2nd Preliminary Final- Geelong versus West Coast
Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 7:52 amOne spot in the Grand Final is up for grabs in this one, Geelong, having had a week off, will come in warm favourites against the West Coast Eagles, who last night played out a very high quality and entertaining final against a gallant Carlton.
The big question for the Eagles will be about which players will be fit, after their gruelling encounter, however they will be buoyed by their lesser lights, an example of which is Mark Nicoski, who certainly step it up a notch in these big games. Scott Selwood, the underrated tagger, after a supreme job on the 2011 Brownlow Medallist, Chris Judd, will be up to the task of taking down one of the Cats Rolls Royce midfielders, however I doubt John Worsfold will indulge in nostaligia just to see the brothers Selwood lock up.
For the Cats, as always, it will start in the middle, the quandary that may well see Vardy become the next Mark Blake (missing out on the Grand Final) because of the impressive output of Trent West is a delightful situation to be in, his continued form at the bounce will be a key, as will the inherent need for Podsiadly and Johnson to kick straight.
Josh Kennedy as always looms as a key for the Eagles up forward, the best match for him would have to be Harry Taylor, and that will be an important duel, very difficult to split.
If LeCras is stood by Josh Hunt, the Cats fans had better hope for long, high balls, where Hunt should out-muscle LeCras, but if it comes to ground and LeCras can use his speed and deft snaps, then a game breaker he may be.
Cameron Ling has been the odd man out lately, having lost a lot of pace over the last couple of years, he is struggling to keep up with the quicker midfielders that he once owned in his tagging role, but he still has some currency, as a defensive half forward, who has the ability to find the middle of the two big sticks when it counts. The player opposed to Ling cannot be fooled that he is "too old, too slow" to have an impact.
The midfield battle will be a good one, providing all parties are fit, Daniel Kerr is a Rolls Royce, Matt Priddis is nearly there, and Scott Selwood is the new Cameron Ling in the middle, whilst Enright, Kelly, Bartel, and Selwood, are among the games elite.
Both sides have young guns aplenty, and the injured Daniel Menzel aside, all have shown that they can handle the intensity of finals football, Gaff and Shuey for the Eagles, Christensen and Duncan for the Cats.
This will be a ripper!
The big question for the Eagles will be about which players will be fit, after their gruelling encounter, however they will be buoyed by their lesser lights, an example of which is Mark Nicoski, who certainly step it up a notch in these big games. Scott Selwood, the underrated tagger, after a supreme job on the 2011 Brownlow Medallist, Chris Judd, will be up to the task of taking down one of the Cats Rolls Royce midfielders, however I doubt John Worsfold will indulge in nostaligia just to see the brothers Selwood lock up.
For the Cats, as always, it will start in the middle, the quandary that may well see Vardy become the next Mark Blake (missing out on the Grand Final) because of the impressive output of Trent West is a delightful situation to be in, his continued form at the bounce will be a key, as will the inherent need for Podsiadly and Johnson to kick straight.
Josh Kennedy as always looms as a key for the Eagles up forward, the best match for him would have to be Harry Taylor, and that will be an important duel, very difficult to split.
If LeCras is stood by Josh Hunt, the Cats fans had better hope for long, high balls, where Hunt should out-muscle LeCras, but if it comes to ground and LeCras can use his speed and deft snaps, then a game breaker he may be.
Cameron Ling has been the odd man out lately, having lost a lot of pace over the last couple of years, he is struggling to keep up with the quicker midfielders that he once owned in his tagging role, but he still has some currency, as a defensive half forward, who has the ability to find the middle of the two big sticks when it counts. The player opposed to Ling cannot be fooled that he is "too old, too slow" to have an impact.
The midfield battle will be a good one, providing all parties are fit, Daniel Kerr is a Rolls Royce, Matt Priddis is nearly there, and Scott Selwood is the new Cameron Ling in the middle, whilst Enright, Kelly, Bartel, and Selwood, are among the games elite.
Both sides have young guns aplenty, and the injured Daniel Menzel aside, all have shown that they can handle the intensity of finals football, Gaff and Shuey for the Eagles, Christensen and Duncan for the Cats.
This will be a ripper!
