This is it! The winners go to the big dance…the losers have the entire off-season to ponder how close they got.

Geelong vs. Sydney (MCG, Friday night, September 23)

Geelong’s had a catnap for a week. Sydney are bruised and battered. If they can fight through the pain and take their best game into Friday night’s clash, it’ll be close. As we know, the rest isn’t always beneficial. The Cats could be stone cold. We’ll know within the first ten minutes of this game starting.

Kurt Tippett will be a welcome return for Sydney, but with a fractured jaw that’s newly healing, a convenient hip and shoulder will take care of him. Not that Geelong would ever do that sort of thing. Young gun, Callum Mills will be a welcome return down back. Geelong will be stronger with the inclusion of Lachie Henderson.

Sydney will need everyone to fire to get this done. There is no better incentive to get this win when it means you’ll more than likely be in the box seat to get a selfie with Sting on grand final day…oh yeah, and maybe even win the most important game of the year to boot! Geelong – 1-39.

GWS Giants vs. Western Bulldogs (Spotless Stadium, Saturday night, September 24)

The Dogs have been brave. They’ve suffered injury after injury, but when they look like they’re down for the count, up they come with a second wind. Now they’re one game away from appearing in their first grand final since 1961. If they make it, they’ll want the result to be different. They were beaten by Hawthorn that year. Fast forward to 2016, and after taking out the Hawks last week, that’s some consolation that it’s going to be different this time around.

It’ll take an almighty effort to travel to Spotless Stadium and take on a rested Giants team. They were absolutely brutal in their first final against Sydney. If you think GWS look fast on TV, they almost look superhuman in the flesh. They’re young, hungry, fast, strong across all areas of the ground, and they’re closer than they’ve ever been to winning a grand final!

Stevie J has to sit out for a week following his suspension, but should GWS get there, and should Geelong get there, there’ll be no better “stuff you!” to Chris Scott than for Stevie J to hold up a premiership cup against the club (and coach) that kicked him to the curb. If it is a Geelong vs. GWS grand final, I propose a #Karma4StevieJ Twitter hash tag.  Make it happen, peeps! GWS – 14.5 (the line).

Best Bets

Geelong 1-39/GWS -14.5 (line) = $4.22

*Odds valid at Sportsbet as of 9AM (EST) on 21-