AFL finals 2021: Fixture locked in for week one of finals series

Launceston wasn’t the Bulldogs’ first choice for their elimination final. See why they will return to the scene of their Round 22 disaster plus latest finals selection news.

Western Bulldogs chief executive Ameet Bains says ensuring the club’s players faced “minimal disruption” was a priority in the decision-making for the team’s elimination final venue in Launceston.

In a coup for the Apple Isle, Essendon will take on Western Bulldogs in Sunday’s elimination final after it secured eighth spot in its 38-point win over Collingwood.

The Dogs will return to UTAS Stadium for their sudden-death final against an in-form Essendon just two weeks after suffering their worst loss for the season at the Tasmanian ground.

In the second of a run of three consecutive losses leading into the finals, the Bulldogs were held to a season-low five goals in their 27-point loss to the 14th-placed Hawks at the Launceston venue.

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The AFL granted the top-two teams — Melbourne and Port Adelaide — their choice of venue for week one of the finals, with both clubs electing to play their qualifying finals at the Adelaide Oval.

Once those matches were locked in, Bains said the club had to “look at alternatives”. He and Bulldogs head of football Chris Grant consulted with the league to determine UTAS as the best option.

While acknowledging the club’s recent result there, Bains said Launceston would be “less arduous” on the players in terms of travelling and quarantine restrictions..

“We had initially explored the option of playing our first final at Adelaide Oval, however with Port Adelaide earning their home final and Melbourne choosing the same venue, we essentially had to look at alternatives,” Bains said.

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The Bulldogs’ last visit to Launceston didn’t go entirely to plan.

“Launceston appealed to us for a number of reasons. It’s less arduous for the players given it’s a shorter flight, and the restrictions on AFL teams entering Tasmania are less stringent than in other states.

“It’s been a difficult season for our group with several games impacted by extended time on the road and multiple periods of hard isolation, including in the lead-up to last week’s Round 23 game.

“Our priority is to ensure our players face minimal disruption, so they can prepare for this final in the best way possible.”

Despite the Round 22 loss to the Hawks, Bains suggested recent experience playing at the ground could be beneficial.

“Although we didn’t get the result we were after on that day, we will be much better for the experience of playing at the venue, and we have familiarity with the travel conditions,” Bains said.

“I know the players, coaches and staff are excited about the opportunity to be playing in the 2021 final series and welcome the prospect of a boisterous, sellout crowd in Launceston.

“We remain confident about what we can achieve this year on-field, particularly for all of our fans here in Victoria who continue to do it extremely tough right now.”

Essendon and the Bulldogs face off again in an elimination final.

Tasmania will permit 10,000 people (50 per cent capacity) to attend its elimination finals in Launceston.

Port Adelaide will host Geelong on Friday night at the Adelaide Oval with the Cats not given much time to lick their wounds after its shock after-the-siren loss to Melbourne on Saturday night.

It is understood South Australian health officials will be reluctant to boost crowd capacity at Adelaide Oval beyond the current limit of 15,000 for this week’s qualifying finals.

The Demons win means they’ll face Brisbane on Saturday night, also at the Adelaide Oval in the other qualifying final.

The Sydney derby will make up Tasmania’s other finals fixture with Launceston to host Sydney and GWS on Saturday afternoon.

It is understood the Dogs and Dons will be allowed to fly south on Saturday rather than the same-day travel protocols used for recent games on the Apple Isle.

But they are still likely to share a charter flight in what would be an odd build up for two teams plotting to end each other’s season.

The Bulldogs are 3-0 against Essendon in finals in VFL-AFL history – their last match-up saw footy legends Ted Whitten and John Coleman face off in 1953 – but the barnstorming Bombers have qualified in intoxicating form this year, having won three-straight games including a 13-point win over the Dogs earlier this month.

Beveridge faces several selection headaches with brute recruit Stefan Martin’s body unreliable and big man Tim English not entrusted with ruck duties on Friday night having been exposed by Bomber Sam Draper in that round 21 clash.

The Dons outscored the Dogs 70-21 from stoppages that day as they won clearances 47-31 on the back of Draper’s domination, which included a whopping 6.3 (39) generated from centre bounces.

