As stated on AFL website this evening:
Both clubs will be allowed to pick the 23rd man for their team from the emergency list
For tomorrow night’s season opener between Richmond and Carlton, the emergencies are:
Richmond: Marlion Pickett, Will Martyn, Jack Ross, Mabior Chol
Carlton: Matthew Cottrell, Oscar McDonald, Liam Stocker, Matthew Kennedy
Agreed.
I think if something is serious enough to be a game ender, then it’s reasonable to expect recovery time. It’d be enough of a stick to avoid misuse.
I’d have preferred it be limited to only concussion. Perhaps a minimum time out of 20 mins before the sub can come on after the injury, that way the impact of the smaller bench can offset the positive of the fresh legs.
I have tickets for a couple of games this weekend at the MCG and Marvel. A friend told me that you weren’t allowed to take bags into the stadium anymore. Does anyone know if this is true? I don’t want to be caught out when I go.
Unlikely to be true. The MCG tried to limit bags to A4 size and clear plastic for the cricket, I think it was reversed after one day. I imagine it’s the usual as long as it fits under your seat. I did read cloakrooms are not operating for larger bags.
Anything you can reasonably take to your seat will be fine. Like a smaller backpack. Anything larger might cause some trouble like a hike pack or a suitcase.
This is what the MCG website says about bag sizes at AFL matches:
Keep your bag or backpack to a size that can fit comfortably under your seat. Larger bags – such as duffle bags, sports bags or suitcases – are not permitted. There will be no cloaking facilities at the MCG.
And this is from Marvel Stadium website:
Large bags will will not be permitted. Please only bring bags that will fit under your seat.
Thanks everyone. I will not bring my gym bag with me then.
I can recommend buying one of the clear bags from Daiso or there’s a place online that sells them. Makes things a lot easier, as long as you haven’t got something embarrassing in there. 
Why is there still no banners?
still covid around so don’t want anyone on the field who isn’t AFL sanctioned (having 40 cheer squad members on the ground would be a massive risk). the fireworks are cool in the interim.
It is effectively eliminated in Australia though. But I can understand. I just thought they would think of another way of introducing the banner again. I think the AFL have been trying to remove the banners for a while now. I have mixed emotions about the banner. Its a unique part of our game.
Again, I think it’ll be back. Fox Footy does virtual banners for their games. Richmond were allowed to have their drummers, but they had to be on the stairs instead of on the ground. I guess they could’ve done the same with the banner but it’s difficult
I am not convinced it will be. There has been calls to scrap them for years. And I wonder if this is their way of getting rid of them quietly. I think if they wanted them back they would have found a way to make them work.
Why do they want to get rid of them? Probably wants to avoid “Gil’s A Dill”…
Risks of injury, a bit tacky and wasteful. Not my personal views exactly but these are issues that have been discussed before.
Yet having Aus Kick back is less a risk? Surely there is more people on the field than a 40 man cheer squad.
bEcAuSe KiDs CaNt GeT cOroNaViRuS…
Raf Epstein has some of the cheer squad leaders on air this afternoon. It’s also the gathering together to make the banner, which is taken into consideration. Sounds like they’ll be back very soon assuming covid remains under control.
But you are allowed to gather together now… we aren’t facing the same restrictions as we were last year.