This weekend's AFL and NRL footy finals weather
Anthony Sharwood,
Thursday September 12, 2024 - 11:47 AEST
The AFL commenced its finals series last weekend and the NRL has now joined the party too, so with the country's two most popular winter sporting leagues in action with six games in four cities, we thought we'd do a weather whip-around.
Here are this weekend's matches in chronological order, and a quick weather forecast.
AFL: Port Adelaide vs Hawthorn, 7:40pm (AEST), Friday 13 September, in Adelaide
The Adelaide Oval should dish up a serve of perfect footy weather for players and spectators alike, with dry cool conditions. Temps should be around 11 or 12 during most of the match, with a "feels like" temp a little lower under a light southerly breeze. Skies should stay dry.
Image: The Adelaide Oval is far from Australia's ugliest sporting venue. Source: iStock.
NRL: Penrith Panthers vs Sydney Roosters. 7:50pm Friday September 13, in Penrith
Penrith, in outer western Sydney at the foot of the Blue Mountains, often has very different conditions to coastal Sydney and the CBD. In summer it can be much, much hotter. During coastal rain events, it will often get much less rain or miss out entirely.
But this Friday night, Penrith and downtown Sydney will be pretty similar. Expect cool but mostly dry conditions out at Penrith with temps during the match ranging from about 11°C at kickoff to 9°C at full-time, with a "feels like" temps of 9°C lowering to around 7°C by full-time.
NRL: Melbourne Storm vs Cronulla Sharks, 4:05pm, Saturday September 14, in Melbourne
Cronulla players know more about chilly wet weather than most other NRL teams – and even most Sydney teams – with their southern Sydney coastal base being prone to vicious southerlies. They’ll feel right at home in Melbourne on Saturday, as the Vic capital dishes up a spring classic.
Expect absolutely rude conditions at Melbourne's AAMI Park with frigid southerlies and the odd shower persisting after heavier rain earlier in the day. The actual air will be around 11 or 12 degrees during the match, but as for the "feels like" temp, we’re talking a very miserable 5°C or thereabouts.
AFL: GWS Giants vs Brisbane Lions, 7:30pm, Saturday, 14 September, in Sydney
That ugly weather which will make it a very wintry day in Melbourne is tracking northwards throughout Saturday and should reach Sydney in the evening.
The chance of showers at Sydney Olympic Park increases as this match progresses. Wet or dry, it won’t be warm by Sydney standards, with temps of 12 or 13 degrees throughout the match and "feels like" temps hovering below 10°C.
There's sure to be more giant moments unfold this Saturday ???? pic.twitter.com/bt7mVxZxgg
— Brisbane Lions (@brisbanelions) September 11, 2024
NRL: North Queensland Cowboys vs Newcastle Knights, 7:50pm, Saturday September 14, in Townsville
If you could choose to attend any footy final this weekend, then in terms of spectator comfort level, this would surely be the one.
After an early shower clears, conditions should be mild and dry in the stands at Townsville's Queensland Country Bank Stadium, with temps around 22°C or 23°C and a "feels like" temperature only a degree or so lower.
Image: It's probably not the worst idea to spray a bit of mozzie repellent before attending Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville. Source: iStock.
NRL: Canterbury Bulldogs vs Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, 4:05pm, in Sydney
If Manly had won its last game of the regular season, this match would have been at its home ground in Brookvale on Sydney's northern beaches, which would make it a very different event as Sydney's coast looks like copping regular showers on Sunday.
Further inland at Sydney Olympic Park, where the match is being played, showers are still possible but much less likely. It will, however, be breezy and very cool by recent Sydney standards, with temps hovering below 15 degrees throughout the match and "feels like" temps around 8°C, which will make things very cool indeed in the windswept expanses of Accor Stadium.
May the best teams and the best weather win!
- Weatherzone
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2024