Jordan Lewis previews week 1 of the AFL Finals and answers some key questions about each club

Jordan Lewis played in 26 finals, and went head-to-head with some of the most dangerous players in this year’s September action. What changes in finals and how would he stop Patrick Dangerfield and Lachie Neale?

The real stuff is here and the contenders are about to get serious.

Four-time premiership star and freshly-retired Demon JORDAN LEWIS looks at the first week of the AFL Finals and the key men involved.

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The Bombers must stop Jeremy McGovern’s aerial dominance. Pic: AAP

WEST COAST v ESSENDON

PERTH STADIUM, TOMORROW, 8.10PM

WEST COAST

If I were told to play on Jeremy McGovern I would ... play him from behind because he wants to be able to see you, the ball and then be able to judge whether you are being a receiver or he can impact the contest. So by you playing him from behind you’re able to dictate a lot more. If he flies you have to fly, but if he is a second off and goes to that contest and you know he’s not going to impact then you can scoot out the back.

Being the reigning premier ... provides the playing group with a sense of confidence. Nearly every team this year, bar Richmond, has an uncertainty from a player point of view, whereas West Coast has just been through it. The loss in the final round will help put the players in the mindset that there is no second chance and no safety blanket.

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ESSENDON

Jake Stringer will inevitably ... be judged on his finals performances. Anyone can kick a bag against the lower ranked teams, but if I were coach John Worsfold I would be putting Stringer in the middle in two or three-minute blocks at least three times a quarter because of his elite clearance ability.

If I had control of the magnet board, Cale Hooker would ... play in defence. I would get that end right first and my advice to Essendon players is to lower your eyes going forward and don’t bomb it. The Eagles defence are vulnerable if the ball hits the ground or they’re up against a forward line that is zippy and unpredictable.

Might Scott Pendlebury be asked to mind Patrick Dangerfield? Pic: Michael Klein.

GEELONG v COLLINGWOOD

MCG, FRIDAY 7.50PM

GEELONG

The key to getting a good start in finals is ... being accurate early. This is one of the best ways to elevate pressure in finals and something the Cats have struggled with in recent September action. They need to settle early and accuracy helps that. The side that settles into a bit of a groove, and players become predictable with each other, will get a significant advantage. You don’t want players going outside of what they’ve done in the home and away season, because it becomes unpredictable.

Tom Stewart will ... have company. Rather than being to play to his intercept marking strength, the Magpies should put Chris Mayne to the All-Australian defender as a shutdown half-forward.

COLLINGWOOD

My plan from the opening bounce for Patrick Dangerfield would be ... to sit someone on him around stoppages and keep him on the inside. Don’t let him get outside the stoppage. His opponent has to play that back side and be pushing him into the stoppage. Then when you get the opportunity, spread on him. I’d play 70 per cent on him and 30 per cent on making him defend. Magpies skipper Scott Pendlebury would be perfect for the role.

Going with a mobile smaller forward line ... can work if they all play their role and share the deepest forward position and share going up the ground. They have to be prepared to put in the defensive work and give the team opportunities. If they don’t, it all falls apart. Geelong wants to zone off so I’d be starting all three of them deep and try to isolate all three.

Aaron Naughton can further enhance his reputation. Picture. Phil Hillyard

Leon Cameron hopes his underdone stars can perform. Pic: Getty Images

GWS GIANTS v WESTERN BULLDOGS

GIANTS STADIUM, SATURDAY, 3.20PM

GWS

Finals and underdone players is a difficult balancing act and ... if I were coach Leon Cameron I’d be holding my breath. You’re certainly unsure how players come back against a side that is in form and the Dogs’ continuity in the past eight weeks has been there. So that’s a huge ingredient. Cameron would be praying that all works because pure talent only gets you so far.

Shane Mumford must play ... his natural role which is physicality in the ruck and his follow-up around the stoppage. You’re in trouble if he tries to be over-aggressive or goes into the game thinking he wants to hit people.

WESTERN BULLDOGS

Marcus Bontempelli is ... a contest to contest player who needs to be sat on and Matt de Bore is the obvious candidate. You need to have impact late in the contest. You can’t sit there and wrestle him, you need to actually time it when the ball coming and then make late contact. Then once the ball leaves the area, he is quite good at getting to the next contest so you can’t ball watch.

Aaron Naughton and Josh Schache are two young talls ... who can make a name for themselves. If you’re a young kid playing finals, no one really cares how you go during the season. But if you can really perform in the finals, you’re then in a different conversation and a different category. Buddy Franklin did it in 2007. Or maybe they could be the Tom Boyd of the 2016 finals.

BRISBANE LIONS v RICHMOND

GABBA, SATURDAY, 7.25PM

BRISBANE LIONS

Knowing Chris Fagan he will ... be pushing the basics and the role playing. And that’s what Luke Hodge will be pushing. One trick Fages won’t be playing is any dramatic change to the game plan. Alastair Clarkson was always big on that — tricks don’t win finals.

Lachie Neale can expect ... a tagger. You can’t let him have 51 possessions again. I’d put Trent Cotchin on him. It could be the perfect role for Cotch coming back from an extended period out. A run-with job would give the Tigers skipper a certain mindset going into the game and it can help a player who is coming back from a break, whether that’s a stint in the VFL, injury or suspension.

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RICHMOND

If I were at selection pondering playing two rucks I ... wouldn’t waste too much time worrying about one selection. That selection is not going to win or lose you the game. I would play one, because I don’t think it’s an advantage to play both Toby Nankervis and Ivan Soldo. Melbourne arguably had the best ruckman in the competition and look how they went this year.

Combating conditions at the Gabba ... is a legitimate concern. The Lions would have loved this game in 30-degree heat during the day, but the heat can impact Richmond’s preparation because you have to be conscious about how much time you’re spending in the sun and what you’re doing with your hydration. Plus, the Gabba is totally different to the MCG. It feels shorter and the difference this weekend compared to previous visits is that the stands are going to be full with screaming Lions fans. That hasn’t been a factor before.

Originally published as Jordan Lewis previews week 1 of the AFL Finals and answers some key questions about each club