Grand Final Matchups

[8-6 Suited]

As its been discussed in another topic unrelated to the AFL or Grand Final even, I believe this will be better suited for this discussion.


My opinions go as such:


Collingwood Forward Line:

Chris Dawes:
Will wear Zac Dawson like a glove as he did in the last game. Zac got the better keeping him to 4 or 5 touches and only 1 goal.

Brent Macaffer:
Will tag Sam Gilbert once again, only hope a better job is done.

Leigh Brown:
Likely to get Sam Fisher, who will zone off and demolish in the backline. Very likely to have the most touches next week for the Saints and will have $10 on it from me.

Travis Cloke:
May not be a perfect match up but I could see Goddard headed to him for a bit.


Midfield Match Ups:

Swan vs Hayes
I predict this to be a head 2 head battle just as Ablett and Swan last week. Hayes is very hit and miss despite being damaging with his plays but handballs a lot just as Ablett did. Collingwood will employ a similar midfield game plan as last week in that 1 man can't kill you, unless he connects with the rest. So see the rest of the StKilda midfielders kept honest.

Leigh Montagna vs Sharrod Wellingham
Expect Montagna to be closely watched at all times by the likes of Wellingham. Wellsy has had some big players in the past such as Ablett, Selwood, Judd ect ect so it will be a good match up.

Scott Pendlebury vs Nick Dal Santo
A worthy candidate to take on Pendles will be NDS, who the saints will want to keep in the midfield where ever possibly. The aim will be to keep the slower Pendlebury off the ball where possible by using slightly small NDS in front of his run.

Alan Didak vs Clinton Jones
Despite Dids getting 30+ touches last time these 2 teams met, I still see CLinton Jones as his best tagger for the job. The pressure that was applied to Dids was immense as visable by Jones' 8 tackles. The aim will be to try and keep him out of the midfield as much as they can.


St Kilda Forwards:

Nick Reiwoldt
A major thing in this match up will be if Simon Prestigiacomo plays. If he does, you will probably see Presti take up standing Rooey as he generally does with chop outs from Reid and Maxwell. If he doesn't it will likely be Nathan Brown.

Justin Koschitzke
Ben Reid is a certainty for the larger from of Kosi. Reasons for the match up is simply based on that but are weighed in due to Reids more agile frame allowing him to get across to help whomever is playing on Rooey.

Adam Schneider
Tyson Goldsack has done a solid job here in the past, look to see him there again.

James Gwilt
Gwilt is very likely to be starting up forward again in the St Kilda team. If he does, you will see Toovey go to him once again. And if he plays in the same form as last week, Toovs will blanket him rather significantly giving more reasons to move him again in an effort to try and get him back into the game.

Stephen Milne
I am not 100% but I believe he will once again draw a tag from Ben Johnson. Milne is a big game player, so expect it to be a less one sided battle this time around.

Farren Ray
Expect to see Farren Ray hook up onto the likes of Heath Shaw or Nick Maxwell on a half forward line position.





That is my opinion on the key match ups in the Grand Final. Feel free to list up your own.

[Hawka]

Very very good analyis but how bout blake he mite get dawes and dawson to cloke if that fails swap it a around a bit..If Baker plays he will take didak and jones will take pendels ... mcqualter if he plays should take shaw or harry O..Goddard will play middie i reckon and if the saints are stuggling they may throw goddard up forward..Presti will need alot of help from maxwell.sadly for the young feller i see brown being dropped ...these 2 teams defences need to be at the top of there cos if riewoldt or cloke Dominate that could lose the other team the game

[8-6 Suited]

I'd actually lean more towards Baker going to Sidebottom or Beams.

[Master Q]

I agree with a lot, except I change a little bit of the Midfield. There is a huge difference between Hayes and Ablett. Hayes is a Penlebury-Judd type player, while Ablett,Swan and NDS are those guys who get fed the ball. I'd move Hayes to Pendles, both mega game breakers, and from Mick view he wouldn't want Hayes getting near Swan. NDS has more of a tank and has quick legs, which would be perfect for going head-to-head with Swan.

[hawk_88]

One I think would work really well St Kilda's advantage is to move Goddard up forward onto Maxwell. He can kick goals, make Maxwell accountable and hence remove the floating Collingwood defender.

St Kilda have a lot of strength around the stoppages and can match up on the Pies evenly enough to allow Goddard to force 1 on 1 match ups in their forward line. Will also protect Roo by restricting a 3rd man up for the Pies in each marking contest.