2021 Fixture

[bornadog]

[Grantysghost]

Looks like pre-finals bye may be bye-bye (sorry).

https://www.espn.com/afl/story/_/id/...e-ahead-finals

AFL premiership contenders Melbourne, Geelong and the Western Bulldogs have all indicated they are prepared for the league's pre-finals bye to be scrapped, if required, to keep the season rolling.


There are just two rounds left in the home-and-away season, which has proceeded throughout COVID-19 lockdowns across the country, albeit with significant fixture reshuffles.


AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan on Thursday confirmed the league's desire to keep the season moving and complete the finals series in September has led it to consider starting the finals the week after round 23, removing the bye.


A decision may not be made until late next week as the AFL waits for news on Victoria's current lockdown, which has been extended until at least August 19.


"We're contingency planning, but I don't have a line of sight on where and how week one of the finals looks - I really don't," McLachlan said.
"At the moment we're debating whether we have the bye or not and that's as candid as I can be.
"People understand we're sort of waiting everyday and looking at what happens in Victoria and in other states, I mean, Queensland's opened up a bit the last hour.


"So I think our clubs now understand, our supporters I know do, that every day seems to count in this environment and they're giving us that leeway."


Melbourne are the only club guaranteed to finish in the top four at this stage and coach Simon Goodwin said the ladder-leading Demons are ready to roll straight into finals, if necessary.

[Grantysghost]

Duplicate error. (mods remove please) .

[Grantysghost]

Pre finals bye officially gone - to be held over and used during the finals series apparently.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/666123/n...pre-finals-bye

CLUBS have been informed the pre-finals bye has been officially scrapped with the week off to instead be held over and used during finals.

It's understood clubs were told on Sunday night they will roll straight from the home and away season into finals without a week off.

The week off will, however, be a fluid decision and come into effect ahead of the preliminary final or the Toyota AFL Grand Final depending on whether teams are required to be relocated to other states given the ongoing threat of COVID-19.

It comes after calls from Geelong coach Chris Scott and Melbourne counterpart Simon Goodwin over the weekend demanding clarity on whether there would be a weekend's rest ahead of the finals.

[bornadog]

Pre finals bye officially gone - to be held over and used during the finals series apparently.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/666123/n...pre-finals-bye

CLUBS have been informed the pre-finals bye has been officially scrapped with the week off to instead be held over and used during finals.

It's understood clubs were told on Sunday night they will roll straight from the home and away season into finals without a week off.

The week off will, however, be a fluid decision and come into effect ahead of the preliminary final or the Toyota AFL Grand Final depending on whether teams are required to be relocated to other states given the ongoing threat of COVID-19.

It comes after calls from Geelong coach Chris Scott and Melbourne counterpart Simon Goodwin over the weekend demanding clarity on whether there would be a weekend's rest ahead of the finals.

I was told prelim and Gf will be in Perth

[Eastdog]

I was told prelim and Gf will be in Perth

What source BAD?

It is looking more likely isn’t it.

[bornadog]

What source BAD?

It is looking more likely isn’t it.

Just someone who has some connection into AFL

[The Adelaide Connection]

I was told prelim and Gf will be in Perth

Well, we have likely played more games in Perth over the journey (by way of always getting stitched up with the double each year) so maybe we draw an advantage there?

We also posted two solid wins there this year, so maybe this is a blessing in disguise?

*Note: For purely selfish reasons they should be in Adelaide.

[bornadog]

Well, we have likely played more games in Perth over the journey (by way of always getting stitched up with the double each year) so maybe we draw an advantage there?

We also posted two solid wins there this year, so maybe this is a blessing in disguise?

*Note: For purely selfish reasons they should be in Adelaide.

Maybe Adelaide gets some of the lead up finals

[The Adelaide Connection]

Maybe Adelaide gets some of the lead up finals

You would think that we could be in line for any Port home games/finals where Port isn't involved as the "Home" team. Two in the first week and one in the second?

Maybe one of the Prelims could also be in Adelaide assuming borders remain free and flowing between SA and WA?

[bulldogsthru&thru]

Pre finals bye officially gone - to be held over and used during the finals series apparently.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/666123/n...pre-finals-bye

CLUBS have been informed the pre-finals bye has been officially scrapped with the week off to instead be held over and used during finals.

It's understood clubs were told on Sunday night they will roll straight from the home and away season into finals without a week off.

The week off will, however, be a fluid decision and come into effect ahead of the preliminary final or the Toyota AFL Grand Final depending on whether teams are required to be relocated to other states given the ongoing threat of COVID-19.

It comes after calls from Geelong coach Chris Scott and Melbourne counterpart Simon Goodwin over the weekend demanding clarity on whether there would be a weekend's rest ahead of the finals.

I’d bloody love it for us to win the flag without the week off before finals. Just to spite everyone who thought the bye was the reason we won in 2016

Oh and I’d love it regardless of the bye. Of course.

[bulldogsthru&thru]

So our whole club is going into strict isolation the whole week and are only allowed out to train at Whitten Oval.

This is because of demands from the SA government. Massive leg up for Port who are free to do whatever they want.

This season is done.

[Grantysghost]

So our whole club is going into strict isolation the whole week and are only allowed out to train at Whitten Oval.

This is because of demands from the SA government. Massive leg up for Port who are free to do whatever they want.

This season is done.

I feel like we haven’t had the rub of the green at all with any of the Covid changes.

Still not sure how the game was in Tassie this week, especially when it meant we lost a KPD.

Do we have enough clout at the table? Our new President is conspicuous by her absence I feel...Gordo might’ve had more influence. I like KWW don’t get me wrong but when I see the Bombers playing a GC home game down here I wonder at times.

[EasternWest]

Do we have enough clout at the table?

[Grantysghost]