Leppitsch press conference 22-10-2020 / 'I think the rain will help us': Leppa

[one-eyed]

'I think the rain will help us': Tigers licking their lips over GF forecast

Richmond assistant coach Justin Leppitsch says the premiers wouldn't mind some rain in the Grand Final

By Michael Whiting
afl.com.au
22 October 2020

JUSTIN Leppitsch says the rain predicted for Saturday's Toyota AFL Grand Final would help Richmond, with the premiers getting a nice dress rehearsal at their main training session on Thursday morning.

Every Tiger that played in the preliminary final win over Port Adelaide was on hand to go through their paces at a training field adjacent to Metricon Stadium.

After being put on light duties earlier in the week Marlion Pickett, Kamdyn McIntosh and Kane Lambert all took part.

Just as the players completed their warm-up, rain began to tumble down at Carrara, something that is forecast to happen at the Gabba on Saturday.

Tigers assistant coach Leppitsch said they could play in any weather, but wouldn't mind some rain.

"I think the rain will help us though, no doubt," he said.

"It keeps the ball on the ground and I think Geelong are a possession-based team, I think the whole footy world knows that.

"I don't think that'll do the job, that's not going to be enough."

Both teams are expected to be unchanged following their preliminary final victories, with Richmond travelling to Brisbane from its Gold Coast hub on Friday to save any game-day travel hassles.

Leppitsch said the Cats' forward line would be "vastly" different from when the teams met in round 17.

Gary Ablett and Gary Rohan were both unavailable when the Tigers won by 26 points, while Patrick Dangerfield has been stationed forward rather than in the midfield in recent weeks.

"The types of players that are in are far more dynamic and dangerous, no disrespect to the others that aren't," Leppitsch said.

"They've definitely got more potency in that part of the ground.

"We like to think our defence is a system as much as individual match-ups.

"It's a challenge for us but one I think we're ready for."

https://www.afl.com.au/news/520572/-i-think-the-rain-will-help-us-tigers-licking-their-lips-over-gf-forecast[/b]

[one-eyed]

Why the AFL grand final could be delayed

This would be very 2020!

The AFL grand final at The Gabba could be delayed.

There is lightning forecast for Brisbane on Saturday night.

Under league rules, the game would be delayed for an hour if there were lightning strikes recorded within 10 kilometres of the ground.

Livio Regano from the Bureau of Meteorology in Brisbane said the AFL couldn’t have picked a “worse time” for the grand final to start.

“Statistically, the time of the match is a very good time the storm will go through, in fact that’s when we tend get them,” he told Neil Mitchell.

“There is a 30 per cent chance a storm will roll through, however, if we get one, it will be short-lived.

“These storms are capable of producing lightning.”

https://www.3aw.com.au/why-the-afl-grand-final-could-be-delayed/