Josh Kelly could be Giants’ biggest weapon in AFL Grand Final
Josh Kelly should get a tape of how Steele Sidebottom dismantled Richmond in last year’s preliminary final, because he can do the same on Grand Final day, writes Mick McGuane.
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If GWS wins a historic premiership on Saturday, Josh Kelly is my Norm Smith Medal tip.
Richmond is not a tagging team and in last year’s preliminary final, Steele Sidebottom had 41 possessions and 35 uncontested against the Tigers to be best on ground. Collingwood booked its place in the Grand Final.
Sidebottom played wing all day, rolled up and down the ground, pressing hard into the defensive 50. He just accumulated the ball at will.
Josh Kelly can do the same thing.
We know he’s an inside player normally, but if I’m Leon Cameron I’m allowing Kelly to play centre wing and keep him on the outside.
Kelly has the same ball-use ability as Sidebottom, he has creative nous and he can do some serious damage.
My other candidate is Zac Williams.
I love the way he’s playing at the moment. Williams gives the Giants bounce and energy out of defence but also a change-up in terms of speed around stoppages.
Jacob Hopper and Tim Taranto are big strong bodies but Williams’ explosive nature allows him to get it inside and provide an awesome amount of opportunities for the likes of Jeremy Cameron, Jeremy Finlayson, Harry Himmelberg, Toby Greene and Brent Daniels.
On the flip side, there must be a genuine question mark on GWS co-captain Phil Davis.
I don’t know the full extent of his calf injury, and he, Leon Cameron and the Giants medical staff will know best, but I find it extremely difficult to get my head around how he will perform the role he’ll be asked to play against Richmond’s Tom Lynch if he has a torn or even strained calf.
Lynch is a leaping forward and to defend a leaping forward you need to get off the ground, and what gets you off the ground is the strength in your calf to give you some elevation.
If that’s a concern, don’t be surprised if he goes down like he’s been shot from the grandstand.
I’m not saying Davis is old, but the calf is an old man’s injury and it could really be a gamble they can ill-afford to take.
The Giants and Davis will understand the decision they’re about to make is going to be immensely important.
We’ve seen the selfless nature of Stephen Coniglio, we’ve seen the selfless nature of a guy called Simon Prestigiacomo, who gave up his spot at Collingwood in a Grand Final for the betterment of the team.
Davis is the captain. He will want to be out there. But sometimes to play the game you have to play it 100 per cent for 100 per cent of the time and injury might not allow you to do that.
But he will know his body better than anybody.
There wouldn’t have been a more nervous person in the last three minutes of the game last week than Toby Greene.
Greene cares. He cares for his club, he cares for his teammates, and every player that gets to this stage, they care about their own performance.
He should be eradicating any superficial rubbish from his game and just concentrating on what he’s good at. That is getting the footy and kicking goals that matter.
If he gets 30 and gets the Norm Smith Medal, what happened two weeks ago becomes insignificant.
If he brings effort he’ll bring results and will show the world he’s done everything humanly possible to repay his teammates.
Jeremy Cameron is one player I’m really looking forward to seeing play on the biggest day of the year.
He’s kicked 75.49 to this point of the season and two, three and three in the first three finals.
The Giants’ accuracy – spearheaded by Cameron – is a key reason why they’re playing in the Grand Final, given the past two weeks against Brisbane and Collingwood they’ve won despite having fewer scoring shots.
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Cameron’s clutch goals in really important moments has helped them advance. But the pressure-cooker of a Grand Final is different again.
Every kick for goal is built around pressure. Some people relish it. Others surrender to it.
THE VERDICT: I think Richmond and probably by two or three goals – but I would not be surprised at all if GWS get it done. The big advantage they’ve got is their contested ball game and their stoppage game.
ADVICE FROM A PREMIERSHIP WINNER: Embrace it. Stay relaxed. Enjoy the atmosphere. Take in the noise. But then channel your energy into what you have to do that first contest you’re involved in. Just play the game.
Originally published as Josh Kelly could be Giants’ biggest weapon in AFL Grand Final
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