AFL Finals 2021: All the news and fallout from the preliminary finals

Luke Beveridge has not been able to quell the nerves of Dogs fans as a decision on Marcus Bontempelli’s availability sits on a knife’s edge. Here is what Bevo had to say.

Bulldogs Stefan Martin on the training track. Picture: Michael Klein

Uncertainty remains around Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli’s availability for Saturday night’s preliminary final ahead of a crucial training run today.

Bontempelli, who sits third in favouritism to win this year’s Brownlow Medal, was cleared of serious structural damage after copping a knock to the knee in last week’s semi-final win over Brisbane.

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Luke Beveridge faces one of the toughest decisions in his career. Picture: Getty Images

However, the skipper remains sore and in some doubt to take to the field against Port Adelaide this weekend.

Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said on Thursday morning that he was “more glass half full” about Bontempelli’s availability than he was when the injury first occurred.

But the Bulldogs will have a clearer picture of their captain’s availability after their main training session for the week in Perth today.

“We’ll see how he trains today and how he goes about his work,” Beveridge said.

“We’re really hopeful that he’s going to be okay and if he isn’t, we’re going to have to spread the load and fill his role with someone else and believe that we can get the job done.

“With things like joints and some soreness and some bone bruising, things that a player may be able to overcome…it gives you a level of confidence that they’re going to be able to play the four quarters.

“He’s an amazing player and leader and it will be a huge loss if he doesn’t get up.”

Beveridge said he would again have a coach to captain conversation with Bontempelli after training today, as well as consult the club’s medical staff.

“That will be part of it,” Beveridge said on SEN radio.

“Marcus and I have already touched base around that and how he’s feeling and there will definitely be another conversation today about how he’s going and his confidence levels about his performance proposition on Saturday night.”

Beveridge again poured cold water on the prospect of veteran ruckman Stefan Martin returning this week for what would be his first AFL game since Round 12.

“He’s missed a lot of football, the match conditioning aspect is not going to be there and if he’s fully fit then we’ve got to really work through what that means at the time,” Beveridge said.

“If he trains and he trains strongly…there’s a consideration, absolutely, as there has been every other week. But I’m not sure how there’s a proactive case that he’s likely to play. That wouldn’t have come from our quarters.”

The prelim selection gamble Bevo must take

It’s the risk versus reward conundrum that Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has wrestled with this week — stick with his current ruck strategy or gamble on the match-fitness of a tough veteran Stefan Martin, who hasn’t played a senior AFL match in almost 100 days.

The decision might hold the key to the Bulldogs’ hopes of advancing to a second Grand Final in five years by winning Saturday night’s preliminary final against Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval.

Fox Footy analyst David King says it is a risk the Bulldogs need to take to limit the impact of Power ruckman Scott Lycett, even if it means they might have to sub the 34-year-old out of the game at some stage.

Martin hasn’t played a senior AFL game since Round 12, due to a shoulder issue as well as hip and groin soreness, with his latest setback coming just over three weeks ago.

Stefan Martin goes through his paces at training this season. Picture: Michael Klein

But a solid recent training block since — including a session in Tasmania last Saturday morning with the carry-over Bulldogs players — has boosted Martin’s hopes of a ruck recall.

“The risk of conceding score and/or territory from centre bounce is worth the gamble of playing Stef Martin, particularly for the first 70 or 80 minutes of this clash,” King said.

“If he is not right to go after three quarter-time, well, you have got the sub, but you (the Bulldogs) have got to stay in the game.

“You have got to make Port Adelaide nervous.”

The spectre of Lycett — who had 40 hit-outs, 22 disposals and five clearances in the Power’s two-point Round 23 win over the Bulldogs — could tempt Beveridge to roll the dice on Martin.

King, a two-time premiership Kangaroo who played in seven straight preliminary finals, said Martin’s brute strength could make a difference, leaving English to play forward in the first half before being called upon to play in the ruck late in the game.

Lewis Young takes a strong mark the last time the Bulldogs took on Port Adelaide.

