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Thursday, September 21, 2006

AFL Preliminary Finals

Week 3 of the AFL Finals series gets underway on Friday night with the Sydney Swans hosting the Fremantle Dockers at Telstra Stadium in the first of this weekend’s two Preliminary Finals.

The Swans have won eight of their last 10 at Telstra Stadium while the Dockers will be playing there for the first time.

Home ground advantage is clearly with the Swans but their chances rest with the goal kicking exploits of Barry Hall and Michael O'Loughlin.

The Dockers lost their last meeting against the Swans back in round 13 and subsequently went on a nine game winning streak that ended with a loss to the Adelaide Crows at AAMI stadium during the first week of the finals.

That game against the Swans when the Dockers led by 1 point at the last change before the Swans kicked six goals to one in the final term is credited with being the turning point for Fremantle’s season.

Terrific value for the Dockers considering they smashed the West Coasters and the Saints by 10 goals in the lead up to the finals.

Make no mistake, the Swans will jump a deserved favourite having won seven of their last eight, including a thrilling one point win over the West Coast Eagles in week one of the finals.

The weeks break should prove pivotal for the Swans as they chase back to back flags but the odds on offer for the Dockers dictate they are the value bet here.

Sydney has won their last six against the Dockers at the SCG. Fremantle has won their last three encounters against the Swans at Subiaco

Can the Dockers overcome home state advantage?

Sydney 1.30
Fremantle 3.65

The second of the Prelim Finals will be played on Saturday afternoon when the West Coast Eagles fly to Adelaide to tackle the Crows at AAMI Stadium.

The West Coasters head into this one full of confidence having beaten Adelaide in five of their last six encounters.

While home ground advantage will give Adelaide a fighting chance, the running power of the Eagles’ star studded midfield tilts this one in their favour.

Adelaide could welcome back Andrew McLeod and Brett Burton from injury but they would be severely underdone in a game where their running power will be tested.

It’s all systems go for the Eagles who only have David Wirrpanda in doubt with a hamstring injury.

The West Coasters found their best form smashing the Tigers in round 22 before losing by a point to the Swans in the first of the Qualifying Finals.

They bounced back last week belting the Bulldogs by 74 points.

Adelaide won their round 22 clash against the Demons by 10 goals before notching a first up Qualifying Final win over the Fremantle Dockers to get their season back on track after a host of injuries threatened to derail their premiership quest.

As is the case with the Dockers, the odds on offer for an Adelaide win are tempting, but that midfield brigade of Cox, Cousins, Judd, Kerr, Embley and Fletcher has no peers.

Can the Crows snap a three game losing streak to the West Coasters to book a Grand Final birth?

West Coast 1-70
Adelaide 2-20

posted by Footballer at AFL Preliminary Finals

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