The first week of AFL finals is done, our attention now turns to the semi-finals. Who will win in the second week of AFL finals, and make their way through to next week’s preliminary finals?
MORE AFL FINALS:
>> HAWKS V CROWS PREVIEW & PREDICTION
>> SWANS V NORTH PREVIEW & PREDICTION
>> FINALS FORECAST: HAWKS V CROWS
>> THE X-FACTOR FINALS PLAYERS
>> AN ALL WA GRAND FINAL?
>> EXPERT TIPS
>> HOW TO WATCH THE SEMI-FINALS
Historically these matches are almost always won by the home sides, those who finished top four but lost the qualifying final the week before.
However, last year, both semi-finals were upsets as Port Adelaide (fifth) and North Melbourne (sixth) made it through to the final four.
With elimination final winners Adelaide and North Melbourne both playing great footy in the first week, and some cracks starting to appear for Hawthorn and Sydney, anything could happen.
Second semi-final
Hawthorn Hawks versus Adelaide Crows
Melbourne Cricket Ground
7:50pm Friday, September 18
Betting: Hawthorn $1.33, Adelaide $3.40
Don’t get confused – it may be called the second semi, but this is the one that’s happening first, at the MCG on Friday night.
If you were to look at this match-up based solely on last week’s form you’d be very keen on the Crows. While they only bested the Western Bulldogs by seven points, they were at their high-scoring best kicking 16.13.109 for the evening.
The Crows tick a lot of boxes for a team looking to progress far in finals. They have previous finals experience, they have a mature, talented midfield, they have a gun ruckman, and they have a lot of forward line options available.
The biggest flaw in their team is their lack of experienced defenders. Daniel Talia and Rory Laird are A-grade stoppers but the quality drops off fairly quickly after that.
The big news coming through this week is that Jack Gunston will not play, leaving Hawthorn with really only Jarryd Roughead left as a reliable tall forward, and Talia should be able to stop him.
However, the Crows will find it difficult to contain all of the Hawks’ smaller options, like Cyril Rioli, Luke Breust and Paul Puopolo.
The Hawks were quite simply rubbish last week but they are the kind of team who will kick themselves back into top gear following a loss like that – you wouldn’t bank on them being that bad two weeks in a row.
Despite a few injury concerns, they’ve got talent all over the ground, and as long as they’re able to win in the midfield or at least break even, they should get over the line and go through to next week’s preliminary finals.
Prediction: Hawthorn by 24.
First semi-final
Sydney Swans versus North Melbourne Kangaroos
ANZ Stadium
7:20pm Saturday, September 19
Betting: Sydney $1.57, North Melbourne $2.45
Both these teams probably put in better performances than was widely expected in the first week of finals. The Swans fought like mad in their qualifying final against the Dockers but ultimately fell nine points short, while North had a dominant second half to knock Richmond out in an elimination final.
The trouble for the Swans is that they have mounting injury concerns. Lance Franklin and Sam Reid have been ruled out for the year which leaves Kurt Tippett as a virtual lone hand in their forward line, with a little support coming from Adam Goodes and 16-gamer Dean Towers.
On top of that Kieren Jack and Luke Parker are both expected to miss out again this week and Nick Smith is in the maybe pile with a hamstring injury.
North, on the other hand, enters this match with virtually a clean bill of health regarding their best 22. Daniel Wells is still on the sidelines but aside from that they have access to essentially their best team right now.
Last year North were blown away at this ground by the Swans in a preliminary final but it’s worth nothing that most of the damage was done on that occasion by Franklin and Tippett, as well as some smooth moves from Nick Malceski across half back.
With Franklin and Malceski not there and Tippett more easily contained by himself, the Kangaroos will be giving themselves a big chance.
The Swans will be looking at their midfielders to get them across the line. Josh P Kennedy was massive in last week’s loss and Dan Hannebery has had a brilliant season too. If they both fire then the Swans will be hard to beat regardless of other concerns.