Lion Oscar McInerney had the better of Lewis Young in the ruck in the first half last week before Beveridge switched English into the role after halftime, which helped square the ledger.

The Dogs went from -4 in first half clearances to +14 in the second half, according to Champion Data, cutting first-half opposition scores from stoppages from 4.2 (26) to 0.3 (3) in the second.

In Round 23 the Power outscored the Bulldogs by +7 points from stoppages, but it could have been worse.

The Power’s inaccuracy from their 10 scoring shots from that source — 3.7 (25) — could have cost them dearly, which almost let the Bulldogs off the hook.

Marcus Bontempelli contest a ruck duel with Port ruckman Scott Lycett.

The Bulldogs remain hopeful skipper Marcus Bontempelli will prove his fitness after he suffered a knee injury late in last week’s semi-final win at the Gabba.

Leaving aside the Martin decision, Beveridge will be forced to make at least one change with livewire small forward Cody Weightman ruled out with a head knock from last week’s semi-final win over Brisbane.

His logical replacement would be Anthony Scott, who played in 20 of the club’s 22 home and away games in his debut season.

Mitch Wallis and Patrick Lipinski have been out of favour for much of the season, but could also come into consideration.

Treloar after being subbed out with an ankle injury. Picture: Michael Klein

Pain of Treloar’s long-distance battle revealed

Netball star Kim Ravaillion has described the “emotional rollercoaster” her partner Adam Treloar has faced in his first season with the Western Bulldogs as the couple pursued sporting careers in different states.

As Treloar aims to hit back in Saturday night’s preliminary final against Port Adelaide after coming under fire for his semi-final performance against the Brisbane Lions, Ravaillion said the season had been hard on the midfielder being away for long periods from his family.

Ravaillion made the move to Queensland with the couple’s young daughter, Georgie, this year to reignite her netball career with the Queensland Firebirds in the Super Netball league.

The midcourt star flourished in her netball comeback, winning the Firebirds’ most valuable player award for 2021.

But Ravaillion said the season had been more challenging for Treloar, who was sidelined for more than two months with a serious ankle injury in his first year at Whitten Oval, being separated from his young daughter.

“Obviously for Adam it’s a lot harder for him being away from his daughter and it’s just an emotional roller-coaster for him,” Ravaillion told RSN.

“I guess he’s lucky he has the distraction of footy but even in football you can have a good game or a bad game and that affects you. So he has got to deal with life and footy at the same time.

Adam Treloar with fiancee Kim Ravaillion and daughter Georgie.

“We have been on the phone and we are so lucky we’ve got FaceTime and technology these days, he sees her almost five times a day through the phone.

“He’s got two more games and hopefully we can all reunite depending on this Covid situation but we are planning that part right now.”

Treloar has faced criticism for his performance in the Bulldogs’ thrilling one-point semi-final win over the Brisbane Lions from Kane Cornes and Matthew Lloyd.

Cornes suggested Treloar looked like he had “spat the dummy a little bit because he’s not playing midfield” while Lloyd said the Bulldog played like a player who “didn’t like the role he was playing”.

Treloar finished the semi-final against the Lions with just 10 disposals and two kicks, but Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge denied he was carrying an injury and expected him to bounce back.

“He’s fully fit,” Beveridge said after the semi-final.

“His contributions historically have been quite outstanding and tonight probably wasn’t his most prolific game.

“So there’s a positive, we get Adam Treloar’s best hopefully in a preliminary final. I’m sure he’ll come up and put his best foot forward next week.”

Despite the challenges the couple has faced being apart this season, Ravaillion said their situation was “absolutely” sustainable in the future.

“He has encouraged me. We are both very competitive people and we are both so driven so we are just trying to do the best for our daughter,” Ravaillion said.

“At the end of the day it’s for our little family. I’ve got so much more in me so I’m excited to come back and play and really enjoy the game again.

“It just made me excited for what’s ahead.”

Adam Treloar had just 10 disposals in the semi-final.

