Qualifying Final vs Melbourne, at MCG on Friday 2 September, 7.50pm AEST

[longmile]

Feeling a bit numb about this game. It could easily go either way and I wouldn't be too concerned. I think the week off for winning tonight is a bit of a curse with the new pre-finals bye (dumb invention)

My only fear is that the Swans get thrashed due to our youth and their finals inexperience and it scars them going into next week. Or if Hickey goes down we have no backup... But I also wouldn't be suprised if we handle Melbourne. Our top 4/8 record is superb.

[Nico]

Just heard on the news that Buddy is out with a calf injury. Could that be why McLean didn't play 2's last week.

[longmile]

Just heard on the news that Buddy is out with a calf injury. Could that be why McLean didn't play 2's last week.

Jeeez that’s no good

Would much rather amartey. McLean has no ground ball game and is slow as. Amartey can clunk marks just as good if not better

[Nico]

Jeeez that’s no good

Would much rather amartey. McLean has no ground ball game and is slow as. Amartey can clunk marks just as good if not better

If true, maybe he hurt it today, after the team was announced last night.

Just on the news. Buddy walked into the ground with his gear. Looked ok.

They walked to the ground instead of on the bus.

[i'm-uninformed2]

Just heard on the news that Buddy is out with a calf injury. Could that be why McLean didn't play 2's last week.

To be clear, we don’t know yet. Journos are running with the ‘there is chatter’ line, but there are also plenty of journos saying they’d heard it, checked it and don’t believe it to be true and expect him to play. Guess we will know in 40 minutes or so.

[Goal Sneak]

Jeeez that’s no good

Would much rather amartey. McLean has no ground ball game and is slow as. Amartey can clunk marks just as good if not better

+1.

Amartey also played the last time we played and beat them without Buddy.

[Maltopia]

Bet365 have just put out a special on Buddy kicking a goal, paying $2 instead of $1.15. Max bet $10.

They would be looking silly with this promo if Franklin doesn’t play.

[MattW]

How naff is it for a 41 yo man to be nervous about other men playing a game of football. Asking for a friend.

[KSAS]

Just heard on the news that Buddy is out with a calf injury. Could that be why McLean didn't play 2's last week.

News of Franklin being a late withdrawal quickly whipped around social media, but Channel 7's Tom Browne and the Herald Sun's Jon Ralph were quick to silence the rumours.

“A lot of chatter regarding Lance Franklin being out with a calf. Sources indicate that’s not the case. Rumour only. Will play,” Browne tweeted.

AFL Finals live: Melbourne Demons vs Sydney Swans, scores, live updates, video, finals fixture, news | news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site

[Old S.M.Blood]

Bus held up Swans WALKING to MCG 7 news 6 30

[KTigers]

Bus held up Swans WALKING to MCG 7 news 6 30

Yeah no one told them their Opal cards won't work in Melbourne.

[bandwagon]

How naff is it for a 41 yo man to be nervous about other men playing a game of football. Asking for a friend.

[Old S.M.Blood]

Bus took WRONG turn. They are at the ground now

[bloodspirit]

I'm excited. Re-watched the last time we played in preparation. I think we really profited from May being out AND Petty dealing with injuries. I suspect this was key to us being able to dramatically reduce Melbourne's scores from turnover and also improved our ability to transition out of defence.

I'm glad we've got Hickey for Ladhams and that Wicks isn't playing, even though both had pretty good games when we beat Melbourne in R12.

Interesting to see Gould is there, no doubt as an emergency - but he wasn't listed as one of the emergencies (was he?) so I don't know whether to read anything into that. Is it possible that one of our other defenders is injured and he's coming in? We had a defender debut in a final last night.

Agree with all those who say it would be hard to sit through a match like last night's!

Great post MattW - got a chuckle out of me.

[neilfws]

News of Franklin being a late withdrawal quickly whipped around social media, but Channel 7's Tom Browne and the Herald Sun's Jon Ralph were quick to silence the rumours.

“A lot of chatter regarding Lance Franklin being out with a calf. Sources indicate that’s not the case. Rumour only. Will play,” Browne tweeted.

The full tweet is classic Tom - it neither confirms nor denies anything in that strange, twisted Twitter prose of his that passes for some kind of English.