Source :- THE AGE NEWS
We’re very serious about helping out footy tipsters by providing sound and reasoned guidance.
Football scribes Andrew Wu and Peter Ryan consider themselves the most expert of the expert tipsters in the office. What’s more, they backed up their boasting by finishing first and second among our tipsters this year, Wuey identifying 162 winners and Pete scoring 157.
Every week throughout the year, this pair have hosted the Real Footy expert tips podcast.
We’re still deciding if it’s a serious footy podcast with a light-hearted edge or a light-hearted program with moments of serious footy analysis. Either way, it’s an entertaining 20-25 minute look at the games each week.
Tipping contests and sweeps are a familiar part of the grand final tradition.
If you’re yet to enter your predictions, perhaps you’d like to see what our panel of experts have forecast. Check out their tips here and, in case it’s helpful to you, here are the line-ups for tomorrow’s game:
After the parade, it will be time for the players and coaches to switch back into game mode – well, kinda.
Both teams will be having a “captain’s run” training session on the MCG in the early afternoon.
The Dockers have got the ground booked from 12.30pm and the Lions from 1.30pm.
The captain’s run is the lightest of light training sessions; more a chance for the players to get a feel for the stadium they’ll be playing on tomorrow than to do any strenuous physical work.
Some players will have a gentle jog, maybe do a few stretches and possibly engage in a little bit of kick-to-kick or lane work, but don’t expect anyone to hit top speed – no one wants to risk an injury today.
Before the parade gets underway at 10.30am, we’ll hear from the captains and coaches of both teams.
Harris Andrews and Chris Fagan, for the Lions, and Alex Pearce and Justin Longmuir, representing Fremantle, will be speaking to the media.
The parade will take about an hour.
Both teams will be cheered as they move through Melbourne Park, Birrarung Marr, and finally to Yarra Park, where the players will be presented on the main stage at the Footy Fest and the obligatory photos with the premiership cup will take place.
I know a few youngsters who’ve visited the Footy Fest this year, and it sounds like it’s been lots of fun. It is a great way to spend a day of the school holidays. If you’ve checked it out, we’d love to hear what you thought. Share your views in the comments section.
There’s plenty on the agenda this morning as we build towards the time-honoured grand final parade.
The Brisbane Lions have told us they’ll be putting Oscar Allen and Sam Draper up for the first media conference of the day.
The Lions might be gunning for a three-peat of premierships (and their fourth grand final in a row) and Allen and Draper might both be seasoned AFL players, but both men are preparing for the first grand final. They were star recruits for the Lions last summer. Allen was the West Coast captain before making the move to the Sunshine state, while Draper was an injury-riddled ruckman for Essendon.
Fair to say they should be pumped up about what lies ahead of them today and tomorrow.
Joining the Lions recruits at the presser will be Fremantle forward Jye Amiss and teammate Neil Erasmus, who are also preparing for their first time playing in a grand final.
The Dockers, as we know, have never won a title in the AFL – this being their 32nd season since joining the league. Their only previous grand final appearance was in 2013.
G’day viewers,
Can you smell the anticipation in the air? It’s grand final eve – bigger than Christmas Eve for those of us who worship at the alter of the AFL.
It’s also, of course, a public holiday here in Melbourne, and the excitement is certainly building for tomorrow’s big game between Fremantle and Brisbane Lions.
I took a light jog through the city’s streets before landing at HQ for work today, and although the city was still waking up, there were plenty of signs that the biggest annual sporting event on our calendar was drawing near.
Based on my very un-scientific observations Freo’s purple was the dominant colour I noticed being worn.
Anyway, it’s bound to be a ripper day as we build up to the game, so buckle up join us for the ride, and always feel free to share your thoughts, observations, predictions and story tips in the comments section.
