[babytiger2001]

Here it is, to cover the entire week ahead...

Saturday, 26 September 2009
St. Kilda v Geelong
at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (M.C.G.)
2:45 p.m. Melbourne time

And even as I'm sitting down to take in tonight's Brownlow Medal ceremonies, blue carpet arrivals of players and WAG's alike, and everything else that goes with it, I can't recall a week before such a massive Grand Final that has been completely lacking for news that could break.

No St. Kilda or Geelong players have been cited by the Match Review Panel from the previous weekend's preliminary finals, and aside from a media watch (unnecessary and unjustifiable as it may seem) on Saints full forward Nick Riewoldt's dodgy knee, there are no injury concerns for either team.

So it's just a long, drawn-out wait until the big game on Saturday itself.

But rest assured, if there's news to be had, it will be covered here.

And as far as our post-season tipping competition goes, Spartacus and ChrisH will be facing off for the Grand Final DVD, which is the grand prize of the post-season competition. As they'll be posting their tips of which team will win and by how much, anyone else is more than welcome to do the same (even if it is for fun and entertainment value).

And for the U.S. footy-loving audience, the match will be aired live on ESPN Classic and ESPN360.com.

Enjoy the footy, everyone! And now, onward to the build-up for the week ahead!

[ChrisH]

Really looking forward to this one, especially since I'll be able to watch live. Think this could be an absolute classic and I'm hoping it will go right down to the wire. Since I doubt any significant news will break over the next couple of days I'll go ahead and make my tip.

St. Kilda by 3. C'mon you Saints!

[babytiger2001]

Chris, you're right. Dead news week. It's been boring as hell.

And now, some actual news -- the team selections are in...

GEELONG
B: Darren Milburn, Matthew Scarlett, Corey Enright
HB: Tom Harley, Harry Taylor, Andrew Mackie
C: Joel Corey, Cameron Ling, James Kelly
HF: Jimmy Bartel, Cameron Mooney, Steve Johnson
F: Travis Varcoe, Tom Hawkins, Paul Chapman
Foll: Mark Blake, Joel Selwood, Gary Ablett
Int: Brad Ottens, Shannon Byrnes, Max Rooke, David Wojcinski
Emg: Shane Mumford, Simon Hogan, Mathew Stokes

No change

ST. KILDA
B: Jason Blake, Zac Dawson, Steven Baker
HB: Brendon Goddard, Sam Fisher, Sam Gilbert
C: Farren Ray, Lenny Hayes, Nick Dal Santo
HF: Andrew McQualter, Justin Koschitzke, Clint Jones
F: Stephen Milne, Nick Riewoldt, Jason Gram
Foll: Steven King, Leigh Montagna, Adam Schneider
Int: Luke Ball, Raphael Clarke, Sean Dempster, Michael Gardiner
Emg: David Armitage, Jarryn Geary, James Gwilt

In: Dempster
Out: Eddy

St. Kilda has brought in Sean Dempster, a member of Sydney's 2005 premiership-winning side, favored over Robert Eddy, with no sympathy given to Max Hudghton, the Saints' last member of their last Grand Final squad in 1997.

Matthew Stokes was ruled earlier in the week as match-fit in his recovery from a groin injury that kept him out of the preliminary final win over Collingwood, but Geelong coach Mark Thompson has opted to go with an unchanged 22-man squad, leaving Stokes as the unlucky man out.

[babytiger2001]

And just for the hell of it, here's my tip...

Geelong by 40.

[Spartacus]

As well as the Saints have played all season, I think the Cats are just too strong.

Geelong by 22.

[babytiger2001]

Today's the day, everyone!!

And as I'm preparing to head over to the MCG for a very long day of work in and around the Grand Final, and to enjoy the game when I can, here comes the local weather forecast...

"Saturday: Cloudy. Isolated showers, becoming more widespread during the afternoon. The chance of thunderstorms with local hail. Winds west to northwesterly averaging 20 to 35 km/h tending west to southwest at 35 to 50 km/h during the afternoon."

Have a lovely day!

[babytiger2001]

Originally Posted by ChrisH

Really looking forward to this one, especially since I'll be able to watch live. Think this could be an absolute classic and I'm hoping it will go right down to the wire. Since I doubt any significant news will break over the next couple of days I'll go ahead and make my tip.

St. Kilda by 3. C'mon you Saints!

Originally Posted by Spartacus

As well as the Saints have played all season, I think the Cats are just too strong.

Geelong by 22.

No tie-breaker required here. Good luck, guys!

And more on the weather forecast... it could make things very, very interesting.

[RichardL]

Originally Posted by babytiger2001

No tie-breaker required here. Good luck, guys!

And more on the weather forecast... it could make things very, very interesting.

I love the idea of 14 C being an "Antarctic blast". It reminds me of the tales of the early English explorers in Australia describing 85 F as "stifling".


Strange Geelong are such strong favourites. St Kilda have been the class team of the year and Geelong have certainly had more "mortal" days.

I think Geelong will win if they can get it to be an open high-scoring game. It if it's low scoring St Kilda may well stifle them. And wet weather doesn't tend to lend itself to high scoring.

Mind you, I still don't really know much more than bugger all about the game, so read into as little as you want into that theory.


Looking forward to it tomorrow, even if it does involve setting the alarm for 5.15 am.

[krudmonk]

******** Geelong. They can't take care of the Toilet Hawks last year but beat up on the poor team running a 43-year drought. Stupid bogan asses.

[Einzelgänger]

Heartbreak again for the Saints, man I feel sorry for their fans they should have won this game