AFL grand final 2021 LIVE updates Melbourne Western Bulldogs count down to first bounce

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MELBOURNE
B: Michael Hibberd, Steven May, Jake Lever
HB: Trent Rivers, Harrison Petty, Christian Salem
C: Angus Brayshaw, Christian Petracca, Ed Langdon
HF: Alex Neal-Bullen, Tom McDonald, Tom Sparrow
F: Charlie Spargo, Ben Brown, Bayley Fritsch
R: Max Gawn, Clayton Oliver, Jack Viney
I: James Harmes, Luke Jackson, Jake Bowey, Kysaiah Pickett, James Jordon (sub)
E: Jake Melksham, Jayden Hunt, Kade Chandler

WESTERN BULLDOGS
B: Easton Wood, Alex Keath, Bailey Williams
HB: Caleb Daniel, Zaine Cordy, Bailey Dale
C: Bailey Smith, Tom Liberatore, Lachie Hunter
HF: Cody Weightman, Aaron Naughton, Adam Treloar
F: Josh Schache, Tim English, Mitch Hannan
R: Stefan Martin, Jack Macrae, Marcus Bontempelli
I: Jason Johannisen, Josh Dunkley, Taylor Duryea, Roarke Smith, Laitham Vandermeer (sub)
E: Ed Richards, Anthony Scott, Ryan Gardner

MELBOURNE
No change

WESTERN BULLDOGS
In: Alex Keath, Cody Weightman
Out: Ryan Gardner, Anthony Scott (medi-sub)

Alex Keath.Credit:Getty Images

No late changes for either side.

Midfielder James Jordon has completed a full season with the Demons by filling the medical sub spot for the sixth time in 2021.

Forward/midfielder Laitham Vandermeer has won the race to be the Bulldogs’ medical sub, his desperation rushed behind won the semi-final against Brisbane.

We asked readers how they were celebrating grand final day.

In Melbourne, Sharon Smith told us she planned to catch up with a football friend in St Kilda - within their shared 10km radius.

Sandra Wilson of Altona Meadows, in Melbourne’s south-west, said her husband had been busy sketching a chalk drawing to honour the Doggies across a shared driveway. Her neighbours, both in their 90s, have been Western Bulldogs supporters their whole lives.

A chalk drawing to celebrate grand final day.

Meanwhile, in Perth, Ian Satchwell tells us the stations is filled with footy fans and Royal Show goers, with Demons fans certainly in the majority. Later, he sent a pic of crowds gathering at Optus Stadium.

Busy Perth station.

After a rollercoaster of emotions this past fortnight since demolishing Geelong by 83 points in a preliminary final, the day has come for Melbourne fans, eager for their luck to turn after 57 years of heartache, torture and tragedy.

The build-up has been overwhelming for many, with Friday’s open training session at Optus Stadium drawing 25,000 fans before they cheered on their team at the people’s parade through the Perth CBD on Friday afternoon.

Bulldog supporter Tayla Nettleton entered enemy territory at the Empire bar.Credit:Sharon Smith

A group of 50 Demons fans travelled to the ground on the Demons Bandwagon, a bus decked in the club’s colours.

They took a stopover first at the Empire Bar in Lathlain, within earshot of the ground, where the nerves, excitement and passion among other hardcore Melbourne supporters in the west was palbable.

A sea of red and blue adorned the venue, where official WA supporter base the Western Demons congregated, many of them sipping a few coldies and listening to the deeds of Eagles goalkicking legend Josh Kennedy and evergreen Dockers stalwart David Mundy before walking in unison to the stadium to await theirs and the club’s fate.

Annabel Fisher was among the Bandwagon patrons on the bus, there with her son Jack.

Lifelong Melbourne members and part of their cheer squad, Ms Fisher spared a thought for supporters interstate who couldn’t see their team in the flesh, including her daughter, who was watching on from her home in Melbourne, and had spent the past fortnight calming her nerves.

“It just seems to have gone on forever, I still can’t believe we’ve got another two hours to go,” Ms Fisher said.

“I just feel for the supporters in Melbourne. My daughter moved to Melbourne to attend more of their games. She’s at home watching today, she had a baby girl two weeks ago. I sent her over an outfit to wear.”

