've painfully come to terms with not seeing our team play finals but if we win the flag I will be at the G crying and screaming when we unfurl the flag. I've had a GFG membership for over 20 years and it really hurts that I can't use it because covid restrictions prevent travelling. I would be equally happy to use it in Perth as I would in Melbourne. I had an elaborate plan to get to Perth and quarantine until the latest round of lockdowns here. Not to be. Enjoy all the games 'Pennant'. Scream and shout for the rest of us.

Interesting there is no Max in our MVP. May, Petracca and Oliver are also very worthy candidates. And others in the AFLPA award nominations: Most Courageous player: Angus Brayshaw Best First Year player: Jake Bowey. Well done to all nominees. Great recognition from team mates. Rapt for Bowey. He must be on cloud 9! RS nomination, this nomination and about to play finals. Doesn't get any better than that for a new draftee. Its always interesting to get a bit of an inside view. Anyone who wants Gus traded needs to reflect on the above.

I was counting this magical win in 2017: Edit: Just saw the subsequent discussion re this being at Subiaco so you are right it is two wins at Optus. Probably still better than other finals contenders.

I didn't say they won't be able to apply for an entry premit. I said they won't be allowed in. See below. western-australias-cruel-requirement-for-hosting-the-2021-afl-grand-final That is the paper's heading, not mine. From the article: Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan says the AFL Grand Final could only be taken to Perth under “very strict guidelines”, As part of those guidelines, McGowan suggested that only essential personnel would be permitted entry into the state for the game and said families of players and coaches would not make the cut. “Our intention is that those sorts of groups wouldn’t be permitted to join players coming in. It’d be a very strict and tight regime,” he said.which would include barring families of players and coaches from entering the state". The last para is stated as a direct quote in the article. I haven't seen anything to say he has changed his mind.

I'm thinking we will have an advantage over other teams at Optus. It has similar dimensions as the MCG. We played a final there 3 years ago so have experienced the cauldron like atmosphere. iirc Jordan Lewis said he had never heard anything like it, not even at MCG GF's. We have played about 6 games there in recent years. We have won at least 3 times of those. No other finalist has anything like that to boost confidence and belief. So while we can't be there live I'm quite happy to have the remaining finals (after this week) at Optus.

Can't see Geelong making the GF. They have a few players who have recently come back from injury: Rohan, Cameron, Duncan, Miers and Atkins. Dangerfield was ill for part of the last qtr (or maybe rested?) and Selwood played only 64% of the game (carrying an injury?). So they aren't at great levels of fitness. After the Port game the rest of their finals will be on the wide open spaces of Optus. A challenge as they have played 4 of their last 5 games at the much smaller GMHBA. Just can't see them winning at Optus. Out in straight sets, I hope? And Scott's legendary finals records of losses continues.