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In a controversial week in the AFL regarding the Essendon scandal, the VFL finals has been low on the agenda.
After the commission handed down the punishment to the Bombers, Football Victoria was contacted and was told Essendon VFL was still eligible to play finals, with a total of 31 senior players qualifying for them.
This meant the ninth placed Northern Blues could finish their year as they were still training in the days leading up to the hearing.
With the last round of the VFL home-and-away season completed last week the top eight finished like this:
1. Geelong Cats
2. Box Hill Hawks
3. Williamstown
4. Casey Scorpions
5. Werribee Tigers
6. Collingwood VFL
7. Port Melbourne
8. Essendon VFL
The first game of the VFL finals will see the Geelong Cats host the Casey Scorpions on Friday 30 August at Simonds Stadium at 7pm.
1st Qualifying Final – Geelong Cats versus Casey Scorpions
Geelong Cats
Ladder Position: first
Wins/Losses: 16/2
Times played this season: 2
Win/Loss against Scorpions: 1/1
Casey Scorpions
Ladder Position: fourth
Wins/Losses: 12/6
Times played this season: 2
Win/Loss against Geelong: 1/1
The Geelong Cats are coming off a training drill against Bendigo Gold last week, winning by 201 points in one of the biggest wins in VFL history. They will be fresh and ready to take on the Scorpions, who suffered a heart breaking two point loss to the Box Hill Hawks last week.
Last time Geelong hosted the Scorpions at Simonds in Round 7 they lost by 13 points. In that game the Scorpions’ Jesse Hogan and Jack Fitzpatrick kicked 10 between them but, as Hogan is out for the season and Fitzpatrick most likely not playing, they won’t be a factor in the game.
Last time they met at Casey Fields it was an 11 goal win for the Cats. The big contributors in that game were from Paul Chapman, Jesse Stringer and Shane Kersten (5 goals).
If the Scorpions want to win the game they will have to play well defensively as that is what let the down last time.
The game should be a closely contested one with each team looking to get the win and have an upper edge in the finals. My prediction is that Geelong will be too strong at home and win by 30 points.
Second Qualifying Final – Box Hill Hawks versus Williamstown
Box Hill Hawks
Ladder Position: second
Wins/Losses: 13/5
Times played this season: 1
Win/Loss against Williamstown: 0/1
Williamstown
Ladder Position: third
Wins/Losses: 12/6
Times played this season: 1
Win/Loss against Box Hill: 1/0
The Box Hill Hawks and Williamstown have only met one time this season. The game was in Round 12 at Box Hill City Oval, with Williamstown getting the points and winning by 25 points.
Williamstown had a very strong team that round, with five players who are now consistently playing AFL for the Bulldogs.
The major players in the game for Williamstown were Ben Jolley (39 disposals), Daniel Cross (35 disposals) and Dylan Addison (4 goals). With Cross and Addison most likely playing for the Bulldogs in the AFL, they won’t be a factor for Williamstown.
The only real stand out performance for Box Hill that day was Matt Spangher (four goals). He also kicked two goals last week and had 20 disposals so he could be one to watch on the weekend.
This should be a close qualifying final with no real standout favourite. My prediction is Williamstown as they have beaten Box Hill at home this year. I predict that Williamstown will get the job done by 10 points in a close one.
Third Elimination Final – Collingwood VFL versus Port Melbourne
Collingwood
Ladder Position: sixth
Wins/Losses: 10/8
Times played this season: 1
Win/Loss against Port Melbourne: 1/0
Port Melbourne
Ladder Position: seventh
Wins/Losses: 9/8/1
Times played this season: 1
Win/Loss against Collingwood: 0/1
The Collingwood VFL and Port Melbourne have only met the once this season. They met in Round 12 at Victoria Park in a close game that saw Collingwood win by 11 points but wayward kicking from Port Melbourne (8.16) could have easily turned the game into a win for them.
