Finals Week 2 AFL Preview - Semi-Finals
Last Week 2/4 Season Total 129/211
It was a first week of finals footy that really illustrated why a pre-finals bye is just not compatible with the competition. Three really ordinary games which were over mostly before quarter time. At least there was one cracker in there! For a season that was so close all year, it was a real let down. Even if some unexpected teams got up. Trade chatter continues for the supporters of the other 12 teams highlighted by a Mac Andrew signing which came with a price that allows plenty of Gold Coast Night Club money. Actually $12M isn’t that much these days. After buying a couple of rounds at the pub you’d be skint. Stringer has been strung out. Petracca said, “nah, actually we all love each other here at Melbourne” and nefarious people at clubs do nefarious deals to secure nefarious things (I’m talking about list managers).
Port Adelaide vs Hawthorn Adelaide Oval Friday Night
I just can’t do it anymore. I reckon I’ve been tipping Hawthorn to lose every week since they started winning. I spoke last week about the pressure they’d bring and that it wouldn’t be enough given the pressure that Footscray would bring. Then Footscray turn up like a vacuum (an absence of pressure) and just roll over for Hawthorn. Are they just lucky? Meanwhile, Port had a stinker against Geelong. The old dogs gave them a fair mauling and it has been a week of wound licking for them. I’m not sure if the crowd started booing Hinkley, but that is usually the kind of inspiration required to get them going again. Butters is on one leg and that’s a real bummer for a cut-throat final. Revenge might be on the mind of Hawthorn after that time when they let Port kick two goals in 5 seconds to win the match earlier this year. All I know is that a straight sets exit for Port Adelaide will cause much consternation amongst the home crowd. If attending, I wouldn’t park your car anywhere close to where fans may spill out and if they do lose, avoid flying to South Australia for a couple of weeks. Ginnivan has already proclaimed they’ll be playing Sydney and as he behaves a bit like Kwisatz Haderach, one cannot go against his word. Hawthorn by 9 points.
GWS vs Brisbane Showgrounds Saturday
Night
It was a free hit for Brisbane last week,
getting to play a team that probably only marginally had the right to be there
and also limped in like a lame horse.
But to Brisbane’s credit they were the perfect shotgun to remedy that
issue. GWS had the game all wrapped up
before Sydney started that characteristic, “we have nothing to lose” surge
football which is all or nothing and high risk.
It left GWS ruing some earlier misses that really could have put the
game to bed. Luckily, no matter how much
further Brisbane go, they won’t be playing at The Gabba again which means their
goals will generally be met with silence rather than Frozen ballads and John
Denver ditty’s. I said it last week and
I’ll say it again, GWS is my pick, and I’ll stick with that. Next time they meet Sydney it will be at the
MCG away from the second biggest Home Ground advantage in the league and in
front of a crowd of almost no Sydney supporters (or GWS supporters for that
matter [and some may argue no footy supporters at all – it’s all
corporates]). GWS are a tough team to
beat and as well tuned as Brisbane are, I’ don’t think they are at that level
this year. GWS by 16 points.
They have been licking their wounds for the past week after being fairly mauled by the elderly dogs. I don't know if the audience began jeering Hinkley, but that's typically the kind of motivation needed to get them moving again from concrete path!
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