First week of AFL finals go to script
Columnist By Michael Filosi, 12 Sep 2011 Michael Filosi is a Roar Expert
- Tagged:
- AFL, AFL 2011, AFL finals, AFL finals 2011, Collingwood Magpies, Geelong Cats, Hawthorn Hawks, St Kilda Saints, Sydney Swans, West Coast Eagles
Related coverage
- Geelong Cats news
- Hawthorn Hawks news
- Sydney Swans news
- Collingwood Magpies news
- West Coast Eagles news
- St Kilda Saints news
- AFL news
- Toyota Premiership news
Geelong Cats celebrate win over the Hawks - Slattery Images
The first week of the AFL finals confirmed what many already suspected – Collingwood and Geelong are still the teams to beat in season 2011. After winning their respective qualifying finals, both the Magpies and the Cats secured the week off and can now focus on preliminary final matches in a fortnight’s time.
Since 2006, no team has won its qualifying final and not progressed to the grand final. If history is any guide, the Mapgies and Cats will face off in the AFL grand final this season.
The Mapgies showed grit and determination in overcoming a gallant Eagles team in what proved the best match of the opening week of the finals.
The Eagles pressed hard in the final term and threatened to overrun the faltering Mapgies, but a late goal to Luke Ball sealed victory for the Pies before a further goal to substitute Alex Fasolo after the final siren provided the icing on the cake for Mapgie fans.
The Eagles now head back to Perth, and will face a Carlton side still breathing a sigh of relief after yesterday securing its first finals win in ten years.
The Blues conceded the first three goals of the match against Essendon before piling on the next ten goals, ultimately winning by 62 points.
The Blues are unbeaten in their four interstate trips this year, and will feel confident of upsetting the Eagles.
It is still unclear whether star Eagles ruckman Dean Cox will be right to play after suffering back spasms against the Magpies on Saturday.
If Cox is unable to take to the field, young Eagles ruckman Nic Naitanui will likely have to shoulder much of the ruck duties for the second week in succession.
On Friday night Geelong secured its fifth consecutive preliminary final berth, with the Cats turning around an eleven point quarter time deficit to defeat the Hawks by 31 points at the MCG.
The Cats have proved the doubters wrong all season, and continued their run of wins against the Hawks since the 2008 grand final.
The Hawks will be sweating on the fitness of key forward Lance Franklin, who injured his right knee when he landed awkwardly following a marking contest late in the match.
There were some fears that Franklin would face a year on the sidelines following the injury, however scans on his injured knee ruled out any major damage, and the Hawks must now wait and see whether Franklin heals in time to play this weekend.
The Hawks are already missing key forward Jarryd Roughead from an injury sustained earlier in the season, and the added loss of Franklin has the potential to derail Hawthorn’s premiership hopes.
The Hawks face the Swans on Friday night, after Sydney produced the only upset of the opening week of the finals by defeating St Kilda.
The Swans have flown under the radar this year as attention has focused on the key Victorian sides, but the tag of quiet achiever will not bother the Sydney side.
The Swans put St Kilda’s miserable 2011 season to an end with a stirring victory, but will face stiffer opposition against the Hawks, with or without Franklin.
Follow Michael on Twitter @MichaelFilosi
Recommend this story.
The Turkey 10
The Turkey 10 teams have now been selected, as Wild Turkey Bourbon's sport sponsorship kicks into the next exciting phase.
Choose which side you're going to support and get in the running to win $2,500!
Simply visit Wild Turkey Australia on Facebook for your chance to win.
Find out more.
September 12th 2011 @ 7:44am
Hazey the Bear said | September 12th 2011 @ 7:44am | Report comment
“The Blues are uneaten in their four interstate trips this year, and will feel confident of upsetting the Eagles.”
* Choked on my juice this mornin’ reading this – Yes…I would imagine the Blues are uneaten this year while interstate.
September 12th 2011 @ 5:14pm
Hazey the Bear said | September 12th 2011 @ 5:14pm | Report comment
I’m guessing you fixed that typo pretty quick, eh Michael?
September 13th 2011 @ 10:53am
Michael Filosi said | September 13th 2011 @ 10:53am | Report comment
Yes, I made the correction, well spotted. Although strictly speaking the Blues were unbeaten and uneaten while playing interstate this year. And a good thing too, I know I don’t like to be gnawed on while away from home.
