The Score: Channel 7 reveals Grand Final commentary team
Bruce McAvaney and Brian Taylor will call the first night Grand Final for Channel 7 and they will have some serious star power in the commentary box with a finals legend flying in for the gig.
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Channel 7 has parachuted in some expert knowledge about big games at the Gabba for Saturday night‘s Grand Final.
Brisbane legend Michael Voss, who was the king of the jungle at the ground for 15 seasons, will be a part of the calling team for the GF.
He will sit alongside Hawthorn great Luke Hodge in the special comments chair and next to callers Bruce McAvaney and Brian Taylor.
Former AFLW star Abbey Holmes will be the boundary rider.
Its been a juggling act all season for the AFL‘s main broadcaster with McAvaney calling games from Adelaide while Taylor and the special comments team were in Melbourne.
Hodge, who has remained living in Brisbane after he finished up his career last year, has been the one constant at the ground as the boundary rider.
Taylor missed the first two weeks of the finals as he quarantined in Queensland while McAvaney has been free to travel back and forth because of no border issues with South Australia.
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This was also a large reason why Voss was available given he can also fly in without any issues as he now lives in Adelaide and works as an assistant coach with Port Adelaide.
The other regulars in the Channel 7 commentary team including Wayne Carey, Daisy Pearce, James Brayshaw, Luke Darcy, Cameron Ling and Matthew Richardson will have various roles across the broadcast from Melbourne.
In other news for the network, Channel 7 has been awarded the broadcast rights for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games.
The International Olympic Committee announced that Seven West Media would again bring the ultimate in winter sports into Australian households in February 2022.
In 2018 an audience of more than 16 million tuned into Channel 7 to watch the winter Games from PyeongChang.
CATS SET FOR PRE-GAME HOLLYWOOD PUMP-UP
Richmond has pulled out its ace in the pack with its celebrity supporter having world No.1 tennis player Ash Barty present the premiership cup.
We hear the Cats also have a celebrity card to play with Hollywood movie star Guy Pearce sending a message to the team.
Pearce is a diehard Cats fan who keeps in regular contact with the club and even made a surprise appearance at one of the premiership celebrations a few years back.
He is currently working in London and sent through a video message which captain Joel Selwood is set to show the team in the lead-up to Saturday‘s GF.
Pearce grew up in Geelong and attended Geelong College where he discovered his love of drama and the arts.
DUSTY v DUNCAN: WHO WILL BE MR. OCTOBER?
Only three players remain in the hunt for the Gary Ayres Award for best finals performer.
Geelong midfielder Mitch Duncan is the current leader on 19 votes, one ahead of Richmond superstar Dustin Martin.
The only other player in the mix - who at best can draw level with Duncan - is his teammate Patrick Dangerfield on nine votes.
Dangerfield would require a perfect 10 for best-on-ground honours in the eyes of the two Grand Final coaches to share the AFL Coaches Association award.
The next closest Tiger on the leaderboard is ruckman Toby Nankervis (seven votes) who received six votes in the preliminary final victory over Port Adelaide.
Martin got the full 10 votes as did Duncan in the Cats win over Brisbane but there were some differing opinions underneath him.
Brisbane coach Chris Fagan and Cats coach Chris Scott agreed on Duncan as best-on-ground but then picked four completely different players to fill the remainder of the votes.
Brownlow Medallist Lachie Neale and Cats young gun Brandan Parfitt both received four votes with Geelong pair Sam Menegola and Jake Kolodjashnij getting three each.
Geelong captain Joel Selwood and defender Jack Henry scored two votes while Brisbane‘s Ryan Lester and Lincoln McCarthy earned one vote apiece.
Martin is going for his third Gary Ayres Award after taking it home in 2019 and 2017, the same years in which he won the Norm Smith Medal.
The two other winners - the award started in 2016 - have come from the losing teams in the Grand Final.
Collingwood‘s Steele Sidebottom won in 2018 with 23 votes while Sydney’s Josh Kennedy received the inaugural award in 2016.
FORMER BOMBER BACK IN ACTION
Conor McKenna hasn‘t taken long to have an impact in his return to Gaelic football.
The former Bomber, who quit last month to return home to Ireland, scored a goal in his return game for Tyrone over the weekend.
McKenna was praised for causing Donegal “endless problems”, getting fouled for their penalty and then showing immense strength to hammer home a late goal.
But the efforts of the former AFL defender weren‘t enough to save Tyrone who lost by four points. They now face a must-win game against Mayo next weekend to secure their Division One status for 2021.
McKenna was praised for being in “supreme condition” with commentators suggesting many GAA players “return home from the AFL as shadows of their former selves”.
The 24-year-old played 79 games for Essendon in six seasons but was struck down by homesickness over the past year.
He returned home to Ireland a number of times including during the COVID-19 AFL shutdown.
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Which Australian sporting legend was seen bonding with the AFL‘s top brass in an unlikely crossover of sporting worlds?
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Barty to present cup if Tigers triumph
- Lauren Wood
Richmond president Peggy O’Neal says Ash Barty will be serving as a representative of the Tiger Army if she presents the premiership cup on Saturday night.
The world No. 1 tennis star was on Tuesday announced as the Tigers’ appointment to present the cup to coach Damien Hardwick and skipper Trent Cotchin should Richmond prevail over Geelong at the Gabba.
Former Cats skipper Ian Nankervis will present the cup should Geelong salute on Saturday night..
Traditionally, a club legend or historic figure presents the cup, meaning Barty would be the first non-football person to get the job.
Richmond great Matthew Richardson presented the cup when the Tigers won in 2017, while Maureen Hafey – wife of club legend and former coach Tommy Hafey – had the honour in 2019.
