18 clubs started this AFL season, last week we had our top eight (nine?) to make the finals and now we’re down to six. Having assessed the chances of Sydney, Port Adelaide and Geelong in part 1, today we’ll look at the remaining contenders.
Carlton
Carlton coming ninth this season isn’t the position Mick Malthouse would have been happy with until the Essendon drug scandal cancelled out the Bombers for 2013.
But they’re in the finals series and so far Carlton don’t look out of place, with Chris Judd and Marc Murphy looking good coming into this week’s game against the Swans.
Key match-ups for the Swans and Blues game:
• Lachie Henderson and Kurt Tippet: Henderson has claimed to be one of the best swingmen and Tippet being one of the most dangerous forwards AFL has to offer.
Henderson will have to lift his game to control the way the blues run off of the backline. Tippet will have to kick straight for the Swans to pull away for victory.
• Jarrad McVeigh and Kade Simpson: Simpson is one of Carlton’s hard nuts and will do anything for his side, always read to put his body on the line even against bigger opponents.
McVeigh has had a stand-out season and would have to be up there for the Swans best and fairest, his leadership across the ground is crucial to the team.
Fremantle
Fremantle have been the underdogs of 2013, flying under the radar of most people who follow the AFL.
Their backline has to be one of the best in the league and their midfield is close to perfect, the only weak spot is that they haven’t had a good run with the top four sides.
Fremantle can stop any team – their run through the centre of the ground is quick and they rarely turn it over, this run can burn teams that aren’t fit enough to keep up.
Furthermore, Fremantle’s defence is strong and they have the best record for being scored against in the league, with only 1518 points scored.
Michael Johnson has had a great year and, with the return of Luke McPharlin, he should be in the running for an All-Australian spot.
Hawthorn
Hawthorn is easily the best all-round team in the competition; from full back to full forward the team looks complete.
The backline is unstoppable with Josh Gibson, Brian Lake and Ben Stratton all combining to be an unstoppable force.
In the middle, Luke Hodge, Samuel Mitchell, David Hale and Shaun Burgoyne are clearance kings and love a little push and shove.
The forward line is the best in the league with Jarryd Roughead, Luke Breust, Jack Gunston and Lance Franklin kicks goals from all directions.
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