DOGS BACK TRELOAR BOUNCE BACK

The Western Bulldogs have backed Adam Treloar to bounce back from his semi-final shocker.

Jack Macrae took Treloar’s share of the workload, and then some, in an epic 39-disposal effort in the Dogs’ one-point win over the Lions that progressed the Bulldogs to a preliminary final showdown against Port Adelaide.

Treloar, who missed 10 games during the middle of the season with an ankle injury, has come under fire after returning just two kicks and 10 touches in total, his lowest return for the season.

“He’d have to be horrified with this vision,” Brisbane champion Jonathan Brown said on Fox Footy’s On The Couch, pointing to vision of Treloar struggling to get involved in numerous contests.

Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd said Treloar looked like a player who wasn’t enjoying his role and the former Collingwood star had to “suck it up”.

Macrae, who leads the Gary Ayres Medal for the best finals player after earning a perfect 10 votes against the Lions, said none of Treloar’s teammates thought he did anything but his best.

“There’s so much going on in a game, I didn’t see any of that (poor body language),” Macrae said on Tuesday.

“The form that (Treloar) was in in the first 10 weeks of the season before he hurt his ankle was some of the best footy that he’s ever played, and he was just amazing for our team, so I’m backing him to get back into that form.

“He’s been a class player his whole career and you don’t just lose that overnight.

“We’re all going to back him in to get back to his best and hopefully that comes Saturday night.”

Marcus Bontempelli, named the AFL Players Association MVP last week, is racing the clock to be fit to tackle Port on Saturday after hurting his knee against the Lions.

Macrae said the Bulldogs skipper would do everything required to be ready for the preliminary final.

“He hasn’t missed a game in four years,” Macrae said.

“He’s one of the most professional players I have seen. He’s going to give himself every chance. A 50 per cent Bont is better than most of the competition anyway, if I am being honest.

“We re not going to take any silly risks, but I’d give him every chance.”

But Macrae also said the Bulldogs were not a “one player” team.

“We are not preparing for him not to play. Later in the week we might have to have those conversations,” he said.,

“We don’t rely on one player. As much as Bont is an absolute superstar, we back ourselves as a group.

“We’ve had injuries to different players and as a group we’ve all stepped up and covered for certain players that have missed at times.”

Max Gawn and Nathan Jones celebrate a Melbourne win.

DOOR AJAR FOR DEMONS FAIRYTALE

— Marc McGowan

Melbourne captain Max Gawn has buoyed hopes of club great Nathan Jones breaking into the Demons team, insisting he is on the verge of selection.

Jones, whose wife Jerri is due to give birth to twins in mid-September, was one of four emergencies for Melbourne’s qualifying final victory over Brisbane almost a fortnight ago.

The 33-year-old has played only once at senior level since Round 7, but his good form in recent scratch matches has propelled him into the mix, as coach Simon Goodwin revealed.

“There’s no sugar-coating this. People might think we are, because Nathan Jones is a really good story at the moment – that he could be a chance to play in the grand final,” Gawn told RSN.

“There’s no sugar on this. He is the 24th player (in the squad) right now. Obviously, the 23rd is Jimmy Jordon, then the 22 played – and he’s probably sitting 24.

“(Jake) Melksham, Michael Hibberd and Jayden Hunt are all there as well, so there are four guys trying to get into this team and ‘Goody’ will have a long discussion.

“We were a team that won by 40 points in a qualifying final with no injuries, so it would be a massive call to make a change.

“Will Nathan be able to stand up in a hot prelim final more than James Jordon, if they were called on as sub?”

The Demons are quarantining at Joondalup Resort in Perth ahead of a third clash this year with Geelong in a preliminary final at Optus Stadium on Friday night.

They beat West Coast by nine points in their last trip to the Perth venue, but memories are still strong of the beat down the Eagles gave them in the 2018 preliminary final there.

Melbourne was goalless and trailing by 63 points at halftime that day in a disastrous performance.