Swingman Josh Schache and defender Ryan Gardner are also under consideration at the Dogs although No.1 pick Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is unlikely to play given the absence of buffer key forward Josh Bruce (knee).

The Bulldogs lost to the Hawks in Launceston in Round 22. Picture: Steve Bell/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The elimination final double will deliver Tasmania its first taste of finals in VFL-AFL history.

The Bombers are hunting their first finals victory since 2004 while the Dogs haven’t saluted in a knockout match since their 2016 flag.

Geelong star Mitch Duncan (knee) is not expected to make it back for Friday’s clash against Port Adelaide, which is a rematch of last year’s qualifying final won by the Power.

Irishman Zach Tuohy’s race against time is set to go to the wire with Friday’s clash locked in for exactly 21 days after the 31-year-old tore his hamstring.

While Tuohy’s age will count against his chances of playing, and a recurrence would likely end his season, the Cats are desperate for their rebounding weapon to make it back.

It is believed Tuohy would replace Max Holmes in the 22 despite the teenager’s bright performance on Saturday night.

Cats coach Chris Scott cleverly placed Brownlow Medallist Patrick Dangerfield, captain Joel Selwood and Tom Atkins, who was returning from a back injury, on limited minutes in the final quarter against Melbourne.

Dangerfield failed to touch the Sherrin in the final term and Clayton Oliver oddly chose Max Gawn’s run up as he kicked the matchwinner after the siren to inquire about Dangerfield’s calf muscle.

Zach Tuohy is in a race against the clock to be fit for Geelong’s qualifying final. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

But Dangerfield told Oliver he was all clear and the superstar is certain to line up at the Adelaide Oval fortress he called home for the first eight years of his career on Friday night.

The remarkably healthy Demons are tipped to take an unchanged line-up into Saturday night’s qualifying final against Brisbane Lions.

Michael Hibberd, Aaron vandenBerg, James Jordon and Jake Melksham are all poised for finals heartbreak.

Champion Data’s expected scores from the thriller at GMHBA Stadium ended at 68-apiece and plenty of wise judges think the Cats and Dees are the best two teams in it.

There is still hope Victorian fans could witness success this year with the AFL’s position that the MCG will host the grand final still unchanged.

The league has not nominated a venue outside of the MCG, but if Victoria fails to slow the Covid outbreak it will almost certainly go to Perth or Adelaide.

The AFL has frozen ticket prices for weeks one and two of the finals – an entry level reserved seat will remain at $35.

Victoria ‘not waving the white flag’ on MCG grand final

— Mitch Clarke

The Victorian Government has not yet decided on whether the AFL Grand Final will be moved from Melbourne for a second year in a row.

Sports Minister Martin Pakula on Sunday said the government hadn’t yet “waved the white flag” on the September spectacle being played at the MCG.

But he acknowledged time was fast running out to make a decision, with Perth’s Optus Stadium shaping up to be the likely replacement venue.

Victoria’s current lockdown, which epidemiologists have said is all but certain to be extended, is scheduled to end on September 2, while the Grand Final is due to be held on September 25.

“It probably goes without saying that right now it looks problematic, the idea that we’d have tens of thousands of people gathered in one place that soon,” Mr Pakula said.

“Having said that, contrary to reports, we haven’t waved the white flag yet, but I am in constant discussions with (footy boss) Gillon (McLachlan) and the team at the AFL.

“The government will, as well as doing what’s best for Victoria, we’re also keenly interested in the health of the code and what’s best for football.

The Victorian Government says it hasn’t given up hope of playing the grand final at the MCG. Picture: Jason Edwards

“We would never seek to force the AFL to play the Grand Final in front of an empty stadium. We didn’t do it last year and we wouldn’t do it this year.”

Pakula said he wasn’t prepared to make the assumption that the game would definitely be pushed interstate.

“The Grand Final is clearly very challenging ... At the end of this current lockdown period, around early September, we’ll see where we are and we’ll have a grown up conversation about where we are there,” he added.

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Originally published as AFL finals 2021: Fixture locked in for week one of finals series