Our experts debate all the hot topics and burning questions ahead of Round 12.
Where should the 2020 Grand Final be held?
Niall Seewang: This is such an intriguing decision for the AFL to make. If they choose the Adelaide Oval, Gabba or Optus Stadium, it immediately has enormous premiership ramifications as the Power, Lions and Eagles are three legitimate flag fancies. But I feel the league will reward the Queensland Government for bending over backwards for the AFL by holding the biggest game of the year at the Gabba. And what a massive fillip it'd be for an NRL-dominated state.
Jake Michaels: The MCG? Nah, I think it's only fair that Queensland host this year's Grand Final. After all, the Sunshine State has saved season 2020 and I'm more than happy for them to get something in return. Let the Gabba host it. Could you just imagine how epic it would be if the Lions made the big dance!?
Matt Walsh: If ever there was a year to trial a 'home game' for the highest ranked side on Grand Final day, 2020 is the year! Of course, there are some teams that won't get their first choice of venue (looking at the Victorian and likely NSW clubs), but if say the Cats make the big dance and are the highest ranked side, and they prefer Adelaide Oval - so be it!
Jesse Robinson: For tradition's sake, it's unfortunate that we won't see it played at the MCG. As a show of gratitude for the hubs, Queensland is the obvious choice to host it this year instead. It would be exciting to award the Grand Final to a "home team" if a Perth, Sydney, Adelaide or Queensland club were to make it but given that option is unavailable to almost half the competition, let's reward Queensland.
Will the Crows win a game in 2020?
NS: Surely, surely they win one before the year is out, right? The league's evenness is often talked up by coaches, players and the media, so I just can't fathom a club going winless. They're enduring a horrific 2020 season (on and off the field) but I think they'll snatch one eventually.
JM: Rewind a month on the ESPNfootytips AFL podcast and I claimed the Crows would go winless in 2020. It hasn't happened in a very long time but the shortened season combined with horrible form means it's a real possibility this year. Adelaide is running out of winnable games and it won't be long before the club's focus shifts to 2021, if it hasn't already.
MW: This question might be redundant after Tuesday night given the Crows face a weakened Collingwood, but as Champion Data's Christian Joly said on this week's episode of the podcast, the Crows' aren't getting better as each week passes. There are only six more chances for them to jag a win - it might be tough.
JR: For sure. An undefeated season is very hard to imagine. Some wet weather, a stroke of luck, injury-affected opposition ... there are any number of factors that could swing a game in the Crows' favour. They haven't looked good this year, but they've been in enough games to think that things will fall their way at least once.
Who is the most improved player in the league?
NS: Christian Petracca has transformed himself from enigmatic talent to genuine match-winner this year and for the first time, he's doing some major damage in the midfield, not just up forward. He's now got the fitness and confidence to match his talent and it seems every time he gets the ball, something happens for the Dees. The fact he's the No. 1 player in the league for score involvements tells you how much of an impact he's having.
JM: Brayden Maynard has always been a solid player for Collingwood, but he has taken his game to near All-Australian levels in 2020. It may not show up heavily on the stats sheet (partly due to this year's shortened games) but Maynard's ability to read the play, intercept and launch Collingwood attacks off half-back is first-class. He's looming as a very valuable player in a star-studded team.
MW: Poor old Luke Ryan watched as Alex Pearce and Joel Hamling went down in the offseason, and then Griffin Logue joined them on the sidelines after Round 5, leaving him -- and a redeployed Brennan Cox -- to man Freo's key defensive posts. He's become a bit like Dane Rampe this year, playing taller than he is quite effectively, while still intercepting and providing run out of defence (he's averaged 10 rebound 50s during the past three weeks!).
JR: Honourable mentions to Dan Butler, Shai Bolton and Jack Steele, who have come a long way this season, largely due to increased role and opportunity, but Jy Simpkin has taken the biggest leap towards stardom. Before injuring his ankle early against Richmond in Round 7, Simpkin was in scintillating form, dominating through the midfield in the absence of Ben Cunnington and has recaptured that form now he is healthy again. Despite what is looking to be a lost season for North, Simpkin is a shining light for the future at Arden St.
As of now, how would you grade Justin Longmuir's first season?
NS: I'm really liking what I see from the Dockers under Longmuir. They've been competitive almost every week and have notched four victories so far - in fact, the comeback against St Kilda in Round 6 was one of the wins of the year. And they've done it despite a lengthening injury list. I'll give him a B.
JM: I'm giving him a B-. A record of 4-6 after 10 weeks is pretty average but if you take his first four games out, Longmuir's record improves to 4-2. It's clear this side needs a bit more time but Longmuir already looks to be getting the best out of youngsters Andrew Brayshaw, Adam Cerra and Caleb Serong. The Dockers face the Blues and Swans in their next two games, both of which are very winnable. If Fremantle are in finals calculations with two or three games to play, Longmuir may rise to an A.
MW: I'll give him a B as well. Took a bit of time to find his feet, but his side has been rock solid defensively for most of the year, while he seems to be getting the best out of the young midfield core and blokes like Matt Taberner, who's having a decent run of continuity. He also hasn't had Nat Fyfe to shoulder the load for some of the year. His side might even win its next two games, with Carlton and Sydney to come.
JR: We seem to be largely in agreement here, a solid B for Longmuir so far. Fremantle have been far from inspirational but there wasn't much expected from the Dockers in 2020. Longmuir has battled injury woes with his key stocks, repeated hamstring issues for Fyfe, as well as the departure of Brad Hill. But in the midst of it all, he has found a potential star in Caleb Serong while getting games into other young players, found a good role for Matt Taberner and scored wins against Collingwood and St. Kilda. Overall, Dockers fans can be positive about the direction that Longmuir is taking the club.