“There are so many different things about 2018. We’re a completely different side to start – well, not completely different, but we’ve got a lot of different players and coaches,” Gawn said.

“We play a different brand of football than what we were in ’18, and in ’18 we were doing it from fifth, so we had to win every game.

“There are very different feelings and we were beaten up early by West Coast. They came out hot and we couldn’t bring it back, but I see it as a completely different game of football.”

Gawn said he no longer thought about that massive preliminary final defeat, but retained positive memories about the lead-up experience, given how few finals he had played.

“I’ve been to Optus Stadium three times since and I don’t think about the prelim. There’s no haunted memories of this prelim,” he said.

“That was an amazing occasion. I still talk about that prelim as one of the best moments of my career; being in interstate territory for a prelim weekend.

“Walking around the morning of the game, as a footy fanatic, it was one of the greatest feelings I’ve had in football … and a great memory of mine until, obviously, the game.”

Jake Lever has been crucial to Melbourne’s success. Picture: Michael Klein

HOW CATS PLAN TO COMBAT DEES’ DEFENSIVE DUO

— Toby Prime and Sam Landsberger

Geelong is determined for Jake Lever and Steven May not to make the Cats “look like fools” in Friday night’s preliminary final as the Cats attempt to stop the league’s best defence.

Lever had seven intercept marks when the two sides met in Round 23 and May was also influential as the Demons fought back from a 44-point deficit to win with a kick after the siren.

Cats wingman Isaac Smith said the All-Australian pair “made us look like fools” in the final-round match and that stopping the star duo would be key.

“They have got an unbelievable midfield, with Maxy (Gawn), ‘Trac’ (Christian Petracca), (Jack) Viney and Clayton Oliver so it’s going to be won and lost in the contest, like most games of football,” Smith said.

“But they also set up the ground so well defensively and Lever and May certainly made us look like fools in round 23.”

Smith said Geelong would not deep dive into the game from 16 days ago.

“Both teams had their moments in that game and it was Round 23 and we were both going to finish with a second chance,” he said.

“In the end, I don’t think the result mattered too much, as much as we would have loved to

have won the game.

“I’m not sure we’ll probably reference it too much. We probably got a little bit of an idea on what they want to do by playing them, but they’ve also got the advantage of playing us and knowing what we want to do as well.”

Smith said Geelong had been “pretty average” in final home-and-away rounds and the win over Greater Western Sydney had given it a chance to finetune for the preliminary final.

“I think we played really well, especially around the contest in our defensive half,” he said.

“We probably just couldn’t capitalise on a few more opportunities.

“We certainly had the inside-50s and shots on goal but if we could just finish them off, then it’s probably a 10 to 12-goal win.”

Connor Rozee, Xavier Duursma and Zak Butters on draft night 2018.

Inside the jaw-dropping draft heists changing the flag race

They were the jaw-dropping juniors who helped catapult Melbourne and Port Adelaide to the front of the premiership queue.

In 2018, the Power picked Connor Rozee, Zak Butters and Xavier Duursma as first-round selections who were ripe and ready.

In 2019, the Demons unloaded a one-two-three punch when they secured Luke Jackson, Kozzie Pickett and Trent Rivers.

Butters might be the game’s next Gary Ablett while Pickett is already mimicking Cyril Rioli’s greatness.

Meanwhile, Jackson – the boldest of those selections – enters Friday night’s preliminary final against Geelong as the toothless warrior who was last week crowned the AFL Rising Star.

Which terrific trio would you take?

For first-year impact it would have to be Port’s boys.

They play with piercing energy and all three sparkled on the MCG in Round 1 of their debut season.

But for second-year seduction it is probably the Dees, with coach Simon Goodwin banking three babies in his best 22 who each play in different parts of the ground.

Perhaps injuries suffered by the Power rangers since that raging 2019 have slowed them down.

But it would be premature to declare a winner, given these boy wonders might face off in a Grand Final this month, and there certainly couldn’t be a loser.

Boy, what a pair of hauls this is.

