FEARLESS 2020 Round 14: The Festival of Footy Part Two…the return of the couch potato!

Hi all, hope you’re all well and surviving lockdown through adaptation..

The AFL has set up Queensland as the AFL epicentre in this Covid-centric year. The government has responded by assisting the AFL to get the season completed. Now as a reward, the Gabba gets to host the Grand Final in season 2020. Rationales aplenty, but it sort of makes sense. The strictures of WA’s border control made it hard to logistically organise. The Adelaide Oval is in readiness should Queensland get an outbreak…and we make do that it’ll probably be on Cox Plate day in Melbourne with the game at night.

I wrote a couple of years ago about my thoughts on Queensland footy. Very simply the onus was on the two local clubs, being Brisbane Lions and Gold Coast Suns to take the bit between the teeth to grow the game in Queensland by taking home games to cities such as Cairns, Townsville, Kingaroy, Mt Isa, Rockhampton and maybe even into the Northern Territory cities of Alice Springs and Darwin. Build up audiences and get the locals on board…seemed like a good idea and logical from a business growth perspective.

This Grand Final might just achieve that goal and then some. We will know into 2021 how effective this move will be by Gillon and the team. A Queensland Grand Final really sounds like they’re bringing the fight to the NRL’s doorstep. Who knows what will happen, as plans I believe are afoot to create another NRL team in South East Queensland.

I believe this was another key reason why the AFL has headed down this path. They might not admit it, or they might. It seems like the same logic behind a team in Western Sydney, as opposed to Tasmania, has reared its head again. A massive chance to grow the game in a not-necessarily-AFL supporting part of Australia.

Time will tell.

Cheers PT

BYES: Adelaide/Ashmore Crows and Brisbane/Birrong Lions

Adelaide Hub Game Number 11: Humbug Scrub Hawks host the Eagleby Bombers at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday Night. The Hawks kicked away emphatically in the first half to lead by 6 goals at the main break. A rapid transformation and Bombers away, only trailing by 9 points at the last. Ah, momentum! A feel good story as Joe Daniher showed why the Bombers weren’t done with in 2020. Joe 3.3, McGrath led from front.

Queensland Hub Game Number 47: Red Hill Tigers host the Eagle Heights Eagles at Metricon on Thursday Night in a possible GF showdown. Except for the one thing, it was in Queensland. The Tigers showed their rivals a clean pair of heels for most of the night. A 27 point win by the Tigers produced by an even team effort, aided by Eagle spearhead Kennedy’s concussion. Enter Flyin Ryan 3.1 but not enough.

Queensland Hub Game Number 48: Worongary Bulldogs hosted the Gaven Cats at Metricon on Friday Night. It started raining puppies only as the Dogs shot out to a 6 goal lead at the first break. Then, slowly but surely, the Cats came to play, reeling their younger opponents in bit by bit. Danger lifted and the absence of Skipper Selwood didn’t matter…by mid fourth quarter, the Cats hit the front and Rohan iced the 11 point Cats win.

Adelaide Hub Game Number 12: Port Adelaide hosted the Stirling Swans at Adelaide Oval on Saturday. It’d be fair to say the Power struggled to shake off the determined, but unfancied Swans to record a 26 point win. Big Charlie returned to form with 4 and young Butters imitated the baby giraffe stumble! Robbie Gray led Port to a solid win but Sam Reid )(2 and Jake Lloyd with 31 touches helped the Swans. Class difference noted!

Perth Hub Game Number 15: Fremantle hosted the Gosnells Giants at Optus Stadium on Saturday twilight. It was the night of the Ferrari from start to finish. Giants led from go to whoa to fine tune the run to finals. Freo didn’t have the answers for second gamer Jake Riccardi who booted 4, alongside big Jezza in a return to form, also with 4. Giants by 38 points, but Mundy tried to inspire Freo, whilst Fyfe got deBoered!

Alice Springs Game Number 1: Maroochydore Demons hosted the Sunshine Coast Saints at Alice Springs TIO Traeger Park on Saturday Night…so the battle for eternal damnation comes to the Red Centre… and the night lit up with a close game between two finals aspirants. The Saints forward yips returned and the Demons claimed the scalp they needed for credibility. The ARC wasn’t required, it was a Petracca goal!!

Queensland Hub Game Number 49:  Cooroy Blues host the Currumbin Magpies at the Gabba on Sunday afternoon. Not quite 90,000 at the ‘G’ but hey…maybe 2021! The Blues blew their chance to take down their biggest rival. The Pies had bolstered their team with Mihocek, Quaynor but had lost Sidebottom due to kid. What showed was the gap in ability and belief between both sides. Pies by 24 points, despite Mayne head clash.

Queensland Hub Game Number 50: Gold Coast Sunnyboys host the Nerang Roos at Metricon on Sunday Night in the Sliding Doors Cup. A 25 point lead by the Suns in their last ‘home’ game for the year at half-time became a 63 point shellacking of the roadkill Roos. Everything went right and showcased a bright future for the Suns, especially when Atlas Rowell returns. Anderson and Aisworth led well. As for the Roos…oh dear!