Finals Preview

Melbourne are the Minor Premiers for the first time since 1964, but it’s not over yet. The beginning of the season’s end is upon us. Which team will have what it takes to prove themselves against the best in the competition?

First up, Geelong and Port Adelaide battle it out at Adelaide Oval on Friday night. Both teams took part in highly skillful, nail-biting games that went the full distance in round 23. The difference being, Port clutched the win after trailing almost the entire length of the game, while the Cats watched Max Gawn seal victory for the Demons after the siren. This is a crushing blow to Geelong’s confidence going into the finals however, there was a lot to like about the game from a Cats point of view. The Tom Hawkins-Jeremy Cameron duo put in another great performance kicking 6 goals between them, while Cam Guthrie leads a potent midfield that hopes to gain the likes of Zac Touhy for this weekend. Port’s confidence is at an all-time high after the huge comeback win against the Bulldogs. Ollie Wines and Travis Boak were in a class of their own, racking up 65 disposals and 3 goals between them, while Robbie Gray had 25 disposals and 2 goals. Performances like these will be instrumental, as Geelong’s experience will mean they bounce back hard from a disappointing loss, as Port ride a 6-game winning streak into the weekend.

Next on the agenda, Sydney and GWS play in the first-ever final in Tasmania, at the UTAS Stadium in Launceston. In round 23, the Swans flew past Gold Coast with ease, while GWS had a slow start against Carlton but put in a solid second-half performance to secure their finals spot. These two teams have met twice this year with a win from both sides, Sydney winning the most recent game in round 18. Both these sides are also in great form. GWS have won 4 of their last 5 matches coming into the finals, including a win against Geelong, while Sydney has now won 8 in a row. The two most notable influences to the scoreboard, especially in big-time moments, Toby Greene and Buddy Franklin will battle it out on Saturday. Both will look to their powerful midfielders in Mills, Parker, Taranto and Kelly to get the Sherrin in their hands so they can do what they do best, kick goals.

The last Qualifying Final is on Saturday night at the Adelaide Oval. Melbourne and Brisbane both had thrilling games on the weekend, with the two games coming down to the wire. In Melbourne’s case, a kick after the siren for the win, in Brisbane’s case, a single point in the dying seconds of the game, backed up by an icing-on-the-cake goal after the siren to secure a top-four spot. With such exciting lead-up games, there is no doubt both teams will be putting their hearts on the line this weekend. Lachie Neale, Dayne Zorko and Daniel Rich put on outstanding performances against the Eagles to push their team through the top 4 barrier. With 85 disposals between them and a goal each, it’s hard to find a team that could contain and react to such performances, however, Melbourne might just be the one. Clayton Oliver had a stellar game on the weekend with 37 disposals and 2 goals, while Max Gawn had 25 disposals and the goal of the game. Not to mention, the attacking Christian Petracca and the ever solid Lever and May, Melbourne have the capability to beat any team at their best.

Finally, the Bulldogs are up against the in-form Bombers. The Bulldogs couldn’t hold off Port Adelaide to hang onto their top 4 spot, while Essendon dispatched Collingwood with relative ease. Devon Smith matched Jake Stringer’s potent attack against the Magpies, as they combined for 47 disposals and 2 goals each. The last time these two teams played was just 3 weeks ago in round 21, when Essendon outdid the Bulldogs by 13 points. A major player in this result was Peter Wright, booting the Sherrin through the big sticks 7 times. Wright has continued that form kicking 4 this past week, along with Alec Waterman. The Western Bulldogs are going to need to bounce back and find their early and mid-season form to continue their finals campaign. There is no doubt they have the talent to do so, with big-time performers such as Jack Macrae and Marcus Bontempelli and concrete defence from Bailey Dale, the Bulldogs have shown they can beat any team in the competition.

Spring is near and the finals are here, and we can’t wait to see which teams will rise to the top. Gear up for the finals with the official range of the 2021 Finals Series Game Balls. Perfect for any footy fan, the 2021 Finals range is now available online at sherrin.com.au