Preview Grand Final – Richmond Tigers vs GWS Giants, Saturday 28th September, MCG, 2.30pm

[Callums_Guns]

Reading the media reports, I'm now concerned about Whitfield, Davis and cogs. I know cogs was least likely, but Lachie and Davis seem really unlikely don't they ?

However this early was not a proper training session, it was a fan and media session really to build excitement

Happens every year and no club does a full on session here

I'm not sure

On SM-N960F using BigFooty.com mobile app

I think it's all fluff...lol

Training today was just a fan thing, they worked on stuff prior to us getting there

You dont read anything about Patton, yet when it comes to trade period it's going to be the same old story big risk, blah blah..lol
He moved really well..

Whitfield did plenty of running and more then the other boys who were primarily just having a kick in front of the fans

Which was great !!!

Doubt on GWS stars after training, key defender a no-show

Stephen Coniglio and Lachie Whitfield do little to dispel doubts over their availability after a training session

www.afl.com.au

 

[balmainforever]

I thought Wednesday was your main training session.
I wouldn’t be worried about any non appearances until then.

It’s going to be strange for me. Barracking against a team that looks so much like Wests Tigers.

 

[Padwah Bananahead]

Our maiden Grand Final.

I cannot believe I am finally writing this preview. I thought I was going to write it in 2016, but we've had to wait that little bit longer.

Last night’s victory

Last week’s win was special, but that moment of realisation we were in our first Grand Final, well, that was the only time that will ever happen. No wonder so many Giants supporters hung around mesmerised so long after the siren.

Before we have a look at next week, some reflections on where we're at, with help from a Richmond supporter:

“They’re playing with a changed mentality now. They’ve had enough. They’re sick of losing big finals, and they’re sick of having that MCG hoodoo of theirs thrown back in their faces whenever they play a team whose home ground is the MCG.”

I don’t think any of us could have said it better. It's a perfect fit for the last three weeks, where, in spite of being written off by the punditry, the bookies, opposition supporters, umpires, commentators, the match review panel, and the Tribunal (did I forget anyone?) we’ve kept on winning.

It was a real team effort last night, and three players stand out in particular – Williams, Haynes and Keeffe. Haynes – 30 disposals, 10 contested possessions, 9 rebound 50s, 9 marks, easily best on ground. How did he miss being AA? Williams was a revelation in the midfield in the absence of Whitfield and Toby – 25 touches and 16 contested possessions. And Keeffe, despite the doubters, did a brilliant job nullifying Mihocek, one of Collingwood’s key forwards.

You can also add Perryman and Taylor to last night’s roll of honour. As for Mummy, well, he lost the hit-outs 16-78, but some of those 16 were in the frantic last few minutes when they counted, and he justified his place in the last few seconds anyway by selling Pendlebury some candy.

There will be some tough choices to be made at the selection table this week. Toby will return, and Whitfield is almost certain, but there is some real doubt about Coniglio. And as much as I would love to see Brett Deledio get even five minutes on the field, we can’t be sentimental about team selection. Ian Hill will probably make way for Toby. Does Keeffe deserve to be dropped? After last night, probably not. But then, who wants to change a team that can win a PF?

The Opposition

Having tortured their supporters for decades, the sleeping giant that was the Richmond Football Club finally awoke in 2017, breaking a 37 drought between premierships. They won that year by playing a compelling brand of pressure football.

Having lost their best defender Alex Rance at the start of this season, they were almost written off, but they’ve gone on with it and no one is surprised to see them in the Grand Final.

Richmond play a slick game based on fast passing and precision by foot. Their back-up plan of swarming the opposition and making sure no one is loose is very effective and difficult to counter. Not many teams have found a way around it. We hammered them at home in Round 3 and they accounted for us without too much trouble in Round 17.

The Last Hoodoo

We've broken some important hoodoos this year. A fortnight ago we'd never won a final outside of Sydney. Now we've won two.

