After eight teams entered the AFL finals series, Collingwood and Richmond have been eliminated, leaving us with six who will challenge for the flag.
This is part one of a series looking at the likelihood of success of each of the remaining contenders.
Port Adelaide
Port have had a miracle season and showed what their capable last Saturday night against Collingwood in the elimination final.
Port can play finals footy. Yes, they do have the record for the biggest losing margin in a grand final but with the group of lads they have playing for them the only way is up.
Major factors for Port:
• Travis Boak and Brad Ebert to control the Power’s clearances throughout the game against Geelong and any other team it faces in its finals campaign;
• A Port rebound off the back line has been tremendous hitting targets and running in numbers but if put under pressure they can crumble;
• Jay Shultz and Justin Westhoff are firing their kicks on target;
• Hartlett needs to go to the next level for a successful game against Geelong, then the Hawks and the grand final.
Geelong
The Cats have had an above par season and have great young talent that any team would die for.
Their leadership is showing the young lads in the side how to win games and finals, every player has their role and I wouldn’t count them off in any game even if the odds are against them.
Geelong could go all the way this year if injuries don’t cloud them.
There are several players that live for the big moments from Geelong, including Steven Motlop, Jimmy Bartel and Tom Hawkins.
Steven Motlop is a star of the future and is very unpredictable to take his skills even further he needs to be versatile not just a middleman or a forward pocket/flank.
Jimmy Bartel is a star player in the normal season but stands out mostly in the finals.
His skill and power with or without the ball is great. He can go back to control the tempo, go into the middle to get clearances or even go forward and kick crucial goals for the Cats.
Tom Hawkins has had a quite season but when Round 23 is over nothing matters. It’s all about winning for the jersey and for your teammates.
Hawkins can kick the goals that put the team in front; he can take game winning grabs and can also kick five goals a game while dishing them off to teammates. Hawkins will be a huge factor in the Cats’ finals run.
Sydney Swans
The Swans have injury trouble, with players like Rhyce Shaw, Lewis Jetta and Adam Goodes out.
I don’t blame the Swannies for not playing at their full potential nearly all season.
The only thing that worries me dearly about the Swans is that they haven’t won a game against this year’s top four, managing only a draw against Fremantle.
How to beat the Swans
• Shut down Kurt Tippet, Jesse White and Adam Goodes in the forward line. These three players have been the main source of Sydney’s goals, although Goodes has been Injured he was dangerous when lingering in the forward 50.
• Tag Kieran Jack and Daniel Hannebery, who are up there with the elite in the AFL.
• Finish off strong in the last quarter.
Stay tuned for part II, which will discuss the remaining finals contenders.
Sean
Guest
Freo were in the same situation as Sydney in that they hadn't beaten a top four team all year as well. Look how that turned out. I think Freo appear to be a team that has everything falling into place for them. Although they finished third they were without 3 key position that were former All Australians that are now only starting to hit form. Pavlich only played 10 regular season games for the year, Sandilands played 8 and McPharlin played 14 and had been sitting out since round 16 til he played in the Geelong game. If you look back to when they played Geelong and Hawthorn in the regular season none of them played. Pavlich and Sandilands are starting to get some form under their belt while the mid-field has developed a great Chemistry. With the big tall mid-fielders Barlow, Mundy and Fyfe in the engine room and speedy players D.Pearce and Stephen Hill on the wings the mid field is looking pretty strong. Yes the Freo defence is great, but I think their attack is also underrated, Walters and Mayne are both in the AA squad for consideration so must be doing something right, Ballantyne can have a large impact on games, and Pavlich is a great marking target who can win games off his own boot, plus throw in Sandilands and Zac Clarke into the forward line every now and then it starts to look pretty good.
Livvi
Guest
Can we (Sydney) go all the way this year? The injury list from hell, well-sub par showing last week and our inability to defeat a top four team all season would suggest not ................. yet I can't bring myself to stop the dream just yet. Last year, Everyone but the Swans players, supporters and staff said 'no chance' and everyone other than those mentioned were proven dead wrong. OK, this is 2013 and last year is long gone but until the Swans themselves stop believing in dreams, I will keep right on believing with them.