After a weekend of footy as exhilarating as you could wish for, the finals continue this weekend with two delicately poised semis. Both contests pit perennial powerhouses against honourable underdogs. Both continue the typical September narrative where we question the top four loser and rally behind the outsiders. We should be in for another belting weekend.
Hawthorn vs Western Bulldogs
Banners, Bob, Bevo and The Bont. Daniel’s cap, Libba’s guts, Stringer’s swagger, and Picken’s, well, everything. A working class club succeeding with blue collar football; how could you not love the Western Bulldogs?
Until last Thursday, the only voices in support of the Bulldogs’ flag chances were one-eyed fantasists. An elimination final in Perth with a battered squad would be a grounding for campaigns to come, we thought, not a genuine opportunity to earn a semi-final back in Victoria.
Like on so many occasions over the past two seasons, the Dogs defied the odds. Not by accident either. They dismantled the Eagles with an aggression and precision that will have given Hawthorn’s brains trust sleepless nights.
Lin Jong’s tearful departure from Domain Stadium was the only downside to an otherwise flawless night’s work, but Luke Beveridge and crew will be familiar with the scenario. No finalist has lost players for more games this season. If the Dogs get sick of Sons of the West as a team song, they could always adopt Chumbawumba’s Tubthumping. No matter how many times they get knocked down, they keep getting back up again.
Despite coming a cropper on Friday night there wasn’t a lot to dislike about Hawthorn’s game. Their ball movement in the back half was typically clean and they varied their attacks to reasonable success. The lack of a tall target to straighten them up and bring the slower forward entries to ground should be resolved by the replacement of Ryan Burton with James Sicily.
One area that has been an issue all season for the Hawks is contested ball, and again they conceded ground to the Cats. It’s become the defining strategic debate of the year and a yardstick for how we interpret the game as onlookers and analysts. However, it seems only recently the conversation has actually moved to understanding the discrepancy from Hawthorn’s perspective. Which has suited them perfectly.
Going by history, this game is the higher ranked side’s to lose (didn’t we say that a few times last week?) with Hawthorn winning their last eight against the Dogs. Moreover, only five times in the sixteen years of the current finals system has a team gone out in straight sets.
So who will win? Hawthorn, by no more than a goal.
Talking Point: I’ve disagreed with the prevailing opinion following Tom Boyd and the Bulldogs since his trade from GWS. Apart from being preposterously early in a career to judge a kid who only turned 21 in August, the financial argument is a furphy. The salary cap has to be spent (and will doubtless balloon following the imminent CBA). At the time of the trade the Bulldogs needed a circuit breaker as much as a young key forward, meaning his signature was always going to be measured in more than contested marks and goals.
In recent matches his quality has begun to shine through, and last week, in just his 35th game of league football, he excelled. He threw his weight around, ran his lungs sore, and laid five tackles, showing a glimpse of the near mythical ruck-forward hybrid clubs are striving to develop. Another strong showing against the Hawks and he might not need to be encouraged to sacrifice his wages for a while.
Sydney vs Adelaide
If Hawthorn can console themselves they were just a few feet away from a week off, Sydney have no such luxury. The Swans were beaten up by their nearest neighbours, and in a brutal second half show of force by the Giants had their noses rubbed in the dirt. To make matters worse, lynchpins Kurt Tippett and Callum Mills both suffered injuries that will rule them out of the semi final.
John Longmire also has some tactical issues to worry about. Dane Rampe was an All-Australian lock but last Saturday he was schooled by Jeremy Cameron. With Adelaide’s array of forward options, Rampe can’t afford another off day. There are issues to rectify at the other end too. Lance Franklin played so high up the ground against the Giants he was unable to cause much damage inside 50, leaving the Swans short of attacking options. Sydney’s score of 55 was their lowest of the season, and by some margin.
Like the Bulldogs, Adelaide have nothing to lose. Their style of play endears them to neutrals and they boast the most balanced, exciting forward line in the competition. It’s a treat to see them so deep into the season if for no other reason that to enjoy Eddie Betts on at least more occasion.
It shouldn’t be forgotten how many obstacles Adelaide have had to overcome to reach this point. Last year’s unimaginable tragedy with Phil Walsh was unprecedented. The departures in recent years of now opposing finalists Patrick Dangerfield, Kurt TIppett, Jack Gunston and Phil Davis provides the spine of an imposing team. Only one regular starter (Scott Thompson) is over 30, and only nine of the best 22 have featured in more than 100 games.
As with last week’s final in New South Wales (and next week’s preliminary final at Spotless Stadium) the choice of venue is significant. The Crows have only played at the SCG twice since 2008, most recently in round 18 last year, when they were thumped by 52 points. The playing surface is 12 metres shorter and 13 metres wider than the Adelaide Oval, which will require some getting used to by the visitors.
Of their six away matches this year against finalists, Adelaide won only once, to West Coast. Sydney have lost only two of their last 15 at the SCG, both by under a goal. If the real Sydney show up, home comforts should see them through to the prelim, but they’ll need to apply far more defensive pressure than they showed against the Giants to withstand such potent opposition.
Talking Point: Will the Crows tag Daniel Hannebery? The Swan racked up 38 disposals against them in round four and there have been suggestions during the week that Don Pyke is ready to adopt an approach not seen under his stewardship so far, or that of Phil Walsh before him.
Photograph of the week
Neck bulging, mouth foaming, straining at the leash like Cerberus guarding the gates of the underworld, Steve Johnson performed his role as GWS attack dog to perfection last Saturday. It was the most striking component of a terrifying message the Giants sent to the rest of the competition.
Quote of the week
Today we were advised from the Hawthorn Football Club and Jaeger’s management that the Hawks are Jaeger’s club of choice.
Gold Coast football manager Marcus Ashcroft delivered the news that Jaeger O’Meara is destined for Hawthorn in the trade period. A deal suitable for the Suns still has to be made but it’s another significant win for the Hawks and their peerless recruiting strategy. Perhaps not the greatest news for fans of equalisation though.
Bits and Bobs
Awards season is underway with Patrick Dangerfield claiming the AFLPA MVP gong by a preposterous margin. With a home preliminary final next week and a stack of other honours surely heading his way, September could turn into a lap of honour for the Geelong star.
The AFL’s new radio broadcast rights deal has been announced, and it’s a significant win for Craig Hutchison’s Crocmedia. The six-year deal will see the provider of the official AFL call now effectively manage radio broadcast arrangements for the competition. It won’t make a great deal of difference to listeners, with the usual suspects all receiving their expected allocations of games, but there will be increased choice across platforms and greater reach in regional and non-traditional football areas.
The 17 active players suspended for breaching the AFL’s anti-doping code in 2012 returned to their clubs this week. There remains one outstanding appeal with the Swiss Federal Supreme Court, but the findings of that should be known in a matter of weeks. The end of this interminable saga may finally be in sight.