But we’ve never beaten the Tigers at the MCG. I think it’s time we did something about that. Next Saturday would be ideal.

The Road to the Grand Final

Whenever we made the decision to join the Giants, we did so in the hope that we would see, at some point in the future, the creation of a champion team.

It’s been an uncharted journey for all of us – coaches, players, administrators, and members. We’ve needed patience along the way to endure a few embarrassing defeats and the uncertainty of whether a second team in Sydney would even be viable. There’s been much disrespect from some of the established clubs. We’ve been called plastics, tinnies, and various other put-downs.

We’ve been criticised for having too many favourable draft picks and for being given too much. But there was never any guarantee those talented draftees would form a cohesive unit. Raw talent only goes so far. Egos clash, and friends fall out. Effective leadership and management were needed. Ours has proven to be inspirational.

Along the way, we’ve seen glimpses of the team we were hoping for on several occasions. Just enough to keep the faith. But sometime during this season, the team we’ve been waiting for has arrived. We probably didn’t realise it at the time, but the signs were there if we cared to look – or dared to hope.

The whole has now become greater than the sum of the parts.

The Verdict

It's been a real privilege to be part of the journey to this moment.

Our time has come. We are going to win. You can feel it.

Go Giants!

Great review, thanks. Will be my frst time at the G on Satrday, cant wait.

 

[Simmofreo]

Tigers have ruled Graham out officially now

On SM-N960F using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Simmofreo]

INJURY REPORT - Campbell says Davis and Lachie should play and that it's almost up to cogs if "he" thinks he is ready

On SM-N960F using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Achy Blakey Heart]

Great review....im so happy for you guys! I know a lot of tiger fans and they have been intolerable for 4 years...I would love to see you guys pull their pants down and Toby Greene win Norm Smith!

 

[Ichabod Noodle]

#choasView attachment 752206View attachment 752209View attachment 752210

On SM-N960F using BigFooty.com mobile app

Must have cost the AFL an absolute fortune for all those paid actors (equity rates aren’t cheap)

Wish I could have been there, looked amazing on the little clips I’ve seen - I’m already not at work Friday and just couldn’t get there.

 

[Ray Donovan]

Congrats on the maiden grand final berth go and out something in the pool room

 

[Ray Donovan]

Leon on SEN

Expecting Whitfield to play.
Cogs is hopeful and will be given every chance.

Throw coniglio in the lad deserves it if fit resigned made the right choice

 

[KevDawg]

As an aside would a GF win push you into the Giants camp forever and a name change to SimmoGiant?

Ha ha ha. Mines GWSendon.

 

[Ray Donovan]

Early matchups?

I'd go DeBoer to Cotchin, he can't handle heavy tags will go MIA.
Perryman to Dusty, big risk but he can go with him on ball and fwd, Harry has that low centre of gravity which would be in his favour but our intercept backs won't leave him one out.
Phil to Lynch depending on fitness
Apples to Jack.

De Boer personally I would throw at prestia

Running Kelly head to head through cotchin he didn't have much impact last weekend.

Davis - Lynch
Corr. - Riewoldt
Taylor - Martin

Martin is the big one but will play a lot down forward they will try to isolate him on haynes deep and take him away from the play.

Houli not sure who goes to him from a defensive forward matchup but its pretty crucial to shut him down. Adam Kennedy looked very annoying last week not sure about a defensive forward probably too left field but he needs to be stopped lots of drive from half back

Astbury - Cameron
Grimes - Finlayson
????? - Himmelberg I suppose is the interesting one Cameron gets up the ground a fair bit so Astbury probably hands him over a fair bit. But Richmond are a bit short without rance so its a matchup that could be exploited.


Genuinely think the giants can win.

 

[KevDawg]

Got the kit on under the work gear and the scarf over the top.

Boss walked in noticed what I was wearing, went to say something and said "nah you've earned it, at least it's orange."

Had a flag up at work for 2 weeks. A lot of people came over after the Pies game and said how good it was.
Converts. Giants in the finals is the best thing for afl in Sydney.

