TonyK
CibbuanoThe Finalists
September 5th 2006 03:55
Here is the final instalment as we take a brief look at the chances of the finalists for 2006 and rate the key player for each club.
Collingwood
The Pies will go into week one of the finals with three straight wins to their name.
However, their form is questionable when you consider they only just got home against Port Adelaide, were tested for three quarters by bottom placed Carlton and were less than impressive last Sunday against the Kangaroos.
Nevertheless the Pies will take plenty of confidence into Septemer; winning form is good form.
The key for the Magpies is Anthony Rocca, if he fires the Pies are a threat.
While Chris Tarrant returned to some form against the Roos last weekend, there has to be a question mark over his fitness and his ability to back up the next week after missing two weeks.
As is the case with the Eagles and Lynch, the Magpies don't need Rocca to kick a big bag, merely provide a contest.
With the class of Alan Didak and Nathan Buckley in the forward 50 Collingwood has a plethora of options up forward.
The Pies will go in as favourites for Sunday's elimination final against the Western Bulldogs, and you would expect them to account for a Dogs side which for the most part has yet to taste finals football.
If everything goes to form, Collingwood should progress to the second week and from there anything is possible.
St Kilda
The Saints have done remarkably well this year in the face of adversity, and to find themselves in the finals is a credit to coach Grant Thomas and the playing group.
St Kilda has been without Justin Koschitzke and Aaron Hamill for the best part of the year and lost Matt Maguire in round 18 to a season ending leg injury.
Despite all their injury woes the Saints found themselves in contention for the top four right up until round 22 and on form will go in as favourites for Friday night's elimination final against Melbourne at the MCG.
The key for the Saints is Koschitzke.
The injury prone big man has gotten some games under his belt and some much needed fitness in the lead-up to the finals.
He is capable of holding down the ruck and pushing forward or back.
With a forward line already comprising Nick Riewoldt and Fraser Gehrig, Koschitzke would get the third best defender and could pose more than a few headaches for the opposition.
The only concern for the Saints going into Friday night's clash with the Dees will be their perceived lack of pace through the midfield which Melbourne are capable of exposing.
Melbourne
After winning 12 out of 13 games in the middle part of the season, the Demons have fallen away at the business end of the year having been comprehensively beaten by Adelaide last Saturday and throwing away a six-goal lead and eventually drawing against the Cats in round 21.
The Dees have been crippled by injuries to key players at the wrong time of the year, but received some good news this week with the trio of Byron Pickett, Brad Green and Ben Holland all expected to play against the Saints.
The key for Melbourne is exciting forward Aaron Davey.
Like Farmer does for the Dockers, Davey is capable of doing the unpredictable for Melbourne and turning a game on its head in a matter of minutes.
Melbourne sorely missed his spark in their unexpected and costly loss to Carlton in round 18.
There is no questioning the talent of the Demons list, its just a matter of which side turns up on the night.
If they are switched on and things go their way, Melbourne are perhaps the only side that poses a threat to the interstate invasion; with their attacking midfield and multi-pronged attack.
Western Bulldogs
The Bulldogs have be an exciting team to watch this year and thoroughly deserve their spot in the finals
How far they can go is questionable, given the lack of finals experience within the group.
If the Dogs are to progress past week one, Brad Johnson needs to be on song.
He is the key for the Dogs, having booted 70 goals this year; a remarkable feat for a small forward.
However, with their lack of finals experience and a small forward line which has yet proven to stand up in September, the young Doggies should bow out in week one but will be better for the experience.
With a better run with injuries to key position players next year, the men from Whitten Oval should press for a top four berth in 2007.
Collingwood
The Pies will go into week one of the finals with three straight wins to their name.
However, their form is questionable when you consider they only just got home against Port Adelaide, were tested for three quarters by bottom placed Carlton and were less than impressive last Sunday against the Kangaroos.
Nevertheless the Pies will take plenty of confidence into Septemer; winning form is good form.
The key for the Magpies is Anthony Rocca, if he fires the Pies are a threat.
While Chris Tarrant returned to some form against the Roos last weekend, there has to be a question mark over his fitness and his ability to back up the next week after missing two weeks.
As is the case with the Eagles and Lynch, the Magpies don't need Rocca to kick a big bag, merely provide a contest.
With the class of Alan Didak and Nathan Buckley in the forward 50 Collingwood has a plethora of options up forward.
The Pies will go in as favourites for Sunday's elimination final against the Western Bulldogs, and you would expect them to account for a Dogs side which for the most part has yet to taste finals football.
If everything goes to form, Collingwood should progress to the second week and from there anything is possible.
St Kilda
The Saints have done remarkably well this year in the face of adversity, and to find themselves in the finals is a credit to coach Grant Thomas and the playing group.
St Kilda has been without Justin Koschitzke and Aaron Hamill for the best part of the year and lost Matt Maguire in round 18 to a season ending leg injury.
Despite all their injury woes the Saints found themselves in contention for the top four right up until round 22 and on form will go in as favourites for Friday night's elimination final against Melbourne at the MCG.
The key for the Saints is Koschitzke.
The injury prone big man has gotten some games under his belt and some much needed fitness in the lead-up to the finals.
He is capable of holding down the ruck and pushing forward or back.
With a forward line already comprising Nick Riewoldt and Fraser Gehrig, Koschitzke would get the third best defender and could pose more than a few headaches for the opposition.
The only concern for the Saints going into Friday night's clash with the Dees will be their perceived lack of pace through the midfield which Melbourne are capable of exposing.
Melbourne
After winning 12 out of 13 games in the middle part of the season, the Demons have fallen away at the business end of the year having been comprehensively beaten by Adelaide last Saturday and throwing away a six-goal lead and eventually drawing against the Cats in round 21.
The Dees have been crippled by injuries to key players at the wrong time of the year, but received some good news this week with the trio of Byron Pickett, Brad Green and Ben Holland all expected to play against the Saints.
The key for Melbourne is exciting forward Aaron Davey.
Like Farmer does for the Dockers, Davey is capable of doing the unpredictable for Melbourne and turning a game on its head in a matter of minutes.
Melbourne sorely missed his spark in their unexpected and costly loss to Carlton in round 18.
There is no questioning the talent of the Demons list, its just a matter of which side turns up on the night.
If they are switched on and things go their way, Melbourne are perhaps the only side that poses a threat to the interstate invasion; with their attacking midfield and multi-pronged attack.
Western Bulldogs
The Bulldogs have be an exciting team to watch this year and thoroughly deserve their spot in the finals
How far they can go is questionable, given the lack of finals experience within the group.
If the Dogs are to progress past week one, Brad Johnson needs to be on song.
He is the key for the Dogs, having booted 70 goals this year; a remarkable feat for a small forward.
However, with their lack of finals experience and a small forward line which has yet proven to stand up in September, the young Doggies should bow out in week one but will be better for the experience.
With a better run with injuries to key position players next year, the men from Whitten Oval should press for a top four berth in 2007.
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