AFL Finals Week 2

Results from Week 1

It was the week "the west was won", with both West Coast and Fremantle moving directly to the Preliminary finals to be played in Perth. West Coast have certainly firmed to now be the new Premiership favourites, and rightly so after defeating a very tired looking Hawthorn. Right from the opening siren the Eagles dominated. As discussed in my previous blog "Who should Hawthorn choose to play in Perth? Fremantle or West Coast?", I think Hawthorn made a strategically poor decision by not resting their players in the final week and finishing fourth, thereby playing Fremantle instead of West Coast. I think the Hawks would have had a much better chance against Fremantle whilst resting key players. I was also surprised by two other selection decisions. Why Jonathan Ceglar did not play and why they did not rest Isaac Smith. Not that either decision would have made a huge difference.

I believe. resting the Fremantle players made a difference to the win. Sydney competed admirably given the depleted side without Jack, Parker and of course Buddy. This game proved two things to me. That neither of these two teams will win and likely not even make the Grand Final. The forward line of each team did not look like they could kick a winning score. Sydney needed Buddy and Fremantle needed to rely on the likes of their small forwards - Ballantyne and Walters.

In the Elimination finals both Adedaide and North Melbourne were successful although not convincingly. The Bulldogs kept Adelaide in the game by their inaccuracy. In the end it was their leadership led by "Tex" (Taylor) Walker and Dangerfield's experience and composure that won the game. Not to mention the brilliance of man of the match, Eddy Betts who kept them in the game all day. It seemed that Eddy was given FAR too much room to move in the forward line.

Similarly in North Melbourne's win it was the more experience players like "Boomer", Waite and Swallow with assistance from Cunnington and Jacobs that got them over the line. Jacobs did a wonderful job curbing Trent Cotchin's influence throughout the game. I thought Richmond would get the job done but North Melbourne did their homework better and rested the players which i believe made a difference.

1st Semi Final

Hawthorn should go into the first Semi Final as favourites. The key to winning this match for Hawthorn is to curb Patrick Dangerfield and Eddy Betts.  Liam Shields or Will Langford will get the job of "Danger" and Taylor Duryea or Ben Stratton will get Eddy Betts. The question for Hawthorn is who will they bring in to replace Jack Gunston? James Scicily or they will go to swingmen, Ryan Shoenmakes or Matt Spangher. I think Hawthoun should win this match comfortably by 20 points given they rarely lose two games in a row and they are after all the most experienced finals team.

2nd Semi Final

After beating Richmond in the elimination final, the Kangaroos should win this games from a depleted  Swans outfit. This will be a very different result to last year's preliminary final where North Melbourne defeated Swans. After last years loss, North Melbourne should be hungry to win against the team that knocked them out in last year's preliminary final. North Melbourne by 25 points. The only way Sydney can defeat North Melbourne is with Buddy firing to go. If Buddy is back I think the Swans can get up in a thriller....by 1 point.