2018 AFL grand final preview

To predict the winner you have to establish are Collingwood as good as the form they had against Richmond, i believe the lights were on but no one was home that fateful day. Yet for Collingwood not only were the lights on but every cousin uncle and niece were visiting too everything that could go right did, for Richmond every fumble awkward bounce missed 1%er all happened at once. The Eagles and Melbourne game for the first half looked to be a carbon copy. My praise is to the blatantly one eyed Victorian football propaganda machine that became so embroiled in how good Richmond were and how good Melbourne were and if its shouted loud and long enough Richmond and Melbourne bought it lock stock and barrel. They won't admit it but subconsciously if you hear it enough the seed is planted. Eagles and Collingwood should kiss there lucky stars that vital % of the game that sits between the ears was won for them thanks to the one eyed commentary on Melbourne and Richmond. The two teams Eagles and Collingwood would have had a similar game day approach "ok boys we are up against it the game is theirs to lose today and ours to win, first qtr hit them with everything we've got, back ourselves in and the rest was history now. On paper few would have picked eagles or Collingwood but thanks to the papers heald sun etc Richmond and Melbourne save reading about the game till Monday morning's because the results on Mondays are the only truth you get in the newspaper and that truth was Eagles and Pies for the big dance. Now with two teams left both chock full of highly paid highly skilled supremely fit athletes it will be who has won and who has lost that vital battle between the ears. We are in for another arse whipping for either the pies or eagles or hopefully an spic battle one for the history books a goal kicked after the siren to snatch a closely contested four qtr epic. Who better to take a screamer in the right forward pocket than the ever sparkling Rioli boys. big goal for Willy after the siren to win it for the eagles

I'm shot already Mr Toad. I could already barely watch the Demons Eagles prelim, the week is dragging. Moore was awesome at Pies training today. The rumour going around was Moore in Aish out but I'm sticking with an unchanged side.

Wahoo go eagles

I know what you mean. I watched the 1990 GF against Essendon. With a few minutes to go and up by 8 goals, I was still going its not enough yet. Don't let them back in! I can never let myself believe so I am usually shot to pieces by the time the game comes around.

There are many articles on the GF, there has to be different views/ideas to keep it interesting. Also, i don't think the authors pick the title... which can be misleading.

There's no real form analysis in this article, just a short history lesson on how both clubs got to the big dance and some predictions on the game ahead with no insight to the why.

For mine, Collingwood to win and the Norm Smith to be shared by Stevic and Rosebery.

The final will turn on the first half. The team that jumps out of the stalls and gets early goals on the board will dominate the game. If it is a see-sawing game of nip and tuck it will be anyone's trophy. The crunch time will no doubt be the third quarter or premiership quarter. I am not confident as a die in the wool Maggie. The Eagles are battle-hardened unti and know how to give it their all. I hope it's a good clean contest with no controversy that could deny a worthy team of the silverware. Good luck Maggies...

Walls predicted Melbourne would beat West Coast last weekend and predicted the Eagles would finish last this year before the season even started. On both occasions his predictions were utter drivel, 100% wrong and stupid. Walls hatred for West Coast is embarrassing and he seriously needs to grow up and get a life

Dont think many Eagles, either fans or players, think they have it in the bag and cant lose. I think both thought that in 2015 and still have nightmares about it. Hoping for a tight game ending with an Eagles victory!

Fun article, thanks.

Walls, Sheeds and Sam Newman seriously need to be in a home now. Lock them up and out a nurse on the door.

Meh, underestimate the Eagles at your own peril..they are on a mission, the travel, the MCG, the 100k crowd, the GF showbiz...it all means nothing - they've come to steal your silverware!!

I echo your thoughts Bell. Eagles are a great side, a great club who are poised to sit under only Hawthorn and above Geelong and Brisbane in the AFL era if they win this one (Hawks 5 - Eagles would move to 4). They certainly proved me wrong this year. They also have done this while losing Nic Nat, Gaff and recently Sheppard. The Pies injury concerns are well documented. The Pies cannot afford to risk Moore but a fit, match hardened Darcy Moore might be the one missing piece for the Pies. There will be no change to the Pies unless Howe doesn't come up in which case it's Reid in or Moore with a big roll of the dice. If the Pies somehow replicate that first half form from the Prelim I can't see any side would beat us, but that sort of standard is very hard to capture. Who will jump from the stalls first and gain the critical momentum? The 2018 finals series is one of momentum. Both these sides kicked 10 goals to not much in their first halves and then went into protection mode basically with their opposition last weekend. Grand Finals are hard to come by. The Pies make more grand finals than anyone. Winning them is tough. Who will etch their names in history Saturday? Can the Texan do it again? What about the man mountain that is Josh Kennedy? He is exactly the type of player to kick 8 goals in a grand final. The week is dragging. Let's bring it on.

I definitely think the Pies are a chance. Hometown support will be a factor. Will the town embrace the Pies? Eddy wants the love and lets face it The doggies were the loved ones in 2016 as were Dusty and the Tiges last year. This year that was Melbourne but it wasn't enough. You still need more.

It's a bit of a mystery to me why so many people are backing the Pies. Eagles clearly for mine, by 4+ goals. Collingwood have run into some good form, but the Eagles seem super-focused and have proven their ability to win in different environments against all teams. And can people stop being surprised when Robert Walls says something silly that is ultimately proven to be completely incorrect? I haven't heard the guy say something sensible in at least a decade.

I really missed your game previews when you weren't submitting them midseason, mastermind. You're remarkably thorough with both player and team trends and habits, even to the point of the Olympic year correlations! Thanks for your hard work and well-written features. (And while I don't have a horse in this race, I actually think West Coast wins by a goal or so.)

Shorter break, travel, hotel rather than comfort of own bed, weather, playing at opponents home ground, scars from 2015. Those are nothing but pie in hopes from detractors or excuses by the weak. West coast are primed for this and will bring the cup across the Nullarbor so us elitist, arrogant, one eyed and let's not forget a bit to loud for the more precious or there can celebrate a almighty victory.

I am not feeling the bandwagon love for The Pies that Richmond and Bulldogs received but I'm open to it. The checkout guy at Aldi was for the pies and he spotted me 5 cents change so I'm in the camp. Do the Weagles feel it's a done deal and they can't lose? I think Adelaide had convinced themselves they had it in the bag last year with catastrophic results running into a tiger town.

Well, I certainly hope you're right with your prediction, although I think I've lost the ability to be impartial in my ability to predict an outcome this week! I can mount arguments for why both sides might win, but I'm just going to hope the Pies get over the line against a strong opponent - both sides have overcome a fair bit of adversity to get to this point and a WCE/Pies GF was not an outcome that I recall any pundits predicting... 4 sleeps to go...