It makes you wonder what Richmond – armed with No. 7, 16, 26 and 28 – would become if the Tigers pulled off a similar dose of draft delight this year.

However, the Tigers don’t yet have that real premium pick – such as Rozee (No. 5) or Jackson (No. 3) – and their first selection will be pushed back to at least No. 9 by father-son guns Sam Darcy and Nick Daicos.

For Melbourne and Port Adelaide, this was strategic list management as they looked to maximise their presence at the pointy end of the draft in which they had scoured some special players.

Demons recruiter Jason Taylor flew to Western Australia to watch Jackson on four consecutive weekends in the middle of 2018.

The Dees were in free fall on the ladder – they finished 17th – and as the weather turned cold, Jackson warmed to the possibility that this aggressive 198cm midfielder masquerading as a ruckman who could partner Max Gawn was gettable.

Taylor also meandered towards Rivers, who was Jackson’s teammate at East Fremantle.

“Those three have added a different dynamic to our team,” superstar defender Christian Salem told the Herald Sun.

“(Rivers) is a good kid. He’s willing to learn and there’s so much room for improvement.”

Luke Jackson and Kysaiah Pickett joined the Demons in the 2019 draft.

Power list boss Jason Cripps constructed his golden hand after trading out dual All-Australian Chad Wingard and Jared Polec.

The Power had a list of 12 players who they valued in the first round of the draft and – after plenty of manoeuvring – were able to bank three from three.

Rozee rocketed on to the AFL scene by becoming the youngest player in Port Adelaide history to bag five goals in a match.

He beat that with this year’s four-goal first quarter against Geelong, which was the first feat of its kind since Brad Ottens in 2001.

But many suspect it is Butters who has the potential to go boom and become one of the AFL’s premier midfielders.

It would be a celebrated climb for the seven-year-old boy who spent every Saturday soaking up local footy at Darley.

Zak Butters escapes the clutches of Tom Atkins in the qualifying final.

Cheeky and confident, Butters missed a Rising Star nomination in 2019 and made the All-Australian squad in 2020.

This year he was the fourth-highest rated player in the AFL, before suffering a syndesmosis injury in Round 4.

Butters melted supporter hearts in last year’s qualifying final by body-lining the ball against seasoned Cats Tom Stewart and Jed Bews to set up a last-quarter goal, following on from his last-gasp stoppage goal sealer against Hawthorn.

The scrawny star grew up a Western Bulldogs supporter, but – if Round 23 was a guide – he is set to go head-to-head with Jack Macrae and Bailey Smith in Saturday night’s preliminary final.

Duursma’s blend of pressure and pace light up the Adelaide Oval wings although his signature is a bow-and-arrow goal celebration.

Kysaiah Pickett celebrates a goal in Melbourne’s qualifying final win.

Pickett — the son of a stand-up comedian — has made a habit of sitting defenders on their backside and slotting goals which crack smiles.

His freakish snap after bursting past a stack of St Kilda opponents is one of three nominations for goal of the year.

Splitting Duursma and Rivers at the back of the bright field would divide opinion, although the Demon was the value pick given he was taken later in his draft.

Rivers flows out of Melbourne’s backline as a get-it-and-go dasher.

Jake Bowey takes the more dangerous small forwards, such as Brisbane’s Zac Bailey last week, but Rivers is allowed to let rip with his thumping kick, which has delivered three goals.

Rivers played on Bradley Close and Gryan Miers in Round 23, which could foreshadow his role this Friday night.

PORT ADELAIDE 2018 DRAFT

No. 5 Connor Rozee, 21 (58 games)

No. 12 Zak Butters, 20 (47 games)

No. 18 Xavier Duursma, 21 (45 games)

MELBOURNE 2019 DRAFT

No. 3 Luke Jackson, 19 (28 games, 2021 Rising Star winner)

No. 12 Kysaiah Pickett, 20 (37 games)

No. 32 Trent Rivers, 20 (32 games)

Originally published as AFL Finals 2021: All the news and fallout from the preliminary finals