AFLW 2022: Marvel Stadium available to host grand final, how finals could look
There is one round left in the AFLW season, and the stakes couldn’t be higher for several clubs. Check out our experts’ tips.
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Justin Bieber could have paved the way for a Marvel Stadium AFL Women’s grand final.
As the top eight prepares to take its final shape this weekend, the league-owned stadium at Docklands could host the game should a Victorian team earn the right.
Ikon Park – which recently cut the ribbon on a multimillion-dollar upgrade that included female-friendly facilities as a key element – is also considered another prime option should the game be played in Victoria.
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE HOW THE TOP EIGHT COULD LOOK
But the ladder-leading Lions remain adamant that a home grand final is just that and will push to host the game in southeast Queensland should they win through to the decider with hosting rights.
Superstar pop icon Bieber recently postponed his world tour – which had been locked in for the AFL’s showpiece stadium on November 26 – amid a health battle.
While Victoria’s state election could pose a hurdle to playing the game that day, Friday night and Sunday loom as prime timeslots should the game be played in Victoria.
If Melbourne – which currently sits second on the ladder – earns the right to host a home grand final, the Docklands stadium or Ikon Park could be at the Demons’ disposal.
As the Herald Sun revealed in May, the league’s decision to shift the season forward to August resulted in a ground crunch at the end of November with a number of other sporting bodies having already booked stadiums around the country.
The AFL has kept a window from November 25-27 open for the game to be played.
Saturday, November 26 has been slated for months as Victoria’s state election date.
The Socceroos take on Tunisia at 9pm that night in the World Cup.
Adelaide Oval is not being considered due to cricket and concert commitments.
Brisbane – which sits atop the AFLW ladder – is determined to fight to play the grand final at the Gabba should it earn hosting rights, despite a Sheffield Shield game being currently scheduled just days after the AFLW grand final weekend and an international Test against South Africa soon after.
Metricon Stadium, where the Lions will play their first final, is unavailable in the scheduled grand final weekend due to a dance festival, Festival X, which is headlined by Calvin Harris.
“We’ve had plenty of games at Metricon, so it does feel like home away from home, in a way,” Lions goalkicker Jesse Wardlaw said this week.
“We’re just playing anywhere, anytime, and Metricon is a great place to play finals.”
AFL Women’s boss Nicole Livingstone said in August that awarding a home grand final to the highest-ranked team was “part of the uniqueness of AFLW”.
Moreton Bay Sports Complex at Burpengary, midway between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, could be used as a venue, while the Lions’ new facility at Springfield could – pending approval – potentially be available by late November.
Lions chief executive Greg Swann told the Herald Sun on Friday that Brisbane would fight to play the grand final – if it earns hosting rights – in southeast Queensland.
“If we were lucky enough to make the grand final we are confident it would be at the Gabba or Springfield,” he said.
“If the Shield game was moved from the Gabba they would have three weeks between games, so the pitch would be watered enough to make it acceptable (for AFL play), but there is also a push to have it at Springfield if we qualify.”
SHAPING THE EIGHT
BRISBANE (8-1, 267.8%)
v Collingwood (Prediction: W, finish 1st)
The Lions have one paw on the minor premiership but will need to consolidate their percentage against the Magpies at Metricon in a Friday night blockbuster.
Star power: Ally Anderson
MELBOURNE (8-1, 240.4%)
v West Coast (Prediction: W, finish 2nd)
Need to go big against the Eagles if they’re any chance of securing top spot, but will have a double chance either way. Still smarting from last season’s GF loss which counts for plenty.
Star power: Karen Paxman
ADELAIDE (7-2, 174.9%)
v St Kilda (Prediction: W, finish 3rd)
Experienced in the finals after three premierships in six seasons and have Ebony Marinoff and Anne Hatchard leading the charge. Should get a win on the road this weekend.
Star power: Ebony Marinoff
RICHMOND (7-2, 154.7%)
v North Melbourne (Prediction: W, finish 4th)
The Tigers are snarling. Seven wins in a row – and potentially another this weekend – has them inside the top four and on the path to their first finals series. Conti on another level.
Star power: Monique Conti
COLLINGWOOD (7-2, 147.6%)
v Brisbane (Prediction: L, finish 6th)
The Magpies have a point to prove after how last season ended but face the toughest trip in footy to see out their home and away season.
Star power: Jaimee Lambert
NORTH MELBOURNE (6-3, 175.7%)
v Richmond (Prediction: L, finish 7th)
It’s the game that could decide a top-four spot and it’s just about the toughest game of the weekend to pick. Genuine flip of the coin with the Kangaroos determined to flex some muscle. Skipper Emma Kearney faces a fitness test on her knee.
