It shapes as a cracking opening week of finals in the AFL with all four games evenly matched
THIS week footy fans are going to be spoiled for choice. All of the AFL finals matches not only look evenly balanced, but have stories that will create enormous interest in the lead up.
Mark Bickley
Don't miss out on the headlines from Mark Bickley. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Madgen puts hand up for finals
- Port won’t ‘sell everything’ to trade up: Ken
- Saints raise the stakes on Polec
- Wingard trade talk surprises Port teammates
FINALS: The best teams pitted against each other, and within the best teams the best players going head to head.
This week footy fans are going to be spoiled for choice. All the matches not only look evenly balanced, but have stories that will create enormous interest in the lead up.
HAWTHORN V RICHMOND
Thursday night starts with the Master and the Apprentice. Clarkson v Hardwick. Alastair Clarkson nurtured Damien Hardwick at the Hawks including success in 2008 before going it alone at the helm of the Tigers. Although they have remained close friends, Clarkson is as capable as anyone at unpicking the seemingly impenetrable Richmond defence. The Tigers picked off 21 intercept marks last time they met back in round three. The Hawks have improved and won’t give the ball back as easily this time.
The match up: Tom Mitchell is the key for the Hawks. Richmond will back themselves in around the ball, so expect Trent Cotchin to go head to head initially with youngster Jack Graham likely to be assigned to him once he goes into the midfield or if Mitchell gets off the chain. Graham did a successful shut down job on Rory Sloane in the last half of the 2017 Grand Final, so is up to the challenge.
MELBOURNE V GEELONG
Where do you start? The highest scoring team, the Demons, taking on the most miserly defence, the Cats. In their two previous meetings Melbourne did enough to win both games but failed to take points away from either. A wayward Max Gawn set shot in Round 1 and a Zach Tuohy after-the-siren special in Round 18. Melbourne was dominant in both games having 64 entries in each compared to Geelong’s 41 and 50. Similar numbers would really challenge the Cats. Geelong will be aiming to slow the fast moving Demons.
The match up: The old bull versus the young Bull. Patrick Dangerfield v Clayton Oliver. Patrick has 12 finals against his name and in his 11th season. Oliver is the heir apparent, All Australian in just his third season and shaping up for his first tilt at September. The last time the teams met in round 18 sums up the two players, Oliver with 40 possessions, Dangerfield with 28, two goals and more damaging. To give you an indication of how much Oliver finds the ball, Dangerfield had 25 touches or more only once in his first 57 games. Oliver averages over 27 disposals for each of his first 57 games. The kid has an enormous future but how will he handle the pressure of his first final? We know Danger can play at this level.
SYDNEY V GWS
The Battle of the Bridge. The first time the two sides have met in a knockout final. The loser resigned to a below-expectation season. Differing styles again with Sydney wanting to control the tempo of the game, repeat stoppages suiting their inside stars like Josh Kennedy and Luke Parker. The Giants, on the other hand, want to get the ball on the outside and play with speed. Lachie Whitfield, Josh Kelly, Dylan Shiel and Stephen Coniglio are as good as any in the league at running and using it well by foot.
The match up: Lance Franklin v Phil Davis. Not hard to pick this one, with Buddy the key in most matches he plays.
His five goals last time the two teams met, just over two weeks ago, was the difference. What is worth remembering though is that Davis was doing a good job curbing his influence, keeping Franklin to just one goal, until injured late in the second quarter. After that Buddy was rampant, seven shots at goal, four of which were majors. Davis is a smart defender and will play him from behind and force him up the field. He can’t match him physically, but can he out think the Swans matchwinner?
COLLINGWOOD V WEST COAST
The makeshift Pies taking on the star-studded Eagles. West Coast looks set to welcome Josh Kennedy back into its forward line to join Jack Darling, Mark Le Cras, Jamie Cripps and Willie Rioli — all of whom have kicked 25 goals or more this year. The undermanned Collingwood defence have battled manfully in recent weeks and could get back one or all of Tyson Goldsack, Darcy Moore or Jeremy Howe to help their plight. At the other end the Eagles have a pair of All Australians in Shannon Hurn and Jeremy McGovern, complimented by Tom Barrass and Brad Sheppard. The Pies forwards are like the misfits. A rookie in Jaidyn Stephenson, the big American Mason Cox, Josh Thomas and Will Hoskin-Elliott enjoying second chances, along with the classy Jordan DeGoey. I haven’t even mentioned the first final at Optus Stadium or the home State advantage.
The match up: Whoever plays on Jeremy McGovern. Could rookie-listed Brody Mihocek get the negating role? Played mainly in defence last year but has surprised up forward this year booting 23 goals from his 12 games. Or will Nathan Buckley follow Ken Hinkley’s lead and use a small pressure forward in the role? Port’s Aiden Johnson bagged three goals on the intercept defender. Knowing McGovern will go for everything in the air if the other Collingwood forwards can get it to ground, they will have an extra small on the deck. Thomas would be well suited to this role.
THE VERDICT
While I can’t predict conclusively who’ll triumph over the next four days, I do know there will be … anticipation, speculation, motivation, perspiration, stimulation, a revelation, provocation, condemnation, desperation, desolation and in the end for one, exhilaration.
That’s what makes the finals great!
Bicks’ shock selection move for Power final blockbuster
Port Adelaide are flying, having won their past six matches going into Friday’s preliminary final, but Mark Bickley says the Power need to make a change for the Tigers clash.
Why Hinkley’s heroes could be better than ‘04 Power pioneers
Mark Bickley knows a thing or two about winning flags, having captained two Grand Final wins at Adelaide and he believes Port Adelaide’s current incarnation has eerie similarities to the 2004 Power side that claimed the Power’s first premiership.