Not saying its right but i think they’ll play as long as there is no thunder and the winds aren’t ridiculous (20kmph-40kmph winds on the Saturday wont deter them) no amount of rain will stop it from going ahead, its the other factors.
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Assuming we’re playing, does anyone know which of our players are the best swimmers? We need to pick the right team for the conditions.
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Yeah that’s the other thing they need to consider - thunder.
Their policy on it is far more strict these days.
I can see the Geelong game going to round 3 and ours being pushed to Sunday where there looks to be far less weather around.
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Selectors are going to pick yhe tallest players on the list aren’t they.
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Unfortunately don’t think Sunday is possible due to the 5 game break. I believe theres a rule stating a team on a 5 day break can’t play a team with a 6 day+ break (or something to that effect). Since Dawks play Friday, not possible.
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The short ones will drown.
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B. Hayes McKay Gerreyn
HB.Ridley Reid Laverde
C. Jones Setterfield Cox
HF.Edwards Caddy Bryan
F. Visentini Draper Wright
Foll. Goldstein Langford Martin
Int. Prior Redman Perkins Tsatas
Sub. Clarke
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Going by what was clearly learned last year, Brad will pick far too many of his tall player favourites and not even factor the weather into his decision.
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Want to beat this plastic club so bad
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They would’t fly up Wednesday would they?
They could fly somewhere like Coffs Harbour on Friday and get a bus?
But the AFL need to make call really.
Some talk of flying earlier now
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True that.
Well then if I were the AFL I would get Gold Coast out of there on Wednesday and play the game here on Saturday.
Not being bias as I would happily play our scheduled home game against them up there.
It’s a disaster if they need to postpone the game as we have different byes and both teams would be ropable if it had to be scheduled in the pre finals bye
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I can’t see how any ground, no matter how well it drains, can be playable with that amount of rain. The roads would also be super dangerous even making the short trip from the hotel to the ground.
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My augmented thoughts based on weather
In wet and windy conditions like those forecast for the Essendon vs. Gold Coast game at People First Stadium, the team that adapts better to wet-weather footy will have an advantage. Let’s break down which side might be better suited:
Key Factors in Wet-Weather Footy
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Contested Footy & Clearance Work – Since the ball will be slippery and hard to control, winning at stoppages and clearances becomes crucial.
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Groundball Game – Players who can win contested ground balls and keep the ball moving will be key, as clean marks will be rare.
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Direct Play & Territory – Teams that go long and direct (instead of overusing handballs or risky kicks) tend to perform better in the wet.
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Defensive Pressure & Tackling – A high-pressure team that forces mistakes and capitalizes on turnovers will thrive.
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Tall Forwards Struggle – Marking forwards often struggle, so teams with small, agile forwards who can crumb and snap goals benefit.
Gold Coast Suns – Strengths & Weaknesses in Wet Conditions
Midfield Grit – Gold Coast has a tough midfield group, led by Noah Anderson, Matt Rowell, and Touk Miller. Rowell, in particular, thrives in contested situations and is a strong tackler.
Ruck Dominance – Jarrod Witts is an elite ruckman, which could give Gold Coast first use at stoppages.
Familiar with Humid Conditions – Gold Coast plays in dewy and slippery conditions at home often, so they are used to adjusting to a wet ball.
Lack of Key Forwards in Wet – Ben King is their main key forward, but tall targets often struggle in the wet. They’ll need smalls like Izak Rankine and Ben Ainsworth to step up around goal.
Inexperience – Gold Coast’s younger players might struggle under pressure if Essendon brings a physical game.
Essendon – Strengths & Weaknesses in Wet Conditions
Tougher Midfield Than in Previous Years – With Zach Merrett, Darcy Parish, and Ben Hobbs, Essendon can win the clearance battle if they get their hands on it first.
Pressure Game – Under coach Brad Scott, Essendon has focused on defensive pressure and tackling, which is crucial in the wet.
Small Forward Options – If marking forwards like Peter Wright struggle, Jake Stringer (if fit), Jye Caldwell, and Nic Martin could be important as ground-level goal scorers.
Reliance on Outside Play – Essendon likes fast ball movement and clean disposal, which is harder to execute in wet conditions. If they try to be too precise, they might get caught.
Defensive Structure – Essendon’s backline isn’t as strong aerially or in one-on-one contests, which could hurt them if Gold Coast locks it in forward half.