Also enjoying the sunshine there were friends Jess Brown and Tayla Nettleton, sporting rival scarves of the grand final clubs.

Ms Nettleton said the vibe was great despite being in enemy territory.

“We’re just all getting together as a bunch of mates, everyone from Perth is pretty friendly, so it’s been a good day,” she said.

“Win, lose or draw it’s been fun, but if Melbourne get up I’ll be happy for their fans.”

The majority of neutral footy fans in WA have developed a soft spot for one of the league’s pioneering clubs, as it seeks to end the ‘Norm Smith curse’, with massive queues outside the stadium for free Melbourne flags and badges bearing the names of Demons members interstate who couldn’t attend.

Melbourne are aiming to end the league’s longest active premiership drought of 57 years.

If the Demons are successful, they would continue a modern trend of barren runs breaking, following on from their opponents the Bulldogs in 2016 (62 years), Richmond in 2017 (37 years) and Collingwood in 2010 (20 years), as well as Geelong in 2007 (44 years) and Sydney in 2005 (72 years).

Active premiership droughts
Melbourne 57 years
St Kilda 55
Fremantle 27
Carlton 26
Adelaide 23
North Melbourne 22
Essendon 21
Brisbane Lions 18
Port Adelaide 17
Collingwood 11
Gold Coast 11
Geelong 10
GWS 10
Sydney 9
Hawthorn 6
Western Bulldogs 5
West Coast 3
Richmond 1

Ron Barassi holds the 1964 premiership cup aloft after the Demons triumph over Collingwood.Credit:The Age

Playing for first premiership: 36 players

Playing for 2nd premiership: Easton Wood, Caleb Daniel, Zaine Cordy, Tom Liberatore, Lachie Hunter, Jack Macrae, Marcus Bontempelli, Jason Johannisen, Josh Dunkley

Playing for 3rd premiership: Taylor Duryea

Umpire Matt Stevic, officiating in his ninth grand final, will take the opening bounce.

Top five biggest grand final margins
119 points - Geelong 24.19.163 def. Port Adelaide 6.8.44 (2007)
96 points - Hawthorn 22.20.152 def. Melbourne 6.20.56 (1988)
89 points - Richmond 17.12.114 def. GWS 3.7.25 (2019)
83 points - Hawthorn 20.20.140 def. Essendon 8.9.57 (1983)
81 points - Richmond 23.21.159 def. Collingwod 9.24.78 (1980)

Gary Ablett, Andrew Mackie and Brad Ottens celebrate the Cats’ 2007 grand final win.Credit:Pat Scala

Seven closest grand finals
Draw - Melbourne 10.9.69 drew with Essendon 7.27.69 (1948)
Draw - North Melbourne 9.22.76 drew with Collingwood 10.16.76 (1977)
Draw - St Kilda 10.8.68 drew with Collingwood 9.14.68 (2010)
1 point - Fitzroy 3.9.27 def. South Melbourne 3.8.26 (1899)
1 point - Carlton 13.8.86 def. Essendon 11.19.85 (1947)
1 point - St Kilda 10.14.74 def. Collingwood 10.13.73 (1966)
1 point - West Coast 12.13.85 def. Sydney 12.12.84 (2006)

Exhausted players after the final siren of the drawn 1977 Grand Final.Credit:The Age Archives

Five highest grand final scores
28.9.177 - Carlton def. Richmond 22.18.150 (1972)
26.14.170 - Essendon def. Hawthorn 14.8.92 (1985)
24.19.163 - Geelong def. Port Adelaide 6.8.44 (2007)
23.21.159 - Richmond def. Collingwood 9.24.78 (1980)
22.20.152 - Hawthorn def. Melbourne 6.20.56 (1988)

Kevin Sheedy and Terry Daniher hold aloft the 1985 premiership cup.Credit:Fairfax Media

Five lowest grand final scores
1.7.13 - Richmond lost to Collingwood 2.13.25 (1927)
2.2.14 - Collingwood lost to Melbourne 8.14.62 (1960)
2.4.16 - Collingwood lost to Essendon 6.7.43 (1901)
2.5.17 - Collingwood lost to Fitzroy 4.6.30 (1905)
3.5.23 - Essendon lost to Fitzroy 5.8.38 (1898)

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