Four grand final legends dissect the 2019 AFL grand final
Chris Johnson, Simon Madden, Cameron Ling and Paul Salmon. With 10 premierships between them, the quartet forms our grand final legends jury. Here’s where they think Saturday’s blockbuster will be decided.
Richmond
Don't miss out on the headlines from Richmond. Followed categories will be added to My News.
To discover the key components of Saturday’s AFL Grand Final, we invited four men with 10 premierships between them to look at their respective areas of expertise.
And while the quartet — Chris Johnson, Cameron Ling, Simon Madden and Paul Salmon — have all tipped Richmond, each is giving the Giants a genuine chance.
CAMERON LING
(Three Premierships in 2007-09-11 as a run-with player for Geelong)
Ling: “Dusty can own a game so if you can reduce that influence, you may be able to sow a tiny bit of doubt. So Matt de Boer goes to him, full stop. If Dusty goes forward, then maybe de Boer rolls onto Dion Prestia at times although you have to be wary of overcooking de Boer for when Dusty comes back on the ball.”
Where can the Giants win it?
Ling: “I give them a chance because of what they’ve discovered in this finals series which is heart and soul, scrap and fight plus the will to win. When you combine that with the obvious skill and talent they have, then certainly they have a chance in a stoppage and contested-based game. I believe in the way they’re playing in this finals series. But I still can’t tip them.”
Where could GWS lose it?
Ling: “They are going to have to maintain their way of playing for the entire game, because as soon as Richmond breaks it a little bit their way, it can break very badly for a 20-minute patch given their relentless swarming. Geelong found that out in the second half. And will the Giants’ sore bodies allow them to maintain the required pressure?”
MORE GRAND FINAL NEWS:
GWS star Stephen Coniglio rules himself out of AFL grand final
Tim Taranto on how his mother sacrificed everything to raise him
Mick McGuane previews the AFL Grand Final between Richmond and GWS
Free agent Zac Williams can’t imagine playing anywhere but Greater Western Sydney
SIMON MADDEN
(Two Premierships with Essendon in 1984-85, the premier ruckman of the past 50 years): How do the ruck contests pan out?
Madden: “Toby Nankervis was very influential for Richmond in their 2017 premiership (18 possessions, 28 hit-outs) but he isn’t in that form now due to a limited preparation. It comes down to hit-outs to advantage. You know with Nankervis that he won’t be intimidated by Shane Mumford. The reality is neither is in career-best form, so it comes down to who can find something extra on the day.”
Has Shane Mumford enough left in the tank?
Madden: “He’s been good rather than great. He still works really hard and I like the fact he likes to impose himself on the opposition. The difference is he isn’t opposed by Brodie Grundy this week, or even Stefan Martin for that matter. Richmond’s Ivan Soldo is the wildcard. I’m tipping Richmond due to their previous finals experience.”
CHRIS JOHNSON
(Three Premierships with Brisbane in 2001-02-03 as a rebounding back pocket)
Who has the better back six?
Johnson: “Richmond has an extremely well-oiled and ruthless defence, a back seven who hurt you hard through the corridor if you turn the ball over. They keep wanting to attack through the corridor and they know when to go and when not to go.”
How will the Tigers test the GWS defence?
Johnson: “Richmond will have learnt from the GWS-Lions game, when Brisbane came in high and long which played into the GWS hands. I think if it comes in fast and low, it could be a struggle for the GWS defence, and that’s how Richmond brings it in. I would love to see the Giants win their first flag but I think the Tigers have the experience and form.”
PAUL SALMON
(Two Premierships and 11 goals for Essendon in 1985-93)
Is Tom Lynch the offensive difference?
Salmon: “The ball carriers see Tom Lynch first and he can attract it long which can cause more hurt. So much comes down to how Phil Davis plays on Lynch. And then you have Dustin Martin floating in. We wondered how the Richmond forward line would look with Lynch as distinct from 2017? It took a little while but is now just where they want it to be, with Jack Riewoldt playing the perfect secondary role.”
Where can the GWS forwards hurt the Tigers?
Salmon: “In two games this year Jeremy Cameron has had 50 possessions and 20 shots on goal for 10 goals against the Tigers. And then you have a couple of 195cm-196cm blokes in Jeremy Finlayson and Harry Himmelberg who are extremely mobile. That will ensure the Tigers have to be more accountable. There’s every chance one will cause Richmond some pain and Himmelberg might be the sleeper. They are their weapon, three players who aren’t questioning their roles. My tip is Richmond by two or three goals.”
THE FINAL WORD
Jon Anderson: There’s a line from Martin Scorsese’s 1995 movie classic Casino, in which diminutive psychopath Nicky Santoro (played by Joe Pesci) observes: “It’s the dollars, always the dollars.” Swing forward to Saturday’s game and Santoro’s equivalent would surely observe: “It’s the supply, always the supply”. And the supply to forward-line superstars Tom Lynch and Jeremy Cameron comes from their respective midfields, so whoever wins that battle will win the game, simple as that. And guess what, GWS has the midfield resources to win that war. GWS by 17 points
Originally published as Four grand final legends dissect the 2019 AFL grand final