I’ve gone six from six in the finals so far, and my margins have been scarily close, so if you haven’t been previously, set your watch to this...
Richmond Vs Collingwood
Last Time They Met: Richmond 16.9. 105 defeated Collingwood 12.5. 77 (MCG)
Why the Tigers will win:
They’ve known this day was coming for about two months now and arrive fit, rested, and with winning form over their opponent. The stars have aligned for the Tigers.
Why Collingwood will win:
A connection and desire to work for each other that looks to be every bit the equal of the leagues benchmark, Richmond. They troubled the reigning premiers in round 19 with only two men on the bench, and no Treloar.
Who is actually going to win:
I’ve had a gut feeling telling me the Pies all week.
It felt like the Tigers were outmatched in most facets when these two last played, but won anyway. It’s for that reason my head tells me the Tigers will improve in a lot of those areas. With Jack Graham back to quell any Magpies that need attention, and a backline that make scoring ultra-difficult, I think that’s going to be the difference.
Richmond by 25.
West Coast Vs Melbourne
Last Time They Met: West Coast 14.7.91 lost to Melbourne 16.12.108 (Perth Stadium)
Why the Eagles will win:
Fresh, at home, in front of a roaring fanbase, the Eagles couldn’t ask for anything else. Plus, Josh Kennedy and Jack Darling are a little too dynamic for the Demons key defenders.
Why the Demons will win:
They’re on that roll every other team hoped they’d be on this time of year. Their newly fashioned forward line is making more of the plentiful opportunities the midfield have provided.
Who is actually going to win:
It was a close year in the battle for the top eight, and the Bulldogs, and Tigers to a lesser extent, made everyone who got into the Finals believe that if you could play your best four weeks at the right time, you could win the flag.
The Demons are there, or were there. It feels like they’re six weeks into that good month of football, so I think it all catches up with them here against a raging Eagles team, and hostile West Coast crowd.
West Coast by 35.