September 12th 2011 @ 8:17am
The Cattery said | September 12th 2011 @ 8:17am | Report comment
This weeks semis have the potential to see a premature exit of at least one top 4 side.
September 12th 2011 @ 9:34am
Matt F said | September 12th 2011 @ 9:34am | Report comment
As a Swans fan I certainly hope so! Hopefully on Friday night! History however suggests it won’t happen. Since the current finals system was put in place the Elimination final winners have only beaten the Qualifying final loseres 2/22 times. But in the last month we ended the Cats streak at Skilled and St Kilda’s Saturday night streak at Etihad so what’s one more?
September 12th 2011 @ 9:37am
Redb said | September 12th 2011 @ 9:37am | Report comment
Swans have a 6 day break and have to travel again, so the odds are slightly stacked agaisnt them. Should be a cracker.
September 12th 2011 @ 9:51am
Matt F said | September 12th 2011 @ 9:51am | Report comment
Our MCG record is atrocious as well, though our Etihad record was never too good either. The tall forward line we play could seriously hurt the Hawks defence, the same way the Cats exploited them. Our defence has also been miserly all season long with only Buddy really dominating us. If he plays (and is even half fit) then they win, if not we’re a chance.
September 12th 2011 @ 9:26am
Redb said | September 12th 2011 @ 9:26am | Report comment
270,000 to the 4 AFL finals over the weekend, if the weather had been kinder it would have hit 290,000. This is streets ahead of the other code.
September 12th 2011 @ 9:57am
The Cattery said | September 12th 2011 @ 9:57am | Report comment
Let’s try and keep it a secret – I’m happy for everyone to think the game is on its knees.
September 12th 2011 @ 10:14am
Redb said | September 12th 2011 @ 10:14am | Report comment
The AFL TV ratings were also excellent and higher than the other code in each match. The Swans rated 121K over 3 hours in Sydney for their final.
September 13th 2011 @ 1:12am
Tony said | September 13th 2011 @ 1:12am | Report comment
And what did the other code get for their direct telecast of the Storm game?
September 13th 2011 @ 1:28am
bilbo said | September 13th 2011 @ 1:28am | Report comment
86K, up against the AFL final and at 4pm instead of in prime time. Oh, and Channel nine didnt promote it at all after only deciding to air it on Thursday.
Pretty good result me thinks.
September 13th 2011 @ 2:00am
stabpass said | September 13th 2011 @ 2:00am | Report comment
I am not going to argue whether the ratings were good or bad, but a 4.00 pm start would IMO actually benefit the ratings.The AFL game was pretty well done and dusted by 4pm ( the outcome) , so if people were looking for another sport/channel to watch that offered a outcome unknown or new, then 4pm was perfect.
If you were not a Carlton fan, or a masochistic Essendon one, then your trigger finger on the remote would be working.
If Carlton V Essendon was a close one, the 86k may have become quite a lot smaller.
September 12th 2011 @ 10:08am
AC said | September 12th 2011 @ 10:08am | Report comment
Redb which Code are we talking about?
September 12th 2011 @ 10:18am
Brian said | September 12th 2011 @ 10:18am | Report comment
A bad night on Friday got to terrible when Buddy went off. Anyone left other than Sydney at the MCG and Hawthorn would be gone this week, and even then it will be hard without Franklin.
Stratton has to replace Schoenmakers to add muscle. Will still be hard when Mumford kills us in the ruck, their forwards are taller and we have no big forward to kick too. We will have to play possession and hope Rioli brings some magic. Unless Franklin returns I can’t see either of them troubling Collingwood.
West Coast should beat Carlton, and if Cox is fit I think they may even worry Geelong, they were very impressive on Saturday.
September 12th 2011 @ 11:02am
Matt F said | September 12th 2011 @ 11:02am | Report comment
I think we’re playing off for the right to lose to Collingwood to be honest.
Our forward line at the moment has White, Spangher, Goodes, and Reid with Mumford joining in occasionally. Whilst Goodes is the only real matchwinner up forward at the moment (Reid isn’t there yet) it’s a very tall forward line. It might be a better option for you guys to keep Schoenmakers (despite his poor match) and bring in Stratton as well. I think Gibson could be a good match up for Goodes. I can’t see Buddy playing. Even if he does he surely won’t be anymore then 20% fit (though for him that might actually be enough!)
There’s supposed to be a suspension issue hanging over Mumford. I haven’t seen any replays of it, can’t remember it live and don’t remember the commentators mentioning it during the game but he does have 90 carry over points so he could be a big loss for us.
