AFL 2022: A complete breakdown of all four AFL finals from key players to injuries and everything in between

From injury worries to red-hot players, we take a complete and in-depth look at the four upcoming AFL finals.

The AFL premiership cup is what they are all playing for. Picture: Michael Klein

AFL WEEK 1 FINALS PREVIEWS

BRISBANE LIONS v RICHMOND

SECOND ELIMINATION FINAL, GABBA, THURSDAY, 7.20PM

Brisbane Lions

THE GABBATOIR

The heavy last-start defeat at home to reigning premier Melbourne left a sour taste in the Lions’ mouth, but it was just their second defeat in 11 matches at the Gabba this year. That follows them winning nine of their last 10 matches there last year. Brisbane also beat the Tigers at the venue in a qualifying final two years ago, so there shouldn’t be any lack of confidence.

FINISH THE JOB

Brisbane was 42 points up on Richmond nearing time-on in the second quarter in round 20, only to somehow lose the match by seven points. That fade out cost the Lions a top-four spot and a double chance in the finals. They also conceded eight of the first nine goals in the last quarter against Carlton to risk losing another unlosable match.

Joe Daniher will spearhead the Lions. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

SMOKIN’ JOE

Joe Daniher has been a strong addition to the Lions’ attack, averaging two goals a match in 41 games to date. But the ex-Bomber has never kicked more than four majors in a game in his two seasons up north, with more than five years passing since his career-best six-goal haul. This clash is a great time for Daniher to make his presence felt.

Richmond

RUSTY DUSTY?

Almost nine weeks will have passed since Brownlow medallist Dustin Martin (hamstring) last played, but the superstar midfielder-forward is expected to run out on Thursday night. Whether that means Martin spends more time than usual in attack remains to be seen, but his incredible finals record overrides any potential rust he might have.

Dustin Martin is pushing to be ready for a finals return. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

PREMIERSHIP PEDIGREE

How much will the Tigers’ incredible finals record in recent years count in this one? Richmond missed September altogether last season but has amassed 10 wins versus just two defeats since 2017. In contrast, Brisbane returned to the finals for the first time in a decade in 2019 and has been one of the AFL’s best teams. But they have lost five of their six finals in that period.

LYNCH MOB

Richmond is confident spearhead Tom Lynch will play despite ending the season finale on the bench with ice on the right side of his groin. The Tigers are so much tougher when Lynch is up and about. He’s kicked 21 goals in the past month since returning from a hamstring strain and should have Harris Andrews for company in the elimination final.

Tom J. Lynch has been red hot for Richmond. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

TAB ODDS

MATCH

Brisbane Lions $2

Richmond $1.85

FLAG

Brisbane Lions $31

Richmond $13

CASUALTY LIST

Brisbane

Marcus Adams (concussion) test

Callum Ah Chee (concussion) test

Noah Answerth (suspension) 1 week

Blake Coleman (concussion) TBC

Cam Rayner (suspension) 1 week

Richmond

Tom Lynch (groin) test

Dustin Martin (hamstring) test

Jack Graham (foot) 1-2 weeks

Dylan Grimes (hamstring) 3-4 weeks

ROUND 20: RICHMOND 15.14 (104) d. BRISBANE LIONS 14.13 (97), MCG

WE SAY: All the pressure is on the Lions, which suits the surging Tigers just fine. Brisbane’s defeat to Melbourne was concerning and Richmond is primed to pounce.

EARLY CALL Richmond by 14 points

*******************************************

MELBOURNE DEMONS V SYDNEY SWANS

SECOND QUALIFYING FINAL, MCG, FRIDAY, 7.50PM

Melbourne

RUCK DOUBLE ACT

There is some doubt about Luke Jackson, but he is expected to be fit to partner Max Gawn on Friday night. They are arguably the best one-two ruck punch in the competition and will give opposing coach John Longmire plenty to think about. Does the threat of their matchwinning potential cause the Swans to recall Peter Ladhams to play alongside Tom Hickey?

Max Gawn is crucial for the Demons. Picture: Picture: Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images

GOALKICKING SPREAD

There were concerns about the Dees’ ability to kick a winning score while Ben Brown went through a form slump and Tom McDonald went down with a foot injury. But they had five players – Kozzy Pickett, Bayley Fritsch, Brown, Jake Melksham and Charlie Spargo – kick multiple goals in at least one game in the last month.