Star power: Jasmine Garner
GEELONG (6-3, 144.6%)
v Sydney (Prediction: W, finish 5th)
Another team that could jag fourth spot with a big win, but the Cats will need to get the job done in a big way and rely on other results, too. Watch for Chloe Scheer up forward.
Star power: Georgie Prespakis
WESTERN BULLDOGS (6-3, 109.8%)
v Carlton (Prediction: W, finish 8th)
Win. It’s as simple as that. This marks a huge Friday night for the Dogs whose equation is a very easy one to compute. Blackburn and Kirsty Lamb the one-two punch in the middle.
Star power: Ellie Blackburn
GOLD COAST (5-4, 90.2%)
v GWS (Prediction: W, finish 9th)
The Suns need the Blues to topple the Dogs on Friday night to set up a Sunday special. Copped a percentage hit against Melbourne a couple of weeks ago that they’ll need to claw back.
Star power: Charlie Rowbottom
PREDICTED FIRST WEEK OF FINALS (DATES TBC)
Brisbane v Richmond
Geelong v Western Bulldogs
Collingwood v North Melbourne
Melbourne v Adelaide
HOW THE NEW FINALS SYSTEM WORKS
With 18 teams now in the competition, the AFL Women’s will follow the same structure as the men’s finals series, run over four weeks with the grand final to be held on the weekend of November 25-27.
EXPERT ROUND 10 TIPS
Glenn McFarlane 65
Western Bulldogs 17
Brisbane Lions 6
Melbourne 22
Adelaide 19
Geelong 14
Fremantle 12
Essendon 7
North Melbourne 9
Gold Coast 13
Last Week 8
Mark Robinson 65
Western Bulldogs 6
Brisbane Lions 18
Melbourne 20
Adelaide 16
Geelong 18
Fremantle 6
Essendon 8
North Melbourne 4
Gold Coast 6
Last Week 9
Chris Cavanagh 64
Western Bulldogs 6
Brisbane Lions 12
Melbourne 30
Adelaide 18
Geelong 24
Fremantle 1
Essendon 12
Richmond 1
Gold Coast 12
Last Week 8
Matt Turner 64
Western Bulldogs 8
Brisbane Lions 20
Melbourne 24
Adelaide 18
Geelong 14
Fremantle 8
Essendon 6
North Melbourne 9
Gold Coast 10
Last Week 6
Liz Walsh 64
Western Bulldogs 12
Brisbane Lions 23
Melbourne 35
Adelaide 18
Geelong 14
Fremantle 20
Port Adelaide 1
North Melbourne 9
Gold Coast 3
Last Week 7
Rebecca Williams 63
Western Bulldogs 10
Brisbane Lions 9
Melbourne 12
Adelaide 14
Geelong 11
Fremantle 6
Essendon 9
Richmond 8
Gold Coast 7
Last Week 8
Lauren Wood 63
Western Bulldogs 11
Brisbane Lions 9
Melbourne 20
Adelaide 10
Geelong 15
Fremantle 5
Essendon 8
Richmond 7
Gold Coast 6
Last Week 6
Ellie Blackburn 61
Western Bulldogs
Brisbane Lions
Melbourne
Adelaide
Geelong
Fremantle
Essendon
North Melbourne
GWS Giants
Last Week 8
Sarah Jones 61
Western Bulldogs 20
Brisbane Lions 25
Melbourne 18
Adelaide 5
Geelong 32
Fremantle 2
Essendon 7
North Melbourne 13
Gold Coast 12
Last Week 8
Ebony Marinoff 61
Western Bulldogs
Brisbane Lions
Melbourne
Adelaide
Geelong
Fremantle
Essendon
North Melbourne
GWS Giants
Last Week 5
Kate McCarthy 59
Western Bulldogs
Brisbane Lions
Melbourne
Adelaide
Geelong
Hawthorn
Essendon
North Melbourne
Gold Coast
Last Week 5
Chloe Molloy 58
Western Bulldogs
Collingwood
Melbourne
Adelaide
Geelong
Hawthorn
Essendon
North Melbourne
Gold Coast
Last Week 7
Aliesha Newman 53
Western Bulldogs
Brisbane Lions
Melbourne
Adelaide
Sydney
Fremantle
Essendon
North Melbourne
Gold Coast
Last Week 6
Gemma Houghton 52
Carlton
Brisbane Lions
Melbourne
Adelaide
Geelong
Fremantle
Port Adelaide
Richmond
Gold Coast
Last Week 6
Kiss of Death 15
Carlton 13
Collingwood 13
West Coast 13
St Kilda 13
Sydney 13
Hawthorn 13
Port Adelaide 13
Richmond 13
GWS Giants 13
Last Week 1
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