I’ve heard that Riolis’ been carrying an injury? Not sure if it’s true but it would explain his performance on Friday
September 12th 2011 @ 11:44am
Brian said | September 12th 2011 @ 11:44am | Report comment
If he is I really struggle to see goals, Since the finals changed in 2000 20/22 semi-finals have gone the way of the 1st week losing team, other than that I am not sure why we would win.
The two that have not by the way are Hawthorn beating Port Adelaide by 3 points in 2001 and Collingwood beating West Coast in extra time in 2007. So in 11 years and 22 games never has the winning team from week one won by more than 3 points. But yeah am not sure how many top 4 teams have been as injury plagued as we are this week.
I think Lewis will get Goodes, any defender like Gibson will get killed around the ground. After Lewis they might try Burgoyne. Whether Mummy gets suspended or not will be huge in determining the winner. The only convincing game I can recall in the last 3 years without Franklin was against Essendon this year when they failed to dominate the ruck – like so many generally do against us.
September 12th 2011 @ 12:44pm
Matt F said | September 12th 2011 @ 12:44pm | Report comment
I can’t confirm the Rioli injury theory. It’s just something I’ve been told. Though Hodge is also supposed to be carrying an injury as well and he’s still playing well so it could have just been an off night.
That’s the problem (or beauty from a Swans fan POV) about Goodes. Gibson will be able to contain him when he’s up forward but will get killed around the ground while Lewis/Burgoyne will struggle against him up forward. I suggestedd Gibson because, from memory, he played a little bit in midfield for the Roos when he was there so he might not be too bad around the ground (though I could be completely wrong there.) Though given the tall tall options in our forward line it would leave your defence very undersized if Goodes took him around the ground.
Lewis might also get suspended. Like Mumford, the incident itself is very minor, if anything at all, but carry-over points are an issue. To be honest it would be wrong for either to be suspended for those “incidents.” Seaby/Pyke will replace Mumford if he’s suspended. Seaby’s career has almost been ruined by the sub rule and I’d be stunned if he didn’t seek a trade in the off-season. A club like Richmond should look at him in the off-season.
September 12th 2011 @ 4:47pm
Matt F said | September 12th 2011 @ 4:47pm | Report comment
Lewis and Mumford have both been cleared of any charge. Big boosts to both sides.
September 12th 2011 @ 10:29am
Macca said | September 12th 2011 @ 10:29am | Report comment
I don’t think the Swans will worry the hawks too much (even without buddy) but the Blues Eagels game should be a cracker, the blues like the open spaces of Subi much more than Etihad and with Henderson and Jamison now playing down back they look much better placed to handle west Caosts tall forwards. Could all come down to who out of Cox, Gibbs and Laidler play.
September 12th 2011 @ 11:18am
Football Fan said | September 12th 2011 @ 11:18am | Report comment
Blues v Eagles will be a belter, hopefully the Blues can get past the crowd, it’s going to be a cauldron! The Blues are great to watch when they get going and they match up quite well on Geelong, should they get past this week…
September 12th 2011 @ 11:22am
Macca said | September 12th 2011 @ 11:22am | Report comment
It’s a big if but you are right, although coming back from Perth compared to a week off could make a huge difference there.
September 12th 2011 @ 11:23am
Football Fan said | September 12th 2011 @ 11:23am | Report comment
Shades of 2007 and Collingwood here! remember the extra time game? Then they were inches from beating the cats…
September 12th 2011 @ 10:32am
Nathan of Perth said | September 12th 2011 @ 10:32am | Report comment
I hate to say it, but none of Carlton’s four interstate trips were against particularly imposing foes. An away game to Subiaco against the team that has already thumped them in Melbourne would not be a confidence-inspirer for Carlton.
West Coast would have put a cold shiver up Collingwood’s spine at a couple points in that game, but their team played like champions. Hats off to Harry O’Brien, the man was absolutely immense in defence.
September 12th 2011 @ 10:40am
Macca said | September 12th 2011 @ 10:40am | Report comment
Agree to a large extent about the quality of the blues interstate foes (Sydney in the wet excepted) but the blues have a much better record at Subi than they do at Etihad. I am not saying they are certainty’s by ant stretch but I think it should be a cracker.
I also think the Pies are only just going, Dawes, Brown and Jolly are all struggling.
