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Digby Beacham’s AFL Preview: Finals Week 1

Posted on | Posted by Digby Beacham

FRIDAY

Port Adelaide v Geelong, Adelaide Oval, 5.50pm

The pressure goes up on every club and its coach, indeed the players, during the finals. But you cannot help but think there is enormous expectation on Port Adelaide and Geelong.

The Power get to launch their premiership push at home, while perennial finalists and last year’s runners-up Geelong are built for the now. There is nothing wrong with that. Conversely, it’s to be admired. But it comes with added responsibility to deliver.

And if that isn’t enough, champion spearhead Tom Hawkins will make his 300th appearance and is deserving of a night to remember. His desire to have a successful night at the office has been boosted by the return from a knee injury of high-quality WA midfielder Mitch Duncan.

VERDICT: Geelong by 10 points

SATURDAY

Sydney v GWS, UTAS, 1.20pm

Sydney coach John Longmire would never admit it publicly, but you suspect there would be a handful of other sides he would rather meet in an elimination final than GWS.

The Giants are compiled for September and have the big bodies and class through the midfield in Josh Kelly, Tim Taranto, Jacob Hopper, Callan Ward and Matt de Boer to wreak havoc against a Swans running division that could well be without Josh Kennedy (hamstring) and Callum Mills (Achilles).

If that pair are sidelined through their respective injuries, it wouldn’t be a shock to see Leon Cameron endeavour to nut Luke Parker in and around the contest and seriously inhibit Sydney’s drive forward of centre. The Giants get a real look here.

VERDICT: GWS by 12 points

Melbourne v Brisbane, Adelaide Oval, 5.30pm

Of all the first-week match-ups in the post-season, this is the one that looks to best fit the side installed as favourites by TABtouch. As much as Melbourne would prefer to be at the MCG, Adelaide Oval holds no fear.

Nor does a sizeable lead in the course of a match if last Saturday night’s come-from-behind win over Geelong at GMHBA Stadium is any indication. The amount of self-belief gleaned from that result can only enhance the Demons’ premiership push.

Brisbane have hit the finals in form, but sweeping aside a banged-up Fremantle, Collingwood and West Coast in successive weeks is perhaps a little flattering.

VERDICT: Melbourne by 21 points

SUNDAY

Western Bulldogs v Essendon, UTAS, 1.20pm

The lever that Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge pulls at the selection table is going to be fascinating. We know he isn’t afraid to make changes and if any side in the finals needs a tweak or three, it is the Bulldogs.

They have lost three on the bounce to fall outside the top four. Alarmingly for Beveridge, one of those losses was at the hands of Essendon just over a fortnight ago when Peter Wright proved a handful.

He was at it again in the first half last weekend opposed to Collingwood and along with Jake Stringer, gives the Bombers genuine forward-line potency. And the Bombers are also as sound now behind the ball as they have been all season. Not to mention healthy.

VERDICT: Essendon by 18 points

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