Melbourne is cold and Melbourne is wet.
It’s a blessing footy fans won’t be forced to face the elements at the MCG, but a shame and sign of the times that two great Victorian teams aren’t battling it out at the home of AFL football.
Melbourne received between 25 and 40 millimetres of rain before 9am, with Moorabbin receiving the heaviest fall of 43 millimetres. Saturday was the wettest day since April this year, and the wettest October day since October 31, 2010.
Cars drive through water over Alexandra Avenue.Credit:Joe Armao
The State Emergency Service received 191 calls for help relating to minor flooding and downed trees as the heavy rain hit the city.
But the sun appeared through the clouds about 2.30pm, offering Tigers and Cats supporters hope of pulling out the deck chairs and watching the game with family on a big screen in the backyard, or with friends at the local park.
Melburnian’s should expect a high of just 15 degrees on Saturday, according to the bureau, but the mercury will fall to 12 degrees by the first bounce at 7.30pm AEDT.
Compare that to Brisbane, which is currently facing the threat of a possible thunderstorm, and can expect light showers throughout the day with a top of 27 degrees to make it a warm showdown.
The mercury will sit at around 24 degrees at the time of the first bounce in Brisbane.
The storm was lingering about 270 kilometres north-west of Brisbane at 2pm.
But Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Pieter Claassen said the likelihood the game could be postponed by thunder and lighting was still minimal, with the chain of storms expected to bypass the Gabba.
For more detail read on here.
After a season like no other comes a grand final like no other. For only the second time in the AFL era the grand final will not be at the MCG and, for the first time, it will be at night, not the mid-afternoon.
What will that mean in determining the winner? We have analysed data from the past seven grand finals to see where the goals were kicked from to claim a season.
To give greater depth to some of the analysis we’ve brought in data from other finals at the ‘G.
We then compared that to where goals have been kicked at the Gabba this year.
The picture is revealing and could give a clue as to which team will win this year’s flag.
You can read the full interactive story here.
Richmond defender Nick Vlastuin’s house on Victoria’s Surf Coast was set on fire in “suspicious” circumstances on Friday morning, according to police, as the Tiger prepares for Saturday night’s AFL season finale.
Police said they were investigating the suspicious blaze at the property owned by Vlastuin and his partner at Torquay, about 30 minutes drive from Geelong.
Nick Vlastuin gathers the ball ahead of Fremantle’s Jesse Hogan.Credit:Getty Images
“Crews quickly brought the blaze under control and only the front entrance and porch were damaged. Police are yet to make any arrests and the investigation is ongoing,” a police statement said.
Richmond said in a statement that they knew about the incident.
Read more here.
It’s not your usual AFL grand final. Right around the country there are varying restrictions on where and how we can get together, most particularly in Victoria where there are still tight rules on socialising.
On top of that the event is in Queensland and it’s at night. We would like to hear from readers about how you’re marking the big day.
After glory in 2017 and 2019, Richmond have had to ride bumps throughout a 2020 campaign that could confirm their status as one of the game’s greatest ever sides.
Have a look back through the full Richmond Tigers’ season with our interactive and very visual story here.
After going so close in recent years, the Cats have battled through to the grand final and a chance to win their first flag in a decade.
Have a look back through the full Geelong Cats’ with our interactive and very visual story here.
Chief football writer Jake Niall is tipping a close finish to this year’s grand final.
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the 2020 AFL grand final between the Geelong Cats and Richmond Tigers.
It’s going to be a big day, looking forward to bringing you all the action.
