It’s Preliminary Finals week, and it promises to provide some fantastic games. The top four teams will fight it out to play on that last Saturday in September. I still like St Kilda for the premiership, but Geelong have found form at the right end of the year and always seem to play well in big games.

The Saints have been fantastic all year.

Their defensive pressure has been a stand out this season and will help them in the finals series should they maintain this for the remaining two games of the season.

They have had plenty of Finals experience over the past years that should lean in their favour, also.

It is clear that Nick Riewoldt is the most valuable asset to the Saints, and if his form in week one of the Finals Series is anything to go by, he will be simply unstoppable on Friday night.

They also face a selection dilemma that is going to be a huge talking point after the outcome of the game.

Max Hudghton, in my view, would be a better match up against the Western Bulldogs than Zac Dawson. Sure, Hudghton is injury prone. But his endeavour and ability to play on either tall or small players, as well as his Finals experience, will be extremely important against the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs, on the other hand, have been around the mark for a couple of years now, and when firing, can kick a handful of goals in quick succession which can put the opposition under pressure.

Their ability to play a fast, attacking game style will make the match on Friday night a real spectacle.

They have always been criticised for not having a key forward in Finals time. But the way that they play doesn’t require a key forward, and they have had the ability to kick big scores. So I believe it doesn’t pose as big a problem as people believe.

Geelong hasn’t been as convincing this year as what they have been in previous years, but they are an experienced and skillful side who seems to play well when they need to.

They get Steve Johnson back from injury, which will boost their side dramatically, and the games that Brad Ottens has played over the past couple of weeks are going to hold him in good stead.

I think it will be a Geelong and St Kilda Grand Final as they are the best two teams in this year’s Finals series, as well as the most experienced.

It will be an interesting match up, as Collingwood have played well against them in their past few outings.

Mick Malthouse had some interesting comments to make about both Geelong and St. Kilda last week, but there will also be some heat on him. He has players who will be playing this weekend’s game with injury, and after playing in a handful of finals games, I know that you need to be at your physical best to have the best opportunity to win.

He will come under scrutiny for taking such a risk.

It is going to be an exciting weekend of football, and I look forward to watching with great interest.

They have clearly been the four best teams all year and the games will be great to watch.

Troy Chaplin is a current player with the Port Adelaide Power and a columnist for The Roar.

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