Round 23

[PatowalongaPirate]

From the AFL website:

ROUND 23 will kick off in style with a Friday night Collingwood-Hawthorn blockbuster, but top-eight contenders Adelaide and Gold Coast have been handed Sunday games and possible short breaks heading into the finals.

The AFL released the final round 23 fixture on Tuesday, with Adelaide the only existing top-eight team not playing on the Friday or Saturday.

On Saturday, August 30 (all times local):

• Essendon (seventh) will play Carlton at the MCG at 1.45pm.

• Fremantle (fourth) will play Port Adelaide (fifth) at Patersons Stadium at 1.10pm.

• The Sydney Swans (first) will meet Richmond at ANZ Stadium at 4.40pm.

• Geelong (third) will play the Brisbane Lions at Simonds Stadium at 7.40pm.

• North Melbourne will play Melbourne at Etihad Stadium at 7.40pm.

With Collingwood (ninth) and Hawthorn (second) opening the round, this leaves Adelaide (eighth) and Gold Coast (10th) as the only teams now within a game of the top eight that are drawn to play on the Sunday before the first week of the finals.

However, both the Suns and Crows will be playing at home in afternoon games.

On Sunday, August 31:

• The Suns will play West Coast at Metricon Stadium at 1.10pm.

• Adelaide will play St Kilda at the Adelaide Oval at 2.50pm.

• The Western Bulldogs will play Greater Western Sydney at Etihad Stadium at 4.40pm.

It looks like the cows will be doing it tough on their way to the flag.

[Spargo]

I can't beleive that last sentence was on the AFL website...

[am Bays]

Pfft

1. The crows have to make it first so when they play in the last round could be a moot point anyway.

2. An Elimintion final is normally played on the Sun afternoon, if it is agaisnt Port they will play it at home with a seven day break, after Port have flown back from Perth on the Sat.

3. if they play it in Vic it will still be probably a seven day break or at worst a six day break (Sat afternoon) with minimal travel.

Crows won't be doing it tough and for finishing 8th you get what you deserve comraed to the better placed finals teams IMO.

[Spargo]

Distinct possibility that Adelaide could finish 6th thus getting a home final against possibly North or Essendon.

[RustyCage]

A six day break and a trip to Perth to get reamed by Freo in the first week of the finals?

Edit - Adelaide I meant

[Spargo]

A six day break and a trip to Perth to get reamed by Freo in the first week of the finals?

Who?

[RustyCage]

Oops!

Adelaide I meant

[Rik E Boy]

Collingwood Hawthorn Blockbuster. Hasn't been a good Hawks v Pies game since 2011. Pies are shot and the Hawks have powered on.

regards,

REB