Always Right Match Committee - Round 1 of the finals vs Eagles or Saints

[azabob]

Interesting. Originally I heard it being reported a few weeks ago that the first 4 games of finals would be Wednesday. Thursday, Friday and Saturday night games.

Wednesday was ruled out late last week.

[comrade]

Afternoon finals footy is the best type of footy.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Saints want to play the first final in Adelaide.

I think it's the other way around, according to media report below . Saints want to play in Brisbane, but AFL are keen to have both elimination finals play in Adelaide.

https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/af...74981d942e5905

AFL 2020 finals series fixture details leaked

The AFL has reportedly been forced to delay its official finals series fixture announcement after belittling St Kilda with a brutal dismissal.

The AFL has reportedly been forced to delay its official finals series fixture announcement after belittling St Kilda with a brutal dismissal on Monday.

Leaked details surrounding the make-up of the 2020 finals series fixture shows the league is set to ignore St Kilda’s request to play a “home” elimination final in Queensland because it is more lucrative for the league’s coffers if the game is played in Adelaide.

St Kilda’s “home” final against the Western Bulldogs in the first week of the finals was confirmed after the final game of the regular season where Port Adelaide’s win over Collingwood kept the Saints as the No. 6 seed for the finals series.

It was revealed earlier on Monday the AFL is planning on playing two games in the first weekend of the finals in Adelaide — and is prepared to ignore official requests from the Saints to have their wish come true.

According to reports, the AFL was not prepared to make the same move to force St Kilda interstate if powerhouse club Collingwood had jumped up to sixth on the ladder with a win over the Power.

It will give the City of Churches two games in the first weekend of the finals with Port Adelaide also to host a qualifying final against Geelong after the Power became the first club since Essendon in 2000 to lead the competition for every round of the season, secured with their win over the Pies.

Port Adelaide’s win relegates the Magpies to eighth spot on the ladder — and gives them a daunting assignment of travelling to Perth to play West Coast in the first week of the finals.

The win also bumps Brisbane from top spot and sets up a qualifying final between the Lions and Richmond at the Gabba.

The earlier report outlines that the AFL has already briefed the Saints about its desire to use the Adelaide Oval in preference to the Saints’ official request to play its “home” final at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast.

Saints coach Brett Ratten confirmed the club had requested to remain in Queensland in the first week of the finals when asked on Fox Footy’s AFL 360 before the Power-Magpies game.

Fox Footy’s Tom Morris reported the second elimination final will be played on Saturday, October 3, as either an afternoon or twilight fixture.

He told Fox Footy’s On The Couch the AFL made the decision to reject the Saints because it is a better financial result for the league and because it would allow a crowd of up to 20,000 at the Adelaide Oval as opposed to a crowd of 7000 at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast.

Saints legend Nick Riewoldt said the Saints had earned the right to make the call after finishing sixth on the ladder.

“It’s about the ability to at least have a choice. If you’ve finished sixth and have the right to a home final, you should have the right to make that choice (of venue),” Riewoldt said on Fox Footy’s On the Couch.

“We got spoken to at the start of the year about the 16 minutes (quarters) and not being able to move back to 20 because of the integrity of the competition.

“We’re true to that, and so (for) the integrity of the competition, the team that finishes sixth should get the choice, shouldn’t they?”

When asked by Brisbane Lions legend Jonathan Brown if the AFL would have treated Collingwood with the same disrespect, Riewoldt said: “Probably not”.

The AFL had already locked in home finals in the opening week of the finals series for Brisbane and West Coast.

[DOG GOD]

Wednesday was ruled out late last week.

Ah ok, sorry I must have missed that.
Thanks.

[comrade]

“It’s about the ability to at least have a choice. If you’ve finished sixth and have the right to a home final, you should have the right to make that choice (of venue),” Riewoldt said on Fox Footy’s On the Couch.

“We got spoken to at the start of the year about the 16 minutes (quarters) and not being able to move back to 20 because of the integrity of the competition.

“We’re true to that, and so (for) the integrity of the competition, the team that finishes sixth should get the choice, shouldn’t they?”

What is Riewoldt talking about?

Since when do teams get to choose where they play finals? I must have missed all those finals down in Geelong, or our 2015 final at Marvel vs Adelaide.

[azabob]

Ah ok, sorry I must have missed that.
Thanks.

No need to apologise. Just passing on information.

Plus 95% of all the info we hear is probably not true anyway.

[bornadog]

What is Riewoldt talking about?

Since when do teams get to choose where they play finals? I must have missed all those finals down in Geelong, or our 2015 final at Marvel vs Adelaide.

Well in theory that is what the AFL spout, but in reality they try and maximise revenue.

[bulldogsthru&thru]

What is Riewoldt talking about?

