Four sides remain in the quest for an AFL premiership; and in line with previous years, its the top four from the minor round that remain.
Port Adelaide went closes to causing an upset with a dominant display overshadowed by its poor start to the third quarter.
Here’s the wrap of week two of the finals;
THEY SAID IT: “I reckon it’s BS to be honest. Who cares who the pressure’s on. I hope the Hawks players are really concerned about it. But I’d be surprised.” Geelong coach Chris Scott isn’t taking much confidence from his side’s 11-game winning streak against Hawthorn ahead of their preliminary final.
STATS THAT MATTER: Sydney co-captain Jarrad McVeigh had 42 disposals in Saturday night’s semi-final win over Carlton, leading the response after he admitted the Swans were embarrassed about their performance against Hawthorn the previous weekend.
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MAN OF THE WEEKEND: McVeigh led the way for the Swans and Cats captain Joel Selwood was similarly inspirational, charging into the fray in typical fearless style on Friday night to spark Geelong’s comeback win over Port Adelaide.
KEY MOMENT: Strangely poor in the first half, the Cats were a different side after the interval, scoring four quick goals to hit the front. Two of those were to Tom Hawkins, giving him a much-needed confidence jolt in his return game from a nagging back injury.
TALKING POINT: Things are seemingly stacking up in Hawthorn’s favour. But do the Cats have a mental hold on the Hawks given their 11-game winning streak against them? If Hawthorn lose this one, they’ll be having blue and white nightmares all summer.
TRIBUNAL WATCH: Geelong’s Paul Chapman and Sydney’s Ted Richards both delivered high bumps which will have them very nervously awaiting Monday’s match review panel findings.
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KEY INJURIES: Kurt Tippett (Syd, knee), Tom Mitchell (Syd, ankle), Jared Rivers (Geel, ankle).
UNDER PRESSURE: With grand final berths on the line, all four remaining clubs will be feeling the weight of expectation. That weight might sit heaviest on the Hawks, though, given they’ve made it clear all year
GEELONG 2.2 3.6 8.12 13.18 (96)
PORT ADELAIDE 3.2 7.5 8.5 12.8 (80)
Goals: Geelong: P Chapman 4 S Motlop 2 T Hawkins 2 A Christensen J Bartel J Corey J Selwood M Duncan. Port Adelaide: J Westhoff 3 J Schulz 2 A Monfries Brad Ebert H Hartlett M Broadbent M Lobbe R Gray T Logan. Best: Geelong: J Selwood P Chapman J Kelly S Johnson S Motlop M Stokes J Bartel. Port Adelaide: T Boak M Broadbent J Westhoff K Cornes R Gray A Monfries A Carlile. Injuries: Geelong: J Rivers (ankle). Port Adelaide: Nil. Reports: Geelong: P Chapman (Geel) for rough conduct against Robbie Gray (Port) during the third quarter. Port Adelaide: Nil. Umpires: Matt Stevic, Simon Meredith, Shane McInerney. Official Crowd: 52,744 at MCG.
SYDNEY 3.3 8.6 13.8 13.8 (86)
CARLTON 2.3 4.8 4.8 8.14 (62)
Goals: Sydney: L Parker 3 H Cunningham 2 J McVeigh 2 K Jack 2 J Bolton J Kennedy L Jetta R O’Keefe. Carlton: J Waite 3 E Betts 2 B Gibbs D Armfield M Robinson. Best: Sydney: J McVeigh D Hannebery K Jack R O’Keefe H Grundy L Parker. Carlton: A Walker K Simpson M Robinson B Gibbs L Henderson. Injuries: Sydney: D Rampe (ankle) K Tippett (knee) T Mitchell (ankle). Carlton: E Curnow (knee) J Garlett (leg) M Jamison (neck) T Menzel (soreness) replaced in selected side by B McLean. Reports: Nil. Umpires: Mathew Nicholls, Brett Rosebury, Dean Margetts. Official Crowd: 37,980 at ANZ Stadium.
