Rodney Eade's Previews - Finals

Sydney Morning Herald

Friday September 3, 2004

RODNEY EADE

Brisbane v St Kilda

Qualifying final 2 Friday 7.30pm, Gabba

BRISBANE

BChris Johnson, Mal Michael, Darryl White

HBChris Scott, Justin Leppitsch, Robert Copeland

CMartin Pike, Michael Voss, Jason Akermanis

HFNigel Lappin, Johnathan Brown, Blake Caracella

FCraig McRae, Daniel Bradshaw, Tim Notting

FollClark Keating, Simon Black, Luke Power

IntB Scott, S Hart, R Hadley, D McLaren

In: B Scott Out: A Lynch (hamstring)

ST KILDA

BMax Hudghton, Luke Penny, Austinn Jones

HBBrett Voss, Justin Koschitzke, Steven Baker

CTroy Schwarze, Lenny Hayes, Heath Black

HFBrendon Goddard, Nick Riewoldt, Robert Harvey

FNick Dal Santo, Fraser Gehrig, Matt Maguire

FollTrent Knobel, Andrew Thompson, Luke Ball

IntA Murray, J Blake, X Clarke, B Guerra

In: B Guerra A Murray H Black R Harvey Out: S Milne S Powell L Montagna (hamstring) A Hamill (knee)

Rodney Eade's preview: The Lions are overwhelming flag favourites. The Saints have had a great year but seem to be tiring. The mental scarring from their round-21 mauling by the Lions will have to be overcome. Alastair Lynch will be missed by Brisbane but should be covered well by Bradshaw. Aaron Hamill's absence will hurt St Kilda. St Kilda's strength is their midfield but the Lions more than match them in this area. The big forwards for St Kilda, Riewoldt and Gehrig, are their main chances for victory. Gehrig is carrying a leg injury, so Mal Michael will be able to match him. Riewoldt will be hard to stop. Copeland, White and Bradshaw are options early, with Leppitsch doing the job after half-time. Prediction: Brisbane by 35 points.

Last time: Brisbane 20.10 (130) bt St Kilda 13.7 (85), round 21, Gabba. Past five: Brisbane 3 St Kilda 2. Davidson: Bris $1.21, St Kilda $4.60. TV: Channel 10, replay 11.15pm.

Melbourne v Essendon

Elimination final 1 Saturday 2.30pm, MCG

MELBOURNE

BClint Bizzell, Alistair Nicholson, Nathan Brown

HBMatthew Whelan, Jared Rivers, Paul Wheatley

CBrad Green, Phillip Read, Travis Johnstone

HFRussell Robertson, Brad Miller, Adem Yze

FAaron Davey, David Neitz, Ben Holland

FollJeff White, Cameron Bruce, James McDonald

IntM Jamar, D Ward, T Broadbridge, B McLean

In: D Neitz B Holland M Whelan B McLean Out: C Heffernan (susp) C Sylvia S Godfrey P Walsh

ESSENDON

BAdam Ramanauskas, Dustin Fletcher, Sean Wellman

HBAndrew Welsh, Scott Lucas, Mark McVeigh

CMark Johnson, Jason Johnson, Dean Solomon

HFJustin Murphy, Mark Bolton, James Hird

FJobe Watson, Matthew Lloyd, Damian Cupido

FollDavid Hille, Dean Rioli, Damien Peverill

IntM Allan, B Stanton, N Lovett-Murray, B Haynes

In: D Rioli J Johnson D Cupido M Allan Out: M Mercuri J Winderlich J Laycock M Bullen

Rodney Eade's preview: Both sides are not taking good form into the finals. Essendon's, though, is better as they won last week. The wheels have fallen off the Demons. Their forte has been their hard running, especially out of defence. The midfield has relied on Jeff White giving them first use of the ball. Essendon will need to get first use to service Lloyd, Lucas, Hird and Murphy. The Demons' attack has become impotent. Without Neitz - who is only a slim chance to play - the other forwards are easily stopped. For Essendon to win Lloyd, Hird and Lucas must have a marked influence. It is difficult to see any Demons being able to stop them. Prediction: Essendon by 9 points.

Last time: Melb 13.17 (95) bt Ess 10.9 (69), round 13, MCG.

Past five: Ess 4 Melb 1. Davidson: Melb $2.10, Ess $1.77. TV: Channel 10, live, 2pm.

