AFL Grand Final 2023: Hot weather record temps set to be nudged
The AFL is preparing for one of the hottest AFL grand finals on record, with temperatures set to nudge 30C.
Victoria
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This weekend’s AFL Grand Final is set to be a hotly contested affair in more ways than one.
With Collingwood and Brisbane preparing to battle it out for premiership glory, footy historians are reaching for the record books as Saturday’s temperatures get set to nudge 30C.
Saturday’s Grand Final is forecast to be the fourth hottest VFL/AFL Grand Final on record, with the mercury set to peak at 28C.
While temperatures are not predicted to break the 2015 record of 31.3C, when the Hawks clinched that marvellous three-peat, the Bureau of Meteorology says the heat could go close to rivalling that figure.
Senior Meteorologist Michael Efron said we could expect “warm and dry conditions” on Saturday during what could become the hottest Grand Final in almost 10 years.
“At the moment, 28 degrees is looking pretty good,” he said.
“There’s a northerly air stream across the state bringing very warm air south from the centre of the continent.
“In terms of grand finals in Melbourne, it’s looking like being the hottest since 2015.
“It may not be sunny all day and we may see a few patches of cloud but it’s looking very dry.
“However, I think it’s unlikely that we’re looking over 30 degrees like we saw in 2015, with that exceptionally warm grand final of 31.3 degrees.”
The 1987 VFL Grand Final clocked a maximum temperature of 30.7C and in 1944, Melbourne reached a top of 29.8C to round out the top three.
Four-time premiership star Isaac Smith, who played on that record-breaking day for the Hawks in 2015, said players should prepare early this week for the warmer conditions.
“I remember just before the bounce I had mothballs in my mouth, it was that dry,” he said.
“I was thinking ‘how the hell are we going to get through?’ But we survived.
“It was interesting, conserving your energy early (was key), not doing too much warm up before the game, just being really detailed in your warm up and not over drinking.
“If you drink too much fluid you’ll be too heavy.
“We did a couple of steam rooms during the week to get used to it.”
Senior Meteorologist Michael Efron is also expecting pristine conditions for Friday’s AFL Grand Final Parade, forecasting a top of 26C with no sign of rain.
“We’re looking at a top of 26 degrees and dry conditions, it’s just been an incredibly warm month across Victoria and really dry," he added.
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