September 12th 2011 @ 12:10pm
Nathan of Perth said | September 12th 2011 @ 12:10pm | Report comment
People have been making a lot of Blues record at Subi vice Etihad, but I’m very skeptical. A lot of those recent results have been coming on the back of a shattered Eagles midfield, further riven by retirements and having to play a horde of youngsters, with Judd’s intimate knowledge of the opposition.
Remember, Carlton may play Subi better than they do Etihad, but Eagles play Subiaco FAR better than they do Melbourne. Would have been interesting to see that QF against Collingwood played at Subi instead
September 12th 2011 @ 1:09pm
Macca said | September 12th 2011 @ 1:09pm | Report comment
“but Eagles play Subiaco FAR better than they do Melbourne” Very True Nathan. I really think it will be a cracker game, both teams liking the open spaces with potent forward lines.
Reb – As a blues supporter I would say it is far from a forgone conclusion. Didn’t hear a “we are Essendon” chant on the Tele, maybe the effects mike couldn’t pick it up, or maybe the 3 Essendon fans left by three quarter time just weren’t loud enough!!
September 12th 2011 @ 11:56am
Redb said | September 12th 2011 @ 11:56am | Report comment
I was in the MCC yesterday and the Carlton spuds were calling out look out Geelong! apparently beating West Coast this week is a foregone conclusion.
September 12th 2011 @ 1:56pm
Nathan of Perth said | September 12th 2011 @ 1:56pm | Report comment
They’re nuts; mark it in, this coming weekend is going to be war in the west. Tackle count was 73 to 100 in the Coll v WC game. Both teams are up and hungry, this will be a cracker.
September 12th 2011 @ 2:02pm
Macca said | September 12th 2011 @ 2:02pm | Report comment
Did West Coast’s massive intensity take too much out of it compared with the blues having the game won by half time?
September 12th 2011 @ 2:35pm
Nathan of Perth said | September 12th 2011 @ 2:35pm | Report comment
Or did Carlton’s loss to St Kilda followed by an easy romp against Essendon leave them underdone for Finals intensity football?
September 12th 2011 @ 2:27pm
Redb said | September 12th 2011 @ 2:27pm | Report comment
I thought West Coast were unlucky with Cox going down, they were on top in the middle. A great game full of finals intensity.
September 12th 2011 @ 3:25pm
Macca said | September 12th 2011 @ 3:25pm | Report comment
I agree there, plus Kennedy seemed to have one of those days where he almost took a number of marks but just didn’t quite do enough, the experience will be good for some of there young blokes but it will also take a lot out of them.
Anyone know what Dane Swan’s efficiency was, seemed to get a lot of rushed kicks and hanballs to no one.
September 12th 2011 @ 3:59pm
Michael Filosi said | September 12th 2011 @ 3:59pm | Report comment
Buddy is the bigger name player, but if Cox doesn’t play this weekend, he will be just as big a loss for the Eagles as Buddy is for the Hawks. After the Eagles played out of their skins against the Pies, do they have another big effort left in them this weekend? I sure hope so.
As for Carlton fans saying post-match “Bring on the Cats,” I think that their first finals win in a decade might be getting to their heads a bit. Got to keep the faith though I guess.
September 12th 2011 @ 4:39pm
Brian said | September 12th 2011 @ 4:39pm | Report comment
That ain’t so Buddy loss is particularly painful cause Roughead injured, they would be similar if Naitinui was out as well as Cox
September 12th 2011 @ 4:36pm
seanoroo said | September 12th 2011 @ 4:36pm | Report comment
I just want to give a quick wrap to Goodsey, arguably the most influential player in the comp over the last couple of months and about to play his 300th (looks as fit as a 22 year old).
Go the Bloods, just stoked to see em play one more week.
September 12th 2011 @ 5:51pm
Michael Filosi said | September 12th 2011 @ 5:51pm | Report comment
Good point Seanoroo, Adam Goodes is an unebelievable player. One of his teammates was interviewed on radio yesterday (can’t remember who it was) and said that Goodes may play 400 AFL games.
In any event, fantastic player. I wrote another Roar article last year on why I feel he’s the most complete player in the game. Check it out at…
http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/07/30/who-is-the-most-complete-player-in-the-afl/
September 12th 2011 @ 4:42pm
The Cattery said | September 12th 2011 @ 4:42pm | Report comment
I’m hoping for a couple of good semis, but when it’s all said and done, it will be the woods playing the Cats in the grand final, and appropriately so.