Who Has the Edge?
• If it becomes a scrappy, stoppage-heavy, contested battle, Gold Coast might have the edge because of their inside midfielders and ruck dominance.
• If Essendon can get the ball forward quickly and apply pressure, their small forwards and tackling pressure could swing things their way.
Final Verdict:
Gold Coast might be better suited to the conditions, especially since they play in humid, slippery weather often. However, if Essendon’s midfield can gain territory and force mistakes, they are still a strong chance. Expect a low-scoring, tight contest where contested footy and defensive pressure decide the winner. This depends on if Hardwick’s laptop makes it through the whole match though.
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I know it’s not a deciding factor but the risk of injuries in those conditions is a real concern.
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Goodness me. Rowell is going to break the clearances record in this game. And probably break a few Essendon collarbones too. Absolutely tailor made for that head in the trough mud pig.
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Adelaide have ok’ed the Rankine loan its all good
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Word now filtering out that our game may be moved to Melbourne and the return game in year moved up to the Gold Coast…yes please!
Fixture switch? Bombers match also in doubt as tropical cyclone looms
ByMichael Gleeson and Sam McClure
Updated March 3, 2025 — 7.10pmfirst published at 11.09am
Essendon’s opening round clash with Gold Coast has joined Thursday’s night’s Geelong-Brisbane season opener in being imperilled by Cyclone Alfred.
The AFL on Monday said it would not change the fixture for its grand opening round in the northern states unless the Queensland government said it was unsafe for the matches in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast to go ahead as planned.
However, contingency plans include the Lions-Cats clash being postponed until round three, when both teams have a bye. One proposal is for the Bombers’ match against the Suns to be played in Melbourne this weekend instead of on the Gold Coast at 5.15pm Saturday.
This is the second AFL season that has kicked off with an “opening round” in NSW and Queensland, an initiative designed to capitalise on the NRL’s round one trip to Las Vegas. There is no football scheduled for Melbourne this weekend, with Carlton and Richmond to open round 1 at the MCG on the night of Thursday March13.
The Suns and Bombers are due to face off again in round 17 at Marvel Stadium, theoretically allowing for the home and away clashes to be flipped should this weekend’s game not be able to go ahead in Queensland.
“Player and staff safety is our first second and third priority,” Essendon CEO Craig Vozzo said, after the Bombers trained with soaked footballs in Melbourne on Monday ahead of the anticipated conditions.
“We are in the hands of the AFL, the Queensland state government and Virgin airlines.”
The Queensland government is due to meet again on Tuesday to consider the tropical cyclone’s latest movements. The government has urged residents to stock up on canned food with extremely heavy rains forecast regardless of whether the worst of Cyclone Alfred hits the coast.
Geelong are due to fly to Queensland on Wednesday and Essendon on Friday. Club sources said that a decision could be taken out of the hands of the AFL and state authorities if Virgin Airlines was unable to fly in and out of the state.
A spokesman for the AFL said it had not yet received any such safety advice from the government, and that the Lions had not formally requested that their match be postponed.
Two club sources, not authorised to speak about contingency conversations, said the Lions were concerned that even if it was safe for the match to go ahead on Thursday night, the wild weather would hit crowd numbers for the unfurling of the premiership flag.
The category 2 storm was about 465 kilometres north-east of Brisbane and 410 kilometres east-north-east of Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast on Monday morning, and moving south about 10km/h.
At a press conference in Sydney, league boss Andrew Dillon would not commit to a deadline for a decision on whether the game went ahead as planned.
“There’s no actual deadline, it’s when we’re absolutely 100 per cent confident about what’s going to happen, then we’ll make the call then,” he said.
Asked whether a decision could be made as late as Thursday morning, he said it could come even later.
“We’ll continue to work with the bureau and the Queensland government about the forecast,” Dillon said.
“It’s already slightly changed in the last sort of 12 or 24 hours so, we’re three days out from the game, we’ll continue to work with the clubs, the broadcasters, but importantly, the bureau and the Queensland government on the game.
“For every game we have contingencies, and there are options with byes and the like, but at the moment, the game’s scheduled for Thursday night and the Lions are working towards that, as are Geelong and as are the AFL and Channel Seven.”
He said strong wind was the main safety concern for the league.
“It’ll be the health and safety of our players and our fans who will be the No.1 priority in any decision that we make,” he said.
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