Sydney v West Coast

Elimination final 2 Saturday 7.30pm, Telstra Stadium

SYDNEY

BJared Crouch, Andew Schauble, Craig Bolton

HBLeo Barry, Adam Goodes, Tadhg Kennelly

CLuke Ablett, Stuart Maxfield, Ben Mathews

HFRyan O'Keefe, Barry Hall, Amon Buchanan

FPaul Williams, Michael O'Loughlin, Matthew Nicks

FollJason Ball, Brett Kirk, Jude Bolton

IntP Bevan, N Davis, S Doyle, A Schneider

No change

WEST COAST

BDaniel Chick, Darren Glass, David Wirrpunda

HBDrew Banfield, Adam Hunter, Chad Morrison

CJosh Wooden, Ben Cousins, Michael Braun

HFAshley Sampi, Quinten Lynch, Brent Staker

FPhil Matera, Andrew McDougall, Damien Adkins

FollDean Cox, Chris Judd, Chad Fletcher

IntM Seaby, A Embley, S Butler, D Kerr

In: D Kerr Out: R Jones

Rodney Eade's preview: West Coast are the form team, winning eight of their past nine, but play a final at a ground they have not seen. Sydney will again attempt to shut down the opposition midfield - and they'll need to. Chris Judd is an enormous player. Last time he thrashed Jared Crouch. Paul Williams will probably be his opponent. Chad Fletcher is winning a great deal of ball so either Kirk or Mathews will be asked to shut him down. Crouch has done well on Matera in the past. Ben Cousins is not 100 per cent match fit. Jason Ball has a big task to combat Cox and Seaby in the ruck. If Sydney can break even in the midfield their talented forward line will win the day. Hall, O'Loughlin, Davis and O'Keefe all can be matchwinners. The Eagles must not let Sydney get away early. Prediction: Sydney by 11 points.

Last time: West Coast 18.16 (124) bt Sydney 15.7 (97), round 8, Subiaco. Past five: Sydney 3, West Coast 2. Davidson: Sydney $1.50, WC $2.65. TV: Channel 10, delayed, 8pm.

Port Adelaide v Geelong

Qualifying final 1 Sunday 2.30pm, AAMI Stadium

PORT ADELAIDE

BMichael Wilson, Darryl Wakelin, Matthew Bishop

HBBrett Montgomery, Chad Cornes, Adam Kingsley

CKane Cornes, Roger James, Jarrad Schofield

HFByron Pickett, Warren Tredrea, Stuart Dew

FGavin Wanganeen, Shaun Burgoyne, Toby Thurstans

FollDean Brogan, Josh Carr, Peter Burgoyne

Intfr D Cassisi, S Cochrane, B Ebert, D Hardwick, B Lade, J Mahoney, D White

In: B Ebert, A Kingsley, D White

GEELONG

BJoel Corey, Matthew Scarlett, Darren Milburn

HBJosh Hunt, Tom Harley, Brenton Sanderson

CPaul Koulouriotis, Cameron Ling, Peter Riccardi

HFKent Kingsley, Cameron Mooney, James Bartel

FSteve Johnson, Ben Graham, David Haynes

Foll David King, Paul Chapman, Garry Ablett

Intfr B Moloney, H Playfair, D Spriggs, C Enright, C Gardiner,D Wojcinski, D Johnson

In: D Wojcinski, C Enright, C Gardiner, J Bartel Out: J Rooke (thigh)

Rodney Eade's preview: Can Port deliver or will they choke again? They have a modified game plan and a resolve to rectify past wrongs. Their style of play is more about quicker movement of the ball than chipping it around. Warren Tredrea is playing closer to goal, which is causing opposition teams great concern. His clash with Scarlett will be a classic. Chad Cornes is also a concern for the Cats. His creative play at centre half-back sets up his team. Geelong's midfield has been a strength. Ling, Chapman, Corey, Ablett and Riccardi must control this area as well as the stoppages. Power ruckmen Brogan and Lade will wear down Steven King. Geelong have an advantage in pace. Prediction: Port by 10 points.

Last time: Port Adelaide 18.8 (116) bt 17.10 (112), round 10, AAMI Stadium. Past five: Port 4 Geelong 1.

Davidson: Port $1.30, Geel $3.65. TV: Channel 10, live, 2pm.

© 2004 Sydney Morning Herald

Back to News Index | Back to Home