Following Port Adelaide’s 22-point win over Fremantle – and the thriller between North Melbourne and Geelong which ended with North winning by six points – history was made.
It marks the first time that two top-four teams were eliminated in straight sets.
Clearly North Melbourne were better than Geelong. They smashed them in all statistics. Geelong’s first five minutes were not what Geelong is.
North scored 24 points in four minutes of play and by the end of the quarter they had scored 7.1 (43).
Against Fremantle, Port Adelaide made a major comeback early in the third to eventually win by 22 points. They just kicked away in the fourth.
So, why did Geelong lose? Mainly their awful defence in the first quarter and North’s second quarter. Geelong not taking major chances in the third and fourth quarters didn’t help.
Fremantle’s loss was partly caused by a complete and utter collapse in the third and fourth quarters and them not defending in the last ten minutes.
Now my predictions for next week.
Sydney versus North Melbourne (Friday, 7:45 PM, ANZ Stadium)
North, in their only meeting against Sydney this year, beat the Swannies. While I believe some Kangaroos will have the power to overcome the Swans, they will need to work together.
Prediction: North by 10 points
Hawthorn versus Port Adelaide (Saturday, 4:45 PM, MCG)
Port Adelaide won the only meeting against Hawthorn, but that was at Adelaide Oval. I don’t believe that Port Adelaide can defeat Hawthorn. I do not believe the players they have can defeat Hawthorn.
Prediction: Hawthorn by 21 points
Even if Port and North lose, they should be congratulated for making it this far. Coming from fifth (Port) and sixth (North) to the preliminary final is very hard. Including this weekend, it has only happened 4 out of 30 possible times.
Congratulations to my favourite team North and the other team I like, the Power. Good luck to both of them.
Aransan
Guest
Mango, and there is your opportunity at the odds. Better still take a tri-bet with a non-Port bookmaker as I don't believe the game will even be close.
Mango Jack
Guest
Wishing and expecting are different things, aransan! I'm sure there are bookmakers in Port Adelaide who dearly want their home team to win, but none of them would be offering them shorter odds.
Mango Jack
Guest
But this was different. Recently, the Cats have started strongly, then faded. On Friday, they were stunned by North's start, but fought back well and finished the game strongly. If there had been another minute or 2 of play, they very likely would have won.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Enright I think will be fine for another season and they definitely don't want to lose both him and Mackey at the same time. 6 x All Australian Enright is off the top of my head, so he wont be someone they can replace easily Also I have a feeling Scott wants to persist with Taylor in the forward line or perhaps use a bit of Clarko's latest game plan of chaos theory and throw him around like an alternating swing man. They are going to need to find not one, but two good defenders in the next 1-2 years.
Axle an the guru
Guest
Enright looks as though he has lost a yard of pace to me also Rick.
joe b
Guest
Yeah, disappointed with Freo losing as well. I thought we might still be able to win at home, despite the injuries, but did think a win over Hawthorn next weekend would be out of reach. All the best to the remaining teams, from a neutral's perspective the prelims will still be pretty exciting given the efforts of Port and North... I am not confident of predicting the GF teams just yet.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Yeah Mackey is in decline. I'm not entirely sure it's his decision making that is the issue or his skill level is on the decline. The amount of times he turns the ball over in the corridor is astounding. I don't think we will see him for much longer.
Elizabeth Shepherd
Guest
Although I was bitterly dissapointed that My Dockers did not win good luck to the remaining teams that are left to battle it out . I am still going for Hawthorn and the Swans in the GF .
Aransan
Guest
I expect handy wins to Port and Sydney. Port have a very exciting brand of football and I wish them every success because of that.
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
I tipped the double exit, North within 4 points of the margin and tipped the 22 margin for the Power game. Bit subtle in the assessment that North will win Ty :)
Anthony
Guest
Port to defeat Hawthorn. But I worry about them facing the Swans in the GF........we don't want to see another 2007!
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
I think the one thing that has been left unspoken of geelong is the decline of mackie, he has gone from being one of you real keys, a really smart footballer to really struggling in the finals
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Tipped Port once Ballantyne was out. Despite being a Cats man I had hesitations on their 4 quarter ability, which again showed on the weekend. I don't think the Cats have put four quarters together all year.
Andrew
Guest
Its funny that I actually tipped the double exit from the top four. Freo had injury concerns while port had form. Geelong were lucky to be top four and with stevie j out they were vulnerable against the giant killers in north.