Since when do teams get to choose where they play finals? I must have missed all those finals down in Geelong, or our 2015 final at Marvel vs Adelaide.

The saints have been out of finals for so long he’s forgotten how they work.

[bulldogsthru&thru]

This game will be won and lost in the midfield. If we’re concentrated and locked in defensively we should win this. The saints burn opponents off the turnover and love setting the ball up 10m out from goal for their smalls to crumb the spoils of King. Our game against them had them kick 14.4 with 9 of those goals 10m out directly in front. We did a horrible job of making their f50 entries difficult. They’ll also look to control possession the way Freo did but will move it A LOT faster.

I’m actually a lot more comfortable down back now that Gardner has nailed down a spot. That extra tall will come in handy against the saints with King, Marshall and Ryder able to clunk marks. However our HBs and mids will need to be accountable as when that ball hits the deck the saints are very dangerous. The cats controlled this when they played the saints so well. Forced their entries wide and absolutely dominated the likes of Butler from getting the drop. It’s not entirely difficult. Just requires concentration and discipline.

Our forward line should be fine. Coffield is a fine interceptor but we’ve done well against better.

The other important area will be the ruck. This will be a big test for Tim. Ryder and Marshall are the type of ruckmen he typically struggles against. And both can clunk a mark up forward so he’ll need to be on his game. It’s a massive challenge for him.

All in all if our mids can get on top and apply enough pressure to limit clean f50 entries, it takes away the saints’ main weapon in creating scores from 10m out from goal. If we hit them hard early, like GWS did to us, take our chances on goal and don’t give them easy kicks we’ll win this.

[Axe Man]

So Adelaide would pretty much rule Bruce out too?

If the wives can come with, both will play, doubt either of them would want to miss this run at finals.

I’m not sure what their quarantine rules are. The problem with WA was the quarantine time

There are no quarantine issues with Adelaide, we played there last weekend. We would only be there 1 night at the most you would think so no need for the wives to come (I doubt they would be allowed anyway and also heavily pregnant women aren't usually permitted to fly).

[bornadog]

This game will be won and lost in the midfield. If we’re concentrated and locked in defensively we should win this. The saints burn opponents off the turnover and love setting the ball up 10m out from goal for their smalls to crumb the spoils of King. Our game against them had them kick 14.4 with 9 of those goals 10m out directly in front. We did a horrible job of making their f50 entries difficult. They’ll also look to control possession the way Freo did but will move it A LOT faster.

I’m actually a lot more comfortable down back now that Gardner has nailed down a spot. That extra tall will come in handy against the saints with King, Marshall and Ryder able to clunk marks. However our HBs and mids will need to be accountable as when that ball hits the deck the saints are very dangerous. The cats controlled this when they played the saints so well. Forced their entries wide and absolutely dominated the likes of Butler from getting the drop. It’s not entirely difficult. Just requires concentration and discipline.

Our forward line should be fine. Coffield is a fine interceptor but we’ve done well against better.

The other important area will be the ruck. This will be a big test for Tim. Ryder and Marshall are the type of ruckmen he typically struggles against. And both can clink a mark up forward so he’ll need to be on his game. It’s a massive challenge for him.

All in all if our mids can get on top and apply enough pressure to limit clean f50 entries, it takes away the saints’ main weapon in creating scores from 10m out from goal. If we hit them hard early, like GWS did to us, take our chances on goal and don’t give them easy kicks we’ll win this.

In round 2 we matched them all over the ground, but got killed on the turnovers with our players constantly giving the ball back to them. They are good at applying pressure and forcing the turnover, so we need to be precise with our handballs and kicking.

[bornadog]

There are no quarantine issues with Adelaide, we played there last weekend. We would only be there 1 night at the most you would think so no need for the wives to come (I doubt they would be allowed anyway and also heavily pregnant women aren't usually permitted to fly).

As long as the babies don't want to pop out early

[The Pie Man]

As long as the babies don't want to pop out early

Yep, huge call to play a game interstate (even FIFO) when a partner is due.

Saw this from an Age article yesterday...wonder what these ‘plans’ are...

‘...however on Monday night he told Fox Footy plans were in place that all parties were comfortable with that should enable the pair to play.’

[bulldogsthru&thru]

Yep, huge call to play a game interstate (even FIFO) when a partner is due.

Saw this from an Age article yesterday...wonder what these ‘plans’ are...

‘...however on Monday night he told Fox Footy plans were in place that all parties were comfortable with that should enable the pair to play.’

The plans had something to do with the partners staying with other family members/friends so that they aren't alone. Sounds like Josh and Easton are going to play no matter what.

[Bulldog4life]

The plans had something to do with the partners staying with other family members/friends so that they aren't alone. Sounds like Josh and Easton are going to play no matter what.

Yep that is what I understood too.