Mark Robinson says Sydney must send Callum Mills to tag Patrick Cripps after job on Clayton Oliver

Even the best players have been struggling for impact with a lock down opponent, so expect Patrick Cripps to have a tough night against the Swans no. 1 tagger on Friday night.

MELBOURNE. 13/05/2023. AFL. Round 9. Carlton vs Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium. Patrick Cripps leads the Blues off Marvel Stadium . Pic: Michael Klein

It’s said it’s not who you play, but when you play them in a marathon 24-round season.

In finals, it’s definitely who you play, especially if you are a gun midfielder and the opposition has the artillery of a tagger.

Carlton’s Patrick Cripps will likely get Callum Mills in a head-to-head contest on Friday night.

But Melbourne’s Clayton Oliver, who has been tagged in his previous two matches, won’t get a stopper this week because Collingwood doesn’t employ a midfield cooler.

That’s fun for Oliver and a pain in the butt for Cripps.

In Round 24, Mills was sent to Oliver at the SCG and kept the Demons playmaker to just 15 touches and three clearances.

Clayton Oliver will be licking his lips on Thursday night with no tagger after struggling for impact over the past two weeks. Picture: Michael Klein.

The week before, Hawthorn’s Finn Maginness had Oliver for roughly three quarters and allowed just five touches and two clearances.

Oliver will be off the chain against the Pies, who like to pit their midfield and system against the opposition’s system.

Unless coach Craig McRae changes his philosophy, which surely won’t happen in a final, Oliver will chase the pill without having an in-your-face opponent.

Scott Pendlebury has had a run-with previously, while De Goey, Crisp, Lipinski and Mitchell rarely venture into that realm.

Maybe Taylor Adams could be called upon if Oliver is lighting up, but Adams has played mainly as a mid-forward this year.

So, no tag for Oliver despite the clear evidence in recent weeks that he can be “got”.

Cripps will get Mills.

There’s a small chance he might be asked to run with Sam Walsh, but it’s best to try to kill the influence of the skipper than to negate midfield run.

After a slowish return from injury, Mills has regained match fitness and touch.

In Round 23 against Adelaide, which saw the Swans win by a point in the now infamous goalpost debacle, Mills played on Crows skipper Jordan Dawson.

He kept him to 15 touches and two clearances, which was a similar result to what he did to Oliver a week later.

Surprisingly, Mills has not opposed Cripps in previous matches.

In Round 11, Mills didn’t play and coach John Longmire used Isaac Heeney in the midfield for a time, and was opposed to Cripps.

Patrick Cripps might have a torrid night ahead on Friday if the Swans send Callum Mills to him. Picture: Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images

He did a reasonable job in winning the ball, although it’s difficult to determine if Cripps was out of form or carrying an injury, which had more impact than Heeney’s accountability.

Since, Heeney has played mainly as a forward and with the Swans having a youngish forward group on Friday, it’s anticipated Heeney’s experience will be required there.

The logical match-up is Mills-Cripps.

It has to happen. Because if Cripps, who has rested for almost three weeks, is allowed to play on his terms in what will be a heavy contest – based match in wet conditions, Carlton’s chances of winning the match are enhanced.

Callum Mills has some serious scalps as a tagger this season. Picture: Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

And Cripps will be supremely motivated. It will be his 181 game and his first final.

Sydney coach John Longmire hinted there will be a match-up for the Blues captain.

“Callum has spent a fair bit of time out of the team (this year) and injured, so it’s good to have him back,’’ Longmire told AFL360.

“We thought that in the past couple of weeks he’s started to get some real movement in his game.

“We understand what sort of player Cripps is, he’s a star, a real leader of the footy club and the way he goes about it is fantastic.

“Heeney spent some time on him last time (Round 11). One of the challenges is that Walsh could bob up and any of them could bob up and get the ball forward.

“We like to do midfield v midfield and most appropriate match-ups and we’ll see how that pans out.’’