“Ash has represented our country superbly on and off the tennis court and we are proud to count her among our legion of passionate Richmond supporters,” O’Neal said.
“We believe that Ash is a person who embodies the values of the club and, should we be fortunate enough to win on Saturday, will hand over the cup as a representative of our members and supporters - both those in the crowd and those who are unable to attend. The fact that she is based in Queensland made it an easy decision.”
Grand slam champion Barty said the approach – which came from O’Neal – had been a surprise.
“I know there are many other Richmond people who would normally do this, but given the circumstances I am very grateful for the opportunity,” she said.
“I wish the boys all the best for Saturday and very much hope I have the chance to be out there when the siren goes, celebrating another Richmond premiership.
“I am a long-time fan of the Tigers and so proud to be associated with the club.
“I trained at the club for several years with a lot of the boys and have loved watching the Tigers on my travels; supporting them has been a constant source of enjoyment for me on the road.
“I have a huge admiration and respect for the club on and off the field, what they have achieved over the last decade is incredible.”
Barty sent social media alight earlier month when she was captured in the stands at Richmond’s qualifying final against Brisbane, sipping a beer and raucously cheering her team.
“It started with dad who supports Wests Tigers in the NRL,” Barty told the Herald Sun in 2019 of her Tiger passion.
“So, it was natural to follow Richmond.
“The Tigers keep me sane when I’m overseas.”
Barty has said she watches Richmond wherever she is in the world, famously – and inventively – taking in the 2017 flag while playing tennis in China.
“Because of internet security, I couldn’t watch it live (online) so I Facetimed my mum and watched it that way.
“Mum kept trying to talk and I kept telling her to talk after the game. It was bloody good.
“I have an array of Richmond guernseys at home.”
Barty also shares a relationship with Richmond skipper Trent Cotchin, recently wishing him luck on his 250th game.
2020 PREMIERSHIP THE TOUGHEST EVER: HODGE
- Chris Honnery
Three-time AFL premiership captain Luke Hodge believes Saturday’s blockbuster Grand Final will be the most difficult one to win as debate returns around the pre-finals bye.
It comes after the Lions and Power were both knocked out in their respective preliminary finals matches despite winning their qualifying finals games and finishing the season as the best two teams on the ladder.
With the pre-finals bye, it meant both clubs played just one game in almost four weeks leading into their preliminary final clashes, leading some to believe it halted each club’s momentum.
However, Hodge said considering the condensed season and the entire competition relocating to Queensland, the players had to have a rest.
“Both teams, after what they’ve been through, the players had to have a rest,” Hodge said.
“I’ve been a big one to say leave the bye (weekend).
“To ask the guys to play five games in four weeks and back up four days later (is a hard task).
“People say there’s an asterisk on this year. There’s no asterisk and if there is, it’s the hardest grand final ever to win.
“Any time you need resilience and you’ve had setbacks, as every player and everyone involved in the AFL has, I’m putting this up with one of the hardest grand finals to win ever.
“For both teams to go through what they have to get there, and 100 days away from home and family, is a huge effort and huge commitment to keep the AFL brand going and the season alive.”
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Lions coach Chris Fagan was left pondering the benefits of the pre-finals bye in the aftermath to Saturday’s loss to Geelong.
“It’s actually a good question and it’s really hard to say,” Fagan said when asked whether not playing regularly over the past month had any effect.
“That thought went through my mind because we’ve only played 17 games this year and because they’re reduced time, it’s probably only the equivalent of playing 12 or 13 games coming into the finals series.
“We’ve seen preliminary finals in past years where the team that won the first week and had the rest would overrun teams late.
“Maybe that has an effect.
“It’s not an excuse for us losing tonight, we were comprehensively beaten but I’m not sure it was an advantage to lose that first week – but we’ll take the win, we wanted to win a final and get a great win against Richmond and another invaluable experience.
“It’s an interesting question. Maybe a scientist could answer it better than I but I wondered that.”
WHAT AFL PLAYERS CAN AND CAN’T DO AFTER FINAL SIREN
- Sam Landsberger
The AFL’s strict COVID-19 protocols will expire as soon as the final siren sounds at the Gabba on Saturday night, clearing the way for the Grand Final winners to dance the night away in Queensland.
Richmond and Geelong players have been prohibited from entering bars, pubs and restaurants since March.
They are still not allowed to sunbake on the beach, catch Ubers or taxis or sit in cafes, with only takeaway food and coffee orders allowed.
Both clubs celebrated their 100th day in hubs last week.
Rival Victorian teams have been forced to remain subject to the AFL’s protocols for a few days after their final game because they had not checked out of the hubs.
But the league confirmed its bubble will pop as soon as the season ends at 9pm (Queensland time) on Saturday.
That should help avoid the awkward scenario of winners and losers heading straight back down the Gold Coast highway to the same hotel in wildly opposing moods after the Grand Final.
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While the Tigers have taken over KDV Sports and the Cats are based at Southport Sharks, there is some overlap at RACV Royal Pines.
The Cats have about 40-50 of their 160-170 travelling party based at the Pines, although players staying there also have a room at Southport.
The Tigers have far less staying at the Pines, but they do still have a presence at that hotel and so some competing Grand Finalists will also be housemates this week.
For example, Cats star Mitch Duncan bumped into Tigers assistant Andrew McQualter at breakfast on Sunday morning.
Richmond refused to stand down any of Damien Hardwick’s assistants this season as other clubs started to shed coaches early to fit into the AFL’s headcount policy for this season.
But the Grand Final will be the final time Hardwick has revered assistants Justin Leppitsch (backline) and Craig McRae (forwards) in his box.
Leppitsch is unsure what his next move will be while McRae, last year’s VFL premiership coach, will start work under Alastair Clarkson at Hawthorn next month.
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