That said, North tagger Ben Jacobs kept Trent Cotchin to just nine disposals last week and if he can do a similar job on Kennedy or Hannebery it’ll go a long way to getting North the win.
Prediction: North Melbourne by six.
Don Freo
Guest
Adelaide played worse than Carlton...and Jenkins still kicked 4 on Lake.
Malahka
Guest
One prediction down one to go...
Don Freo
Guest
Nah...at this time of the year anyone can win any games. There are just some teams that are more pleasant than others. They are just not nice people at Hawthorn.
Malahka
Guest
Putting it out there; Hawks 40+ Sydney by 19 Soon see....
Mark
Guest
Do you deny picking up Sylvia, Gumbleton and Dawson? All A-grade duds.
Mark
Guest
Got him! You're too much fun Donny.
Don Freo
Guest
You'd be the only person in Oz who's "not sure".
Balthazar
Guest
Rhys Palmer has had a good year. Mind you, he's never quite been the same since his ACL. Dylan Roberton is a handy defender, too, and he was not a top pick in the first place. Michie left because he wasn't getting much game time, so was unlikely to suddenly become a star. Freo did good work with Tarrant. What it shows, though, is that good players from Freo simply don't leave. I have heard the Hawks have had a crack at Mundy a couple of times, and Hill. Pav and Fyfe at different times could have walked into any team. Port tried to get Neale and Walters. I think we'll find how good Ross is with young players next year, when all of this year's bunch start getting more games. For now, very pleased with how he's coached Walters, Neale, A Pearce and with Sheridan's development. Crozier and Clarke still have a way to go.
Brian
Guest
So in other words there are no Freo trained players who are any good at other clubs as oppossed to McPharlin, Franklin, Kennedy, McGlynn, Ellis, Savage, Hallahan who all learnt to play at Hawthorn. Ross Lyon has shown scant ability to train young players. He left St Kilda 4 years ago and they are still rebuilding New Orleans down there. Clarko has won 3 flags and managed to develop players.
johno
Guest
** Except D Pearce of course
Mango Jack
Guest
Really, Don? Nothing to do with the relief of having to face Adelaide? If Hawthorn win tomorrow night we will feel the trembling of Freo fans all the way across the Nuallabor.
Michael Huston
Guest
Not really sure what Don means by purchased teams... Maybe he means our purchases like Tippett, Franklin, Kennedy, Richards, Shaw etc aren't good purchases. As opposed to Colin Sylvia, Zac Dawson and Scott Gumbleton.. If there's one good thing that came from Kieren Jack's absence, it's that maybe more people realized how important he is to our team. In a side that loves to mess around handballing and going backwards, the fact that Jack can drill the ball forward with pace and aggression is like a saviour. I hope he returns this week by surprise, but only if he's above 95% fit to do so.
Wilson
Roar Guru
I think Demons has become more Compelling then Blues
Si Chewy
Guest
So, nothing then. The prosecution rests
Don Freo
Guest
Pearce, Taberner, Apeness, Smith, Vandeleur, Clarke, Griffin, Moller...
Roger of Sydney
Guest
She is Crow supporter and not a free agent, but if the ball comes in uncontested any AFL player can kick some goals. Contested a different story.
Don Freo
Guest
????
Si Chewy
Guest
Oh I have been concentrating. You just completely disregard anything that anyone else has to say. There's plenty of youth. Who are the key position replacements for Sandi, Pav, McPharlin in the reserves for Freo?
spruiker
Guest
Hey don to add to your wise words of wisdom I hear someone at hawthorn killed bam I too, probably Mitch!
Don Freo
Guest
This is the argument; "Where is the youth to replace Lake and Frawley who are just not good enough at AFL level any more? When Gunston goes down, where is the Box Hill youngster?" You then jumped in on a post...not the whole thread. Concentrate Chewy!