A week on from the tightest opening round of AFL finals in the final-eight era, the semi-finals proved anything but as the wheat was comfortably separated from the chaff.
Richmond and Geelong overcame the hurdles of their week-one losses to cruise through their semi-finals and set up mouth-watering clashes with Port Adelaide and Brisbane.
It is the first time since 2017 that the top four teams on the ladder have made it to the preliminary finals, and each contender has their own compelling narrative.
Richmond are on the verge of a dynasty – eyeing a third flag in four years and their first without the swelling support of a dominant fan base at the MCG.
In the space of three years, Damien Hardwick’s Tigers have gone from well-liked underdogs to villains – a role they’ve not only accepted, but embraced.
Tom Lynch’s five MRO citings have seen him elevated to the AFL’s public enemy No.1, with the Tigers showcasing the Hawthorn-esque “unsociable football” that surely also draws roots from Hardwick’s own uncompromising playing career.
Richmond sorely missed Lynch in their qualifying-final loss to Brisbane but he was at the heart of everything good – bar wayward goal-kicking and an unsavoury misconduct charge – as they dismantled St Kilda by 31 points on Friday night.
They will meet a well-rested Port Adelaide, who after beating Geelong, will again have the advantage of a parochial Adelaide Oval crowd at their backs.
The minor premiers have completed a stunning turnaround less than a year after Ken Hinkley was one failed season away from the chopping block.
The Power accounted for Richmond in August but will be acutely aware a plethora of key Tigers were missing on that day.
A day after Richmond secured their preliminary final berth, Geelong surged back into premiership calculations with a stunning 68-point mauling of a listless Collingwood.
In the process, they extended Gary Ablett’s farewell tour – with the 36-year-old delivering two early goal assists that set the tone for a blistering start that Collingwood never recovered from.
Patrick Dangerfield led the way with four goals in a pack-crashing, explosive performance and will take on his fifth attempt at securing a maiden grand final berth against Brisbane – who the Cats beat at the SCG in July – at the Gabba on Saturday night.
“If (our win) was the impetus (for Brisbane’s improvement), certainly they’ve played good footy in the second half of the year,” Geelong coach Chris Scott said.
“We’ve had some pretty good games against them here too, some tight tussles … we’ve got a healthy respect for their weapons.
“They finished where they did on the ladder and beat the best side of the last three years reasonably comfortably in the end a week ago – so there’s no risk of under-rating them.”
If Brisbane win next Saturday, former Hawk Grant Birchall will have a shot at becoming a five-time premiership player.
He would become the first player to hit the mark since 1991 – when Michael Tuck won his seventh flag and Dermott Brereton, Gary Ayres and Chris Mew earned their fifth.
sven
Roar Rookie
i think the league did a great job in getting a season in, dont know that the afl have the same coin as the NBA etc, reckon they bled a lot of revenue this year, anyway it makes a lot of the interstaters happy that we viccos had the rougher end of the stick re home games/travel etc this year (& there is some validity in their complaints) ... despite some teams always having a better run at it every year, still reckon the best teams find a way to win it
Wenwen
Guest
I can’t stand the Pies but I sympathize with them. It must be incredibly tough to be living in a small hotel room for the best part of 4 months. It is also very unfair that Adelaide and WA teams get home games/finals whereas Vic teams don’t. The entire season should have been played in a hub just like the NBA, Champions League etc.
sven
Roar Rookie
not like the pies had a 4 day turn around though so no excuse but they did look cooked, prob not a totally unexpected outcome between a side that finished 4th & one that just staggered into the 8 at the last moment .... im sure the cats are well aware of it but hardly a great tune up for what u would expect to be a much sterner test v brissy
Empole
Roar Rookie
Personally, I feel as though the Cat's performance flattered them a bit - Collingwood did play poorly, but not only did they win a high-energy game by a point last week, they also had to travel from the west in that timeframe. I think Collingwood would have been absolutely exhausted which probably plays into their abysmal scoreline. Geelong, likewise, played well, but were boosted by the exhausted Collingwood side but I don't think the result would have changed if they were fresh. Either way, Prelims are going to be fun to watch.
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
You’re spot on with those 5, all really important players for us, Burton and Rozee especially, But Ebert and Motlop were our two leading goal kickers in the last game and Marshall can do special things. Can’t wait till Friday mate, I’m nervous already.