 

[KevDawg]

I thought Wednesday was your main training session.
I wouldn’t be worried about any non appearances until then.

It’s going to be strange for me. Barracking against a team that looks so much like Wests Tigers.

Oh man. I was a tigers fan until the league decided the Canberra Raiders deserved the cup over us and then they allowed Lambe to take out Ellory Hanley in back play (rumoured to have been paid off to take a dive. Saw an interview where he was asked about it and his eyes did not lie).
Was following the Bombers from 88 and converted fully to Aussie Rules. Still a digital Dons member. On the Giants since they started.
Did get some looks in Melbourne some years ago wearing a tigers ribbon when they were in the NRL Final some years ago.
Hope it’s a great GF.

 

[Big Stinky Monk]

Had a flag up at work for 2 weeks. A lot of people came over after the Pies game and said how good it was.
Converts. Giants in the finals is the best thing for afl in Sydney.

Its been good so far. Getting multiple pages each day in the daily telegraph, which is a huge step in a league centric paper.

SMH on the other hand still dont even seem to know that there is another part of Sydney on the other side of the Anzac Bridge

 

[dropbear101]

These tigers need to be wrestled to the ground by a giant and given a shave. Far to happy with themselves its upsetting my usual post season bad mood.

 

[Danny88]

De Boer personally I would throw at prestia

Running Kelly head to head through cotchin he didn't have much impact last weekend.

Davis - Lynch
Corr. - Riewoldt
Taylor - Martin

Martin is the big one but will play a lot down forward they will try to isolate him on haynes deep and take him away from the play.

Houli not sure who goes to him from a defensive forward matchup but its pretty crucial to shut him down. Adam Kennedy looked very annoying last week not sure about a defensive forward probably too left field but he needs to be stopped lots of drive from half back

Astbury - Cameron
Grimes - Finlayson
????? - Himmelberg I suppose is the interesting one Cameron gets up the ground a fair bit so Astbury probably hands him over a fair bit. But Richmond are a bit short without rance so its a matchup that could be exploited.


Genuinely think the giants can win.

I agree prestia has been good this finals series but Martin is still their number one for score involvements. If we nullify their avenues to goal we will go a long way to winning the game

Can’t see him going to anyone but Martin. He won’t go forward with him tho.... when he does that someone like Corr will take him and DeBoer might spend time on cotch or prestia then

But the primary target should be Martin imo

 

[Ray Donovan]

I agree prestia has been good this finals series but Martin is still their number one for score involvements. If we nullify their avenues to goal we will go a long way to winning the game

Can’t see him going to anyone but Martin. He won’t go forward with him tho.... when he does that someone like Corr will take him and DeBoer might spend time on cotch or prestia then

But the primary target should be Martin imo

You go back and watch Brisbane and Geelong finals or look at where Martin is playing basically 80% plus forward

Vs Brisbane (6 goals )



V Geelong



He caused Geelong all sorts of trouble because Lynch takes your best defender Riewoldt can get up the ground needs a matchup.

So Martin is rotated through then slips up into a centre bounce and someone picks him up on the way back. He will try and take the matchup he likes straight to the goal square and just draws attention.

Yes I tag Martin in the middle he could start there but everything suggests he is going to start and spend a lot of time forward

 

[Ray Donovan]

Great review, thanks. Will be my frst time at the G on Satrday, cant wait.

Lol a tip for the interstate travellers you buy trays of beers and don't try and take a piss

 

[Danny88]

You go back and watch Brisbane and Geelong finals or look at where Martin is playing basically 80% plus forward

Vs Brisbane (6 goals )
View attachment 752572


V Geelong

View attachment 752571

He caused Geelong all sorts of trouble because Lynch takes your best defender Riewoldt can get up the ground needs a matchup.

So Martin is rotated through then slips up into a centre bounce and someone picks him up on the way back. He will try and take the matchup he likes straight to the goal square and just draws attention.

