Tonight’s game is hilarious. Go Lions!!
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Carlton outscored Brisbane in the second half, kicking nine goals to five, but the damage has already been done. The Lions prevailed by 28 points and will next play GWS in Sydney in a semi final.
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It’s likely Accor will be available next weekend, I wonder if the AFL would consider seeking the bigger ground. I suppose the extra seats would only be taken up by travelling Brisbane fans, so probably not worth it, but if they could flood western Sydney with cheap tickets to it, it would be a great opportunity to push the Giants.
Surprised Giants let that slip, but I think they have what it takes to beat Brisbane, but regardless of result, it would be a bruising one that will have them coming up against the Cats very tired - so Geelong should overrun either of them.
I think Hawks have a huge chance with absolutely zero pressure on them against Port. Port should be favourites on paper - but finals are hard…
Geelong if anything are at a disadvantage in finals owing to having their own home ground - teams like Richmond and Collingwood get to play huge segments of the season at the MCG - home or away, sometimes in a season playing double the number of matches at the MCG than Geelong get at GMHBA.
When finals come around - Geelong have to play them away at the MCG, often in front of hostile crowds - as those who travel up the highway are never a 50/50 split when it’s a match against a Melbourne powerhouse.
The major thing Geelong have in their favour is something you can’t “fix” - it’s a destination club for players, who are willing to take a lower pay figure for a stronger chance at winning. Unless you took away player agency, the biggest bid gets the player no matter what, then you couldn’t change that players will choose successful systems.
And even if you did that, no AFL “looked aftered” stopped other clubs picking up players like Mannagh and Humphries. Instead, other clubs sign mediocre players to 5 year+ contracts on big money and wonder why they can’t get out of the middle of the table.
The AFL/7 will be far happier with that outcome than the NRL/9 will be with a Panthers v Storm GF…
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They don’t play finals at Accor anymore - haven’t done so for years. They only played a one off Sydney Derby final in 2016, and the Giants only use it if Sydney Showgrounds isn’t available.
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Are the Cats playing the prelim at GMHBA?
They have terrible form at home when looking at who they would face. Quite the opposite if they faced them at the MCG.
I sometimes seriously wonder what Port is smoking half the time. This is like the 3rd time in 5 years they’ve made it to the final only to be belted by the opponent, at their HOME TURF no less. It seems to me they get cocky at finals when they play at home and what you get is this.
It’s hard to support them (or the Crows) as a South Aussie when this happens all the time!
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At the MCG - AFL has contracts with the MCG for finals - means that all Melbourne finals are played at the MCG, except in the unlikely event there are two finals in one day - would mean that the lower ranking final get’s moved to Docklands (or GMHBA in Geelong’s case). Since there are going to be one final in Sydney, Geelong will play their final at the MCG.
Many more give up each year - if they lose the Semi’s, the remaining supporters (apart from the die hard’s) will turn on Hinkley.
Thanks. They seem to play better at the MCG, well against those two teams anyway.
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When was the last time Geelong played Brisbane and GWS at the MCG?
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Brisbane was 2022 Prelim Final. GWS has never played Geelong at the MCG.
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Plenty spotted how Jack Buckley caught Isaac Heeney on his way down from a spectacular mark…
— 7AFL (@7AFL) September 7, 2024
Chief among them: Isaac Heeney’s mum! pic.twitter.com/DNP3mFpcHK
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So we just have 1 game to compare it to 
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There is always the infamous 2004 Prelim too which should’ve been played at the Gabba.
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One the Brisbane won? So Geelong are 1 and 1 against Brisbane or GWS at the MCG since 2004.
Carlton… That’s a shame. Hopefully similar happens to Hawthorn this week.
That first week of finals, rather forgettable really, except for that amazing all-Sydney qualifying which sort of saved it, has to be up there with one of the best ever, certainly for a qualifying.
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It would be good if we can repeat that again at the MCG, imagine it GWS say won by a goal or something.
Would be better vs watching Geelong belt Sydney.
AFL would be happy to get two NSW teams in. Seven not so much.
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Almost forgot to mention that Collingwood star Nick Daicos took out ABC Footballer of the Year for 2024, as voted by expert commentators from ABC Radio after each AFL match.
The top 10
35 - Nick Daicos (Collingwood)
26 - Issac Heeney (Sydney)
26 - Patrick Cripps (Carlton)
22 - Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)
22 - Jason Horne-Francis (Port Adelaide)
21 - Caleb Serong (Fremantle)
20 - Zach Merrett (Essendon)
20 - Lachie Neale (Brisbane)
18 - Jeremy Cameron (Geelong)
17 - Jesse Hogan (GWS)
17 - Noah Anderson (Gold Coast)
17 - Errol Gulden (Sydney)
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I’m cooling on the wildcard round. I’d rather two byes now. One before the finals and one before the grand final. I would then bring back state of origin. WA v SA Friday night, VIC v All Stars Saturday night. Winner Game 1 v Winner Game 2 Friday before Grand Final.
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Worked out nicely there!