The standout players for Collingwood that day were Clinton Young (24 disposals), Andrew Oxley (23 disposals) and Andrew Krakouer (22 disposals, one goal). With Oxley and Krakouer both playing major roles in the win last week for Collingwood, they will be happy to take that winning form into the final and hopefully contribute to a win for them.
Port Melbourne also had a few standout players especially up forward in Josh Scipione (3 goals), Chris Cain (29 disposals, two goals) and Dean Galea (2 goals).
If the Port Melbourne forwards can exploit Collingwood’s defence again and have another 24 shots on goal with the majority of them going through they should get the win under a very experienced coach in Gary Ayres.
Port Melbourne will get the win at home and knock Collingwood out of the finals. I predict that Port Melbourne will win by 20 as they have a very strong record at home.
Fourth Elimination Final – Werribee Tigers versus Essendon VFL
Werribee Tigers
Ladder Position: fifth
Wins/Losses: 10/8
Times played this season: 1
Win/Loss against Essendon: 1/0
Essendon VFL
Ladder Position: eighth
Wins/Losses: 9/9
Times played this season: 1
Win/Loss against Werribee: 0/1
The Werribee Tigers and Essendon have only met the once during the season, in Round 12 at Avalon Airport Oval. The Werribee Tigers got the points over Essendon in a comeback victory, which saw them kick seven goals to one in the last quarter and win by 29 points.
Influential players in the game for Werribee were Majak Daw (two goals), Jarrod Moore (two goals, 28 disposals) and Ben Brown (three goals).
If the midfield is firing along with the Tigers forwards they should get the job done over Essendon as Brown and Moore have been in great form over the past few weeks.
Major contributors for Essendon where also the forwards; Joe Daniher (two goals), Scott Gumbleton (two goals) and little crumbing small forward Leroy Jetta (two goals, 24 disposals).
For Essendon to get the points their backline has to stand up and not let the Tigers forwards get any easy ball.
The game should be a shootout with both teams very attacking sides. My prediction is Werribee will get the win by 18 points and extend their finals campaign.
Development squad VFL finals
With the last round of the VFL home-and-away season completed last week for the development squads the top six finished like this
1. Williamstown
2. Box Hill Hawks
3. Casey Scorpions
4. Frankston Dolphins
5. Port Melbourne
6. Northern Blues
With the development league only having a top six, Williamstown and the Box Hill Hawks sit out this week of finals and take on the winners of the two elimination finals next week.
The first game of the development squad is the second elimination final between the Frankston Dolphins and Port Melbourne on Saturday August 31 at North Port Oval at 11:00am. It is the game before the Collingwood versus Port Melbourne senior match.
Frankston Dolphins
Ladder Position: fourth
Wins/Losses: 11/7
Times played this season: 2
Win/Loss against Port Melbourne: 0/2
Port Melbourne
Ladder Position: fifth
Wins/Losses: 11/7
Times played this season: 2
Win/Loss against Frankston: 2/0
Going on the two encounters that these two teams have had this year Port Melbourne should get the win at home and continue their finals series.
The second game of the development squad is the first elimination final between the Casey Scorpions and the Northern Blues on Sunday September 1 at North Port Oval at 11:00am. It is the game before the Werribee Tigers versus Essendon VFL senior match.
Casey Scorpions
Ladder Position: third
Wins/Losses: 11/7
Times played this season:
Win/Loss against Northern Blues: 1/0
Northern Blues
Ladder Position: sixth
Wins/Losses: 11/7
Times played this season: 1
Win/Loss against Casey Scorpions: 0/1
With the two teams only playing once this year it could be a very interesting game, with both teams not knowing much about the other.
Going on form I would say the Casey Scorpions should get the win.
Make sure you get down to the VFL to watch some very good players and teams in what until be a tightly contested finals series over both leagues.
Finals pricing (week one to three)
Adults: $15
Concession: $10
Kids 12 and under: Free
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