Robbo: The players and moments that will define 2023 finals series
Jordan De Goey starred in his first two finals and the Magpies’ fire starter is primed for another huge September. Robbo names the players who could own the finals.
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“You only lose if you give up. Remember this over and over again, you only lose when you give up. If you do not give up, you will win from the most incredible positions. The fight is in the mind. It’s not physical, it’s in the mind.’’
– Imran Khan
THE month of September starts with what-if and ends with what was.
In between, there will be moments of triumph which define players and clubs for years to come. In contrast, there will be inconsolable heartbreak which will bring the same players and clubs to their knees.
In the most even of seasons, the fight in the mind is about to erupt.
The possibilities are plentiful, the anticipation is intoxicating.
What if...
CHARLIE Curnow kicks bag after bag? The Blues could win it from fifth and if they continue to be dominant at stoppage, Curnow will get some looks. He likes the MCG. He has speed and endurance and the MCG has big flanks perfect for his wheel and go. A big September and he will cement himself as Carlton’s best full-forward since Alex Jesaulenko.
MAX Gawn patrols between the arc like a lion, defending his turf in the air and being an offensive target coming out? Marcus Bontempelli won the MVP and rightly so, but finals is a new ball game and there’s no more important player to his team than Max.
NICK Daicos returns and doesn’t skip a beat? If the Pies can get over Melbourne and head straight to the preliminary final, Daicos won’t have played for seven weeks. It shouldn’t concern him. He’s probably slept with a footy and, anyway, being underdone in match fitness might mean a return to half-back.
MAX King kicks seven? It would be a career-high, but finals have a habit of making reputations. And he’s building his game. He kicked 2.1, 6.0 and 3.3 to finish the home-and-away season. The Saints can defend OK, but need winners forward. King will have all eyes on him.
TOBY Greene can elevate himself to be the best player in the sport? The All-Australian skipper is probably a top-five player already and a spanking September would challenge the No.1 spot. What we do know is he doesn’t need a lot of the footy. He plays as a key forward in a midfielder’s body with Jack Viney mindset, and you hold your breath when he and the footy are in the same premises.
JOE Daniher and Eric Hipwood stand up? After Brisbane lost to the Bulldogs in round 3, and Daniher and Hipwood played like Tweedledee and Tweedledum, commentator Leigh Montagna said the Lions couldn’t win it with those. It was just one of the hundreds of knee-jerk reactions we all say. Fast forward and Lions are in second spot and the Lions can’t win it without them.
THE three musketeers are at their swashbuckling best? Port has some issues in the back half and an injury cloud over Charlie Dixon in the front half, but the musketeers are alight in the middle. Butters, Rozee and Horne-Francis are going to do some damage. Just how much damage will determine Port’s post-season.
TOMMY Papley can celebrate with the Gods? He’s the most enthusiastic celebrator of goals and if we see him playing up to the crowd, we’ll know the Swans are in order. It hasn’t been his most productive season, but he’s still kicked 37.23, just one goal fewer than the much-hyped Jamie Elliott.
PATRICK Cripps replicates Paddy Dangerfield of last year? Dangerfield was best afield in the prelim and could’ve easily have won the Norm Smith, and Carlton’s captain fantastic has a similar desire for the contest. They say Cripps is built for finals and he is, but talls, smalls, flankers and pockets can all perform, you just simply have to win the ball and influence.
ROWAN Marshall runs the opposition into the ground? With his stamina and drive to get to every contest, Marshall looms as a key for the Saints. He was narrowly beaten for the No.1 ruck spot by Tim English in the All-Australian team, and now has a finals campaign to show the footy world his bona fides. He’s a star this bloke.
JORDAN De Goey repeats his 2022 finals series? He was close to best on ground in the first two finals and helped resurrect the Pies after halftime in their preliminary final loss to Sydney. He’s a fire-starter. He explodes from stoppage and can kick goals. Jordan De Great would be a nice headline come Thursday night.
SAM Taylor’s hamstring recovers? If the stoic Giants get on a roll, Taylor will need to subdue Max King, and then a weary Charlie Dixon or Joe Daniher, and then Brodie Mihocek or Van Rooyen or Tom McDonald. He has the capacity to beat all of them.
CAMERON Raynor lived up to the hype. He gets overs, Raynor, for a player with explosive talents, much like Jake Stringer has. What tantalises is the fact the explosion is real, albeit rare. It’s time Cameron made a name for himself in big finals.
MICHAEL Voss can lead the Blues to the mothership? It would be an incredible coaching feat, indeed incredible for all at the Blues. Even with a nine-game winning streak, they landed in an elimination final. Three weeks back it was decreed that Carlton was the best performing team in it. It was fluff because they’re only words and finals are decided on action.
KEN Hinkley can dance his finals jig at 5pm on grand final day? Warren Tredrea is the gold medallist for “comments which didn’t age well’’, when he said Hinkley’s position as coach was untenable after the round 3 loss to Adelaide. Oh dear. Hinkley danced his way to a top-four finish and they fancy themselves at the Gabba. A home preliminary final and chilling rendition of INXS awaits.
ISAAC Heeney quells the doubters? He needs to, for himself and the Swans. And he’s capable. He didn’t repeat his All-Australian season of ’22, far from it, but in him is a game, or games, which can determine a win or loss. A prodigious young talent, he needs to be a match-winning older talent, and it’s been hard for him.
JOSH Kelly earns his $1 million contract. He’s a very good player, he could become a great player with a September burst. It has to start against the Saints. He’s had a ripper year after losing the captaincy and other than the 2019 grand final, he’s been a phenomenal finals player.
JACOB Van Rooyen drops the kids’ meal and eats at the adults table? There’s a lot of pressure on the kid, but that’s OK. He looks like he enjoys the limelight and the responsibility.
DARCY Moore’s hammy doesn’t twang again? The AA captain at the halfway mark of the season batted a form drop and then a hammy, and has rested for three weeks. If he is back to prime, defending, marking and galloping down the ground Collingwood’s ball movement will start to sing. Pivotal player.
TODD Marshall assumes the No.1 forward role? There’s doubts on Charlie Dixon and the next cab off the rank is Marshall, who at rising 25, needs to shrug the promising tag and deliver big time. We know he’s a beautiful kick for a goal, he just needs to get it into his hands more often.
TOM De Koning nails the No.1 ruck role? Can he compete like he did against Max Gawn and Brodie Grundy in round 22? If he can, the Blues will be so much better. If he doesn’t, Harry McKay has a busy month ahead.
MITCH Owens stamps himself as the rising star of 2023? He’s the only one of the top three to play finals – Ashcroft and Sheezel are out – and he could solidify his reputation. Finals love young key forwards.
SIMON Goodwin wins a second flag? It would make him the third-most successful Melbourne coach behind Norm Smith and Checker Hughes. Smith won flags in 1955, ’56, ’57, ’59, ’60, ’64 and Hughes in 1939, ’40, ’41 and ’48), and another one with Richmond (1932). He’s a mentally tough bastard Goodwin, just like his team.
AND what if Errol Gulden can’t be contained, or Adam Saad runs with the footy, or Jack Sinclair lights up in the midfield, or Brent Daniels runs amok, or Harry McKay finds form and kicks straight or Mattaes Phillipou becomes the boy giant, or Charlie Cameron goes nuts?
They are among the what-ifs and time will determine what was.
Let the fight in the mind begin.
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