Port Adelaide’s Robbie Gray fires off a handball despite the efforts of Collingwood’s Adam Treloar. Photo: AFL MEDIA
In one of the most difficult AFL seasons to predict – both on and off the field – it just about makes sense that the minor premier isn’t the flag favourite heading into the finals.
And it would not surprise in the slightest if the team that eventually holds the cup aloft is neither the aforementioned top side nor the bookies’ selection.
But Port Adelaide can rightfully be pleased with becoming the third club to stay top of the ladder for an entire home-and-away season in the AFL era – after West Coast (1991) and Essendon (2000).
Richmond is the official favourite with bookmakers, ahead of Geelong, and is well-placed to pounce on a third flag in four years, while Brisbane has two home finals to look forward to, and a Gabba season decider on October 24 arguably makes the Lions an even stronger chance.
But Brisbane has to get there first, and the Lions have the memory of last year’s straight-sets finals exit on home turf lingering in the back of their minds.
Port Adelaide has celebrated its 150th season with at least one piece of “silverware” – the McClelland Trophy – and won’t rest easy now. Monday night’s gritty 16-point at the soon-to-be grand final venue showed that it’s up for the fight.
Robbie Gray, Tom Rockliff and Dan Houston were all outstanding in a game largely dominated by the two best defences in the competition. The Power also rubbished the theory they can’t win if Charlie Dixon (one goal) doesn’t fire.
Collingwood skipper Scott Pendlebury was chaired off by teammates after his 314th appearance and 162nd as captain. Both are new club records.
Geelong could lay claim to have been the best side in patches, and smacked Port by 10 goals last month.
The Cats sneaked into the top four on the back of Patrick Dangerfield’s heroics in attack, where he kicked three late goals to drag his side over the line in a narrow six-point against lowly Sydney.
That it took a second-half switch of position for Dangerfield and Mark Blicavs’ desperate late smother in the dying seconds to secure victory over the Swans – and a finals double chance – is a concern in itself.
But the Cats have captain Joel Selwood and star veteran Gary Ablett back in action and will welcome first-choice ruckman Rhys Stanley’s return from injury in their qualifying final against the Power.
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We may well find out during the virtual ceremony on October 18 that Lachie Neale already had the Brownlow Medal sewn up before round 18.
But after a quiet match when he managed only 15 disposals under close watch from Sydney’s Ryan Clarke – a personal season-low tally – Neale did his chances of winning the game’s most prestigious individual honour no harm against Carlton.
He shook off Carlton midfielder Ed Curnow’s attention and picked up 29 possessions in a 17-point win that would have been a lot more comfortable if
There were long periods during the second half where Brisbane had more than double the Blues’ number of inside-50s and threatened to really do a number on them.
Richmond warmed up for its flag assault with a comfortable 44-point win over Adelaide, which collected its first wooden spoon since entering the competition in 1991.
Dustin Martin played a key role – he loves September, after all, and Shane Edwards slotted into the midfield with ease after his stints at home and in quarantine.
Crows skipper Taylor Walker kicked one goal to pass Tony Modra’s club-record 440 majors.
West Coast looms largest of the teams outside the top four, but didn’t impress in the last round, scrapping its way to an uninspiring 15-point win over North Melbourne all the way back on Thursday night.
It came at a cost, with Josh Kennedy rolling an ankle. The veteran spearhead is now one of several Eagles stars racing the clock to be fit for the finals, including midfield stars Luke Shuey, Elliot Yeo and Jack Redden, and key defender Jeremy McGovern.
Hawthorn sent off retiring premiership heroes Paul Puopolo and Ben Stratton in fine style by piling on seven goals to one in the first quarter against Gold Coast.
Puopolo kicked three goals and even Stratton got in on the act with a final-quarter goal – the second of his 202-game career, which came a decade after the first.
The Suns, meanwhile, managed just one win and a draw after round seven in a disappointing end to a season that started in promising fashion.
So, after a season which lasted just one round until mid-June, we got there in the end. AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan promised us 153 games, and despite countless hurdles, we got them all. Now the real stuff starts.
