RICHO’S TOP 10: The winner of Geelong-Brisbane AFL final will go on to win the flag
1 How good is tonight going to be at the Adelaide Oval?
The Crows and Pies played a ripper there only a few weeks ago which Collingwood thought they should have won. They have beaten the Crows 10 of the last 11 times they have played and love playing at this venue. The Pies are so experienced in finals and big games, while the Crows are playing their first final since their 2017 grand final defeat to the Tigers. As expected for Collingwood Mason Cox is in for Daniel McStay, which comes as no real surprise given McStay had kicked only three goals in last seven games. With more long high balls going inside 50 under finals pressure Cox’s extra height could be an important factor tonight. The Pies defenders – missing Jeremy Howe — will need to be switched on to stop the Crows’ beast mode forward line of Riley Thiltorpe, Darcy Fogarty and Tex Walker (playing in his 300th game). The game will be about ball supply and the battle of the midfield. The Pies have an ace here with Jordy De Goey back fit and fresh. It’s a toss of the coin result for me, but I’ll tip the Crows though I’m not confident at all.
2 Then it’s Friday night footy at the G for the other qualifying final between the Cats and Lions.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.I think the winner of this match will go on to win the flag. The Lions come to the MCG confident having won four of the last five games against the Cats. Both teams have an abundance of quality in their midfield and among their small forwards. Think Tyson Stengle, Gryan Miers, Brad Close and Shaun Mannagh for Geelong and Zac Bailey, Cameron Raynor, Charlie Cameron and Kai Lohmann for the Lions. I think whichever of these two collective groups plays better wins the game. The Cats group is more consistent, but the Lions have a bit more x factor. I’m tipping the Lions as I feel that soft run into finals for the Cats may just help the Lions, who rise against the better teams.
3 Another final that is hard to pick is the Giants hosting the Hawks in the first elimination final at Engie Stadium in Western Sydney.
This is a game I have no clue on who’s going to win. The Hawks have never won at Engie in eight attempts. It might all come down to selection in this one with GWS coach Adam Kingsley possibly bringing in five, mostly injured, stars in Jake Stringer, Jesse Hogan, Jack Buckley, Josh Kelly and Brent Daniels. That’s a lot of changes which could mess with the Giants’ rhythm. But they are all quality players so this could also give the Giants the edge at home. But as I said I have no clue in this one. Your guess is as good as mine.
4 Then we finish on the Cinderella stories as the Suns – in their first final — battle the Dockers in the Colosseum that is Optus Stadium in Perth.
What an effort by Dimma to get the Gold Coast to their first September game in 14 years in just his second year at the helm. The Suns will need to get over their nerves pretty quickly as they find themselves in a hugely hostile environment with 60,000 sandgropers baying for their blood. The Dockers, having smacked the Dogs to cement their first finals spot in three years, will be very confident. That game was like a final. The Suns are coming off a 100-point belting of Essendon. Does that mean anything? I am not sure it does. The Suns have a tough and hard midfield lead by Noah Anderson and Matt Rowell who will hold their own against Fremantle’s midfield lead by Caleb Serong and Andrew Brayshaw. The Dockers defence could prove the difference lead by the skipper Alex Pearce who I think will do the job on Ben King. The Dockers will get it done at home.
5 The jungle drums won’t stop beating around Charlie Curnow wanting to leave the Blues.
It’s clearly obvious he wants to get away from the fishbowl of being at a big, underperforming club in Melbourne. A move down to the surf coast at Geelong might help him escape the AFL capital, but the most likely option is clearly Sydney. They have a history of nailing big key forwards, as I wrote earlier in this column, such as Tony Lockett, Barry Hall and Buddy Franklin. It could be a win for both clubs, but the sticking point is what will the Swans give up as they badly need a quality full forward if they are any chance of getting back to the grand final. Sydney would need to give up their first draft pick this year and maybe a future first one too. Carlton will ask for one of the Swans’ best midfielders, but I can’t see them budging on Errol Gulden, Isaac Heeney or Chad Warner and doubt Carlton would take a small forward like Tom Papley instead. As good as Papley is they probably wouldn’t take a small forward over an A-grade midfielder.
6 Surely this was the last year of the pre-finals bye round.
I don’t know anyone that thinks it’s a good idea. The season has never been longer running at 30 weeks from opening round to the grand final. That’s at least a few weeks too long in my opinion. What does the bye round achieve? It hurts the top four teams who should have an advantage. If they win a qualifying final they play one game in four weeks before the preliminary final. That’s a momentum killer. Let’s ditch it, and if there needs to be a week off, have it after the preliminary finals. No doubt the broadcasters would have loved AFL on the screens last weekend.
7 I remember thinking in 1995 when rugby league great Ian Roberts came out as gay that it would be the first of many with Ian leading the way for male athletes.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case in the AFL until last week with former Eagle Mitch Brown coming out as a bi-sexual man. Bravo to Mitch, this cannot have been easy for him and you could see how nervous he was in his interview. Let’s hope now 30 years after Ian that more sportsmen will be confident after Mitch’s bravery to be able to be themselves. The AFL must be a safe environment for everyone
8 It was smart management of both Nasiah Wanganeen Milera at the Saints and Harley Reid at the Eagles and a big win for all parties involved with their re-signings.
Reid, at age 20, has committed until the end of 2028 and NAS, at age 22, until the end of 2027. Both will be at the peak of their powers when these deals end and on current projections, they will then be able to go to the market and secure huge, longer term deals. But it also gives both these clubs a chance to show these lads they are building towards success and players won’t leave if they think a premiership is nearby. I love these outcomes.
9 The All-Australian team is always a great team. It’s a thankless task picking that team, believe me I know having been a selector for several years.
I always said don’t be critical of the team just celebrate the guys that made it. But I am going to be a massive hypocrite (with my Tigers scarf on) in saying this — Nick Vlastuin from the Tigers should have been finally selected for his first AA jacket. It’s unbelievable that he has never been selected. Who goes out you say? Well, there were four midfielders on the bench so maybe one of them and Vlastuin gets a bench spot.
10 What a roaring success the Four’N Twenty Legends Game for prostate cancer was.
More than 32,000 people in attendance on a cold Thursday night in Melbourne and more than $1 million raised. Congratulations to everyone involved on putting the night together and good to see Hughesy is back on his feet. The highlight for me was Cyril Rioli back on the footy field. There was a lot of love for Cyril. He looked fit and happy and what about the 65-metre torpedo goal!