MIDFIELD DEPTH

There is no better midfield in the game right now. Clayton Oliver, Christian Petracca, Jack Viney and Angus Brayshaw are all among the AFL’s best midfielders and are enjoying outstanding seasons. Brayshaw’s switch back into the centre in recent times has been a masterstroke and gives the Swans someone else to worry about, while releasing Petracca to be damaging up forward.

Sydney

BUDDY BRILLIANT

Lance Franklin might be rising 36 and weighing up his future but remains one of the most dangerous forwards going around. Another 50-goal season is in the books, including eight bags of three goals or more, so Steven May and co. will need to be at their best. A Buddy masterclass could rip the match from Melbourne’s grasp.

Lance Franklin knows how to get it done in finals. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

STREAKING SWANS

Melbourne’s mixed patchy performances with scary reminders of its best football, whereas Sydney’s taking a seven-game winning streak into September. The Swans’ scalps in that time include finalists Western Bulldogs, Fremantle and Collingwood, so this isn’t an empty run. After suffering through slow starts and mid-match lapses early in the year, they have found their groove.

THE NEW BREED

There may not be a more exciting young list than Sydney’s. Chad Warner, Errol Gulden, Logan McDonald, Tom McCartin, Nick Blakey, James Rowbottom, Justin McInerney, Dylan Stephens and Braeden Campbell are all 22 or younger. Get ready for another decade-plus of the Swans being finals staples – and most likely another flag under John Longmire at some stage.

Chad Warner has become a star. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

TAB ODDS

MATCH

Melbourne $1.44

Sydney $2.80

FLAG

Melbourne $3.25

Sydney $6

CASUALTY LIST

Melbourne

Luke Jackson (corked calf) test

Christian Salem (groin) test

Tom McDonald (foot) TBC

Sydney

Tom Papley (concussion) test

Lewis Melican (hamstring) test

Josh Kennedy (hamstring) 4-6 weeks

ROUND 12: SYDNEY 10.13 (73) d. MELBOURNE 9.7 (61), MCG

WE SAY: The Demons’ ability to snatch second spot off the Swans and a home final could prove pivotal. Their best football is still probably better than any other side.

EARLY CALL Melbourne by 12 points

*******************************************

GEELONG V COLLINGWOOD

FIRST QUALIFYING FINAL, MCG, SATURDAY, 4.35PM

Geelong

TOM AND JER(EM)Y

The Cats’ All-Australian forwards Tom Hawkins and Jeremy Cameron each kicked 59 goals in the home-and-away season to finish equal third in the Coleman Medal race. Only Carlton duo Charlie Curnow (64) and Harry McKay (45) came close to that sort of return from a pair of forwards. Hawkins and Cameron were arguably the difference in their round 3 clash with the Pies, combining for nine majors.

Jeremy Cameron and Tom Hawkins are a dangerous double act. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

MCG v CATTERY

There’s no doubt Geelong would love to host finals at GMHBA Stadium, which has happened only once (a defeat in 2013, ironically). The Cats won eight of nine at their fortress this season but, as usual, will play home finals at the MCG. They have lost nine of their last 13 finals at the home of football, so Collingwood will hope to add to that pain.

NIFTY NEWBIES

Two key Cats – Tyson Stengle and Sam De Koning – are preparing for their first taste of September action. Stengle’s redemption story continues to gain momentum after scoring a maiden All-Australian nod this week, while De Koning looks a genuine star who will take the opposition’s best forward for the next decade-plus.

Tyson Stengle joined Tom Hawkins in the All-Australian team. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Collingwood

DUAL DARCYS

Two of the most important Magpies in this clash are Darcy Moore and Darcy Cameron. Moore will have the unenviable task of blunting the influence of both Tom Hawkins and Jeremy Cameron as well as making his mark offensively with his intercept marking. Cameron could be a difference-maker in the ruck, where the Cats can be vulnerable on occasion.

NAILBITER FACTOR

No club specialises in the close one quite like Craig McRae’s Pies – just ask Carlton. They are a remarkable 7-0 in games decided by six points or fewer and 11-1 when the margin extends out to 11 points. That must count for something if Saturday’s contest is tight at the end. But the Cats did beat them by 13 points in round 3.

Coach Craig McRae has turned Collingwood around in 2022. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

MATCHWINNER

There are some excellent players at Collingwood but no Magpie turns a game quite like Jordan De Goey (with apologies to 34-year-old Scott Pendlebury). De Goey’s brilliance in close helped him win almost five clearances a game this year, which rates elite at Champion Data. His ability to also impact the scoreboard makes him a dual threat.

