Trade news: Whitfield meets Dees, Blues
GWS running defender Lachie Whitfield met with Melbourne as well as Carlton this week as the former number one draft pick edges closer to a move away from the Giants.
The two-time All-Australian met with the Blues on Thursday and had an informal meeting with Melbourne this week. St Kilda have also expressed interest in the offensive defender but the Saints have not yet met with him.
Whitfield has yet to do a medical at any club but is likely to do so next week.
While contracted for next season, Whitfield is a free agent at the end of next year and the Giants have privately told clubs they would be open to offers for him. They would want a late first round pick in return.
An unfamiliar venue
Between them, tomorrow’s grand final combatants have played just five games at the MCG this season, so today’s captains runs were a good chance to familiarise themselves with the venue.
The Lions, of course, are no strangers to the G, given they’ve won the past two grand finals, still their exposure was limited this season.
They lost the Melbourne there back in round six (April), conquered Collingwood in convincing fashion in round 24 a month ago and snuck over the line against hawthorn in last week’s preliminary final.
Fremantle have only played twice at the MCG this season. Like the Lions they lost to Melbourne – that was in round 22 (last month). Their other game was a win over lowly Essendon in round 10 (May).
We asked our subscribers about the public holiday
Victoria’s AFL grand final-eve public holiday has been around since 2015 and has been put to good use today, with tens of thousands of people attending the parade and families elsewhere making the most of time together on the school holidays.
However, when we asked our subscribers what they thought about the public holiday, the results fell marginally in favour of the public holiday being abolished.
Our poll question was: Should Victoria’s grad final-eve public holiday be scrapped?
It showed 48 per cent of 1813 respondents voted “yes”, 44 per cent voted “no” and eight per cent were undecided.
Lions wrap up their session
The Lions have completed their brief run, and were given a standing ovation as they left the field.
Well, that’s the end of the official build-up. We’re on to the real show tomorrow.
The Lions get their turn on the G
The Lions have hit the fabled MCG turf for their final captain’s run of the season. There are thousands of fans watching – and cheering – on.
The players are going through activations and light ball work.
If these fans get their way, Freo will win by a whisker
Tony Carroll booked his flight to Melbourne, and accommodation, in May.
“We were on a roll and I just thought why not. I just felt confident,” the Fremantle fan said.
He is one of the lucky ones. Getting in early, he paid standard airfare prices for the time of year. His daughter, Felicity, paid about $1600 for a return flight and one night’s accommodation. Others have paid well over $2000 just for flights, with one group of passionate and thrifty fans chartering their own flight for cheaper than airlines were charging.
A foundation member and part of the cheer squad, Tony was born and raised in Fremantle. But before they had a team in the AFL, he was forced to bide his time, vaguely following Richmond – his brother’s team – and then the Eagles.
The teams on the main stage
More photos of fun at the parade
The bureau’s prediction for grand final day: ‘Classic Melbourne’
Footy fans heading to the MCG for tomorrow’s grand final should rug up, with the weather bureau warning of a “cloudy, rainy, cold and drizzly day”.
Light rain and showers are forecast throughout the day, with the highest chance of rain occurring during the morning and early afternoon.
Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Jonathan How said the predicted temperature had dropped to a high of 15 degrees, adding people heading to the G should expect “a soggy commute in”.
“By the time the game kicks off at 2.30pm, it’ll pretty much still be under that rain band,” he said.
“That’ll last until about 5 or 6pm.”
Unscathed: Dockers survive the captain’s run
Well, that’s just about it for the Dockers, who have now gathered to have a chat and acknowledge the fans here. Barely raised a sweat. Importantly, there have been no injuries.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