Yes I tag Martin in the middle he could start there but everything suggests he is going to start and spend a lot of time forward

No doubt he will spend time forward

We tagged him out of it in round three and got the W.


I suppose it changes depending on where his priority is... if he is majority forward (has a niggle last week which might explain the time forward) then you might be right. If he plays midfield then he needs to be the priority

 

[balmainforever]

Oh man. I was a tigers fan until the league decided the Canberra Raiders deserved the cup over us and then they allowed Lambe to take out Ellory Hanley in back play (rumoured to have been paid off to take a dive. Saw an interview where he was asked about it and his eyes did not lie).
Was following the Bombers from 88 and converted fully to Aussie Rules. Still a digital Dons member. On the Giants since they started.
Did get some looks in Melbourne some years ago wearing a tigers ribbon when they were in the NRL Final some years ago.
Hope it’s a great GF.

Funny thing is that like most of the Balmain players from back then, I can’t watch the 89 GF. Refuse to.
Don’t mind losing, just not in that fashion. Things haven’t improved refereeing standard since that debacle.

Good luck to you all.

 

[balmainforever]

De Boer personally I would throw at prestia

Running Kelly head to head through cotchin he didn't have much impact last weekend.

Davis - Lynch
Corr. - Riewoldt
Taylor - Martin

Martin is the big one but will play a lot down forward they will try to isolate him on haynes deep and take him away from the play.

Houli not sure who goes to him from a defensive forward matchup but its pretty crucial to shut him down. Adam Kennedy looked very annoying last week not sure about a defensive forward probably too left field but he needs to be stopped lots of drive from half back

Astbury - Cameron
Grimes - Finlayson
????? - Himmelberg I suppose is the interesting one Cameron gets up the ground a fair bit so Astbury probably hands him over a fair bit. But Richmond are a bit short without rance so its a matchup that could be exploited.


Genuinely think the giants can win.

Broad has been cleared and will play on a tall. Guessing that Vlaustin will take the other tall which would leave Grimes to go to Toby.

 

[Colonial]

Funny thing is that like most of the Balmain players from back then, I can’t watch the 89 GF. Refuse to.
Don’t mind losing, just not in that fashion. Things haven’t improved refereeing standard since that debacle.

Good luck to you all.

Still have never watched that game.
Looked away when Canberra put it on at half time at Balmains last ever 1st grade game.

 

[balmainforever]

Still have never watched that game.
Looked away when Canberra put it on at half time at Balmains last ever 1st grade game.

That was a great day. We lost easy, but being allowed into the post match area and drinking with all those tigers and Laurie Nichols was very special and something I’ll never forget.

 

[Ichabod Noodle]

Aaahhhh well, gotta say, I absolutely loved the ‘89 grand final. One of the best days, watching the team from my (then) back yard (whom I had jumped on board with the day they came into existence) win their first premiership.

Looking to make it 2 from 2 on Saturday.

 

[Spacedog]

De Boer personally I would throw at prestia

Running Kelly head to head through cotchin he didn't have much impact last weekend.

Davis - Lynch
Corr. - Riewoldt
Taylor - Martin

Martin is the big one but will play a lot down forward they will try to isolate him on haynes deep and take him away from the play.

Houli not sure who goes to him from a defensive forward matchup but its pretty crucial to shut him down. Adam Kennedy looked very annoying last week not sure about a defensive forward probably too left field but he needs to be stopped lots of drive from half back

Astbury - Cameron
Grimes - Finlayson
????? - Himmelberg I suppose is the interesting one Cameron gets up the ground a fair bit so Astbury probably hands him over a fair bit. But Richmond are a bit short without rance so its a matchup that could be exploited.


Genuinely think the giants can win.

I'd expect it to be Astbury to Himmelburg, Broad to Cameron, Grimes to Greene, Vlastuin to Finlayson. Broad, Grimes and Vlastuin will swap opponent a lot depending on who is on the ground