TAB ODDS

MATCH

Geelong $1.38

Collingwood $3.10

FLAG

Geelong $2.90

Collingwood $10

CASUALTY LIST

Geelong

Jeremy Cameron (hamstring) test

Mitch Duncan (hip) test

Rhys Stanley (adductor) test

Jake Kolodjashnij (concussion) test

Cam Guthrie (shoulder) test

Sam Menegola (soreness) test

Sam Simpson (quad) test

Collingwood

Taylor Adams (adductor) test

Nathan Kreuger (shoulder) test

Tyler Brown (illness) TBC

ROUND 3: GEELONG 16.8 (104) d. COLLINGWOOD 13.13 (91), MCG

WE SAY: The Cats are deserving favourites and it would be a major disappointment if they dropped this one and only add to their underwhelming finals reputation.

EARLY CALL: Geelong by 22 points

*******************************************

FREMANTLE V WESTERN BULLDOGS

FIRST ELIMINATION FINAL, PERTH STADIUM, SATURDAY, 8.10PM

Fremantle

BRILLIANT BRAYSHAW

To win a final and a grand final you need A-graders, elite players, those the opposition have to put time and energy in to stopping. In 2022, Andy Brayshaw has emerged as that superstar midfielder, crowned by his peers as the standout player this season and now he gets a finals stage to strut his impressive stuff that could be more than decisive.

FYFE FACTOR

It’s hard to know just what to expect from Fremantle captain Nat Fyfe who was rusty in his return from a hamstring injury in the final round win over GWS, with just nine disposals and a single score playing predominantly as a forward. The two-time Brownlow medallist has played just seven matches and will enter the finals series severely underdone but could just as easily explode with some of his best and be a Freo X-factor.

Nat Fyfe will be underdone for the finals. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

A BIT BANGED UP

The list of “tests” on the injury list is a concern, with Rory Lobb recovering from a hurt shoulder, Matt Taberner nursing a calf injury and Griffin Logue, who could play forward or back, working his way through an adductor issue. But on the plus side, they are the only ones on the injury list, giving coach Troy Longmuir good selection choices.

Western Bulldogs

REPEAT OFFENDERS

The rule is you can’t win a premiership from outside the top four. At least once, and nearly twice, the Bulldogs have proven themselves to be the exception to the rule, making the decider from fifth last season and winning the 2016 premiership from seventh. It guarantees that no matter the obstacles, this time sneaking into eighth and having to travel, Luke Beveridge’s men cannot be counted out.

Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge could have some finals tricks up his sleeve. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

BUOYANT BONT

Through the final two rounds Marcus Bontempelli’s coach was letting everyone know his skipper wasn’t 100 per cent and niggling injuries were hampering his output. But on Friday, Bontempelli declared himself over those issues, freshened by the pre-finals bye and ready to go. The Bulldogs can’t win without Bontempelli at his best.

LOCK IT DOWN

If the Bulldogs have had a weakness against their fellow finalists, it’s been trying to stop them scoring. Just in the final month of the season, the Dogs have given up 100 points to Melbourne, 94 to Geelong, and 95 to the Dockers under the roof at Marvel. Finals are more hard fought, but the Dogs have to lock the gates down back to keep their season going.

Marcus Bontempelli is ready to go for finals. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

TAB ODDS

MATCH

Fremantle $1.48

Western Bulldogs $2.65

FLAG

Fremantle $23

Western Bulldogs $31

CASUALTY LIST

Fremantle

Rory Lobb (chest/shoulder) test

Griffin Logue (groin) test

Matt Taberner (calf) test

Josh Treacy (illness) test

Western Bulldogs

Hayden Crozier (ankle) test

Jason Johannisen (ankle) test

Dominic Bedendo (knee) test

Laitham Vandermeer (knee) TBC

ROUND 21: FREMANTLE 14.11 (95) d. WESTERN BULLDOGS 11.12 (78), MARVEL STADIUM

WE SAY: The Bulldogs have shown their finishing position doesn’t hold them back form a finals push. But the loss to Fremantle in round 21, and just getting over the Hawks in the final round to sneak into the finals, makes them a worry this time around, especially against the Dockers at home.

EARLY CALL: Fremantle by 27 points