Geelong vs Hawthorn AFL LIVE: Prime minister takes sides ahead of footy’s greatest finals rivalry

Anything you can do, we can do better.

As the Hawk Walk was approaching the MCG from Rod Laver Arena, the Cat Crawl was descending on the home of football from the south.

Judging by the size of both fans bases, this going to be one noisy game of footy.

A sea of blue and white crosses the footbridge to the MCG.Credit: Getty Images

Former Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin hasn’t had to wait too long for his next role in footy, signing on as Sydney’s new director of coaching and performance.

Goodwin coached the Demons for more than 200 games – including their drought-breaking 2021 premiership – before he was sacked with three rounds remaining in this year’s home-and-away season and a year remaining on his contract.

Former Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin.Credit: AFL Photos

Goodwin, a former champion midfielder who won two premierships with the Crows and was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2017, is one of just four coaches to have led the Demons to a men’s premiership.

He’ll now work closely with Swans coach Dean Cox and his team to drive high-performance standards, according to a statement released by Sydney on Friday.

“We’re really excited to welcome Simon to Sydney. He’s a proven leader, a creative thinker, and someone who’s passionate about helping our game grow, which is so important in the NSW market,” said the Swans’ executive general manager of AFL football, Leon Cameron.

Goodwin said he’s looking forward to getting started with his new club.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to be joining Sydney as I’ve always admired how the Swans work hard and take care of their people,” he said.

“Sydney is a club that has achieved sustained success, and I’m looking forward to helping continue that tradition by developing the coaches and players who will shape the club’s future.”

Our good friends at Champion Data have identified some of the key statistical measures that will have a major say in the result of tonight’s preliminary final.

Based on performances during the home and away season, here are the metrics that Geelong has an advantage in:

And it’s only fair that we show you some of the stats that favour the Hawks:

The Hawk Walk is in full swing as the brown and gold faithful descend on the MCG for tonight’s semi-final.

Hawthorn greats Shane Crawford and Robert DiPierdomenico have joined the noisy Hawthorn throng in the stroll from the Rod Laver Arena across the footbridge to football’s colosseum.

Gee, with all this fuss, you’d think the Hawks had not lifted a premiership cup in a while.

Hawthorn fans make the Hawk Walk to the MCG for tonight’s game.Credit: Getty Images

To get yourself in the mood for tonight’s big game – and tomorrow’s – listen in to The Age’s Real Footy tipping podcast.

Andrew Wu and Peter Ryan were in fine form this week, discussing the tension and anxiety that underpins the most stressful games on the AFL calendar – the two preliminary finals.

The Age’s Jake Niall is predicting a combined crowd of more than 190,000 for this weekend’s two preliminary finals at the MCG.

To hear what our chief football writer predicts will be the major plot lines of these two monster games, watch the video below.