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
I kinda feel like it's all dependent on which Geelong side turns up, is it the one that smashed us and Collingwood, or is it the one that limped into finals? If it's the first one then I'm not sure anyone can beat them. But go Brissie!!! My heart wants them to win
sven
Roar Rookie
honest question brendan who was out for port that day ? is roozee, marshall, ebert, burton & motlop correct ? (not putting in westhof as i dont think he’s in your best 22 anymore) think tiges had cotchin, edwards, prestia, astbury maybe houli ? so both teams had good to very good players out, not as up on who’s who at port, but for the tiges the blokes mentioned are very important to us, prob same for port (though i wouldnt put motlop in the same category as the other port blokes, he is a bit hot & cold for me). regardless it has no bearing on the upcoming match, but your boys beat us pretty comfortably on the day, prob didnt put it on the scoreboard until the last qrt. really looking forward to the game, hopefully its a cracker, maybe give the pundits on here some good exciting footy to talk about rather than the cr*ap thats been dominatig lately
Boo
Guest
Well your the first poster that criticised my English Paul D ironic you chose that line of attack to defend your mistake.As I have said there is something fundamentally wrong when 2 gets a lower ranked opponent over 1 when both sides have won.Cheers .
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
So sick of hearing about all the tigers missing that day, Port had five of their top 15 out as well, but this cheap commentary fails to mention that
Paul D
Roar Rookie
I'd find it easier to read your posts if your english wasn't so dreadful. But yes, I did gloss over the 1v5 "etch" bit you were saying. But for the sake of argument, let's say it is 1v5, 2v6, 3v7 and 4v8. Let's say the bottom 4 sides all win. You've then got teams 5 and 6 in the prelim, teams 3 and 4 knocked out - it makes a mockery of the 20 odd weeks prior and reduces it to a week 1 crapshoot. That's why I don't like the idea.
Boo
Guest
Do you read what people right Paul D I didn't advocate 1 v 8 etch I suggested 1 v 5 2 v 6 etch.Yes in the unlikely event that the bottom four in the eight beat the top four 3 and 4 would be eliminated which means only 1 and 2 have a water tight double chance which I like.Your welcome to analyse my posts and respond but I would hope you read them and consider them first.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Nah, crap idea. If 3 of the bottom 4 sides win one of the top 4 gets knocked out. I know it's unlikely but it did used to happen, pretty sure the NRL ran off that system for a while and it did happen a couple of times there. Also the games between 1v8 and 2v7 would be one sided bloodbaths.
Boo
Guest
But you can lose week one so you can't compare the games .Emphatically I'm not suggesting a rematch you harbour that point to suit your view .Week one top four sides should play the other four sides that make the eight.I know it's been done 1 v 8 etch and didn't work but try 1 v 5 2 v 6 etch .The two highest ranked winners go to the prelim and the two lowest ranked sides eliminated.And I reiterate the side that finishes first after home and away doesn't win enough flags under this system .
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Yeah, but Port Adelaide get to play a lesser ranked side week 1. It's 1 v4, 2 v 3 They get the easier game week 1. You didn't even acknowledge that part of it. "Im not suggesting there should be a re match of the first weeks finals " Yes, you are. You're also making an argument that the finals fixture is bad because Richmond happened to finish 3rd. The fixture is totally separate from the identities of the teams each year. That's why it's a silly comment.
Boo
Guest
Didn't you read the opening sentence this system ensures that the top side plays a higher ranked side if results are expected.Im not suggesting there should be a re match of the first weeks finals but even if you think my comment is stupid it may go some way to.explaining why sides that finish on top have a poor rate of winning flags.The fault is in the first week .Ask yourself this assuming they haven't played finals yet do you think Port Adelaide the top team should be playing a side that has won two out of the last three flags or a side that finished below them?
Dave
Roar Rookie
Highly doubt it mate
Dave
Roar Rookie
Hopefully should go missing on Friday night :happy:
Paul D
Roar Rookie
So you're saying Port should have a rematch with Geelong and the Lions have a rematch with the Tigers, because playing 3rd instead of 4th is such a massive step up in difficulty? Gee, that would be a boring series, the same games in week 1 and week 3. Honestly I don't think I've read a more silly comment masquerading as something serious in months.
Boo
Guest
Once again the inherent fault in the final system in on display .1st plays a higher ranked team by ladder positions in the Tigers than 2nd does.I know you can argue that they have played each other but surely the path to the gf should be easier depending on how high a team finishes.
Uosdwis R. Dewoh
Roar Rookie
Westhoff? Not like he'll be playing this week anyway...