THE CASE FOR COLLINGWOOD
DAMIEN RACTLIFFE: How are the nerves, gents? GRANT PAYNE: On a par with this time last week. About to get much, much worse. DR: Is there anything about the Eagles you’re most nervous about? GP: Yes. I’m nervous about Darling, Kennedy, Yeo, Barrass, Ryan, Rioli, Hurn, and making sure I remember all the words to Working Class Man. Apart from all that, I think we’ll be fine.
DR: The two key forwards worry me and McGovern’s the other concern for mine. If we can take more marks inside our forward 50 than West Coast, then we’ll win.
GP: Yeah I forgot about McGovern as well. He’s a ripper. As Mick Malthouse would say, they are a very, very, very good football side. But we have a few stars of our own too.
ALEX OATES: Kennedy and Darling have been giving me nightmares. I can’t see any way that the Pies can stop them. The rain, if it actually comes, might be our only hope.
GP: Hopefully Jimmy Barnes will save us before the first bounce. You blokes are too young to know a Cold Chisel song called
Star Hotel. I suggest you watch the music video on YouTube to see what might happen to Melbourne if we get done.
DR: Stay positive gents, we kept them to 12 goals at their home ground three weeks ago, we just didn’t kick enough ourselves. Sidebottom was our top possession getter with 27 touches, Treloar had 24 with limited game time and Pendlebury had 17. I’m pretty confident our midfield will carry us over the line today.
AO: Grundy is the key player for me. If he dominates Lycett and Vardy — like he should — and gives the Collingwood mids first use, that will go a long way to winning the game. But if the Eagles can break even, or better, in that department, it’s going to be a long day for us Pies.
GP: Let’s be honest, Mason Cox, as good as he was last week … it will be tough to expect another performance like that from him. I think Jaidyn Stephenson will thrive after a quiet one. Similarly the Frenchman, Mark LeCras, needs close attention. He kicked 3.2 last week. #respect
DR: Brayden Sier’s built for the big stage too, I reckon, and I’m looking forward to seeing Taylor Adams go head-to-head with Yeo. Both have been contested beasts this finals series. But hard to go pass “BlueScope’’ Steele for the Norm Smith. One of the few midfielders who plays more than 90 per cent game time and just uses the ball so well. Pies by 19 and Sidey for the Norm for me.
GP: Sounds good to me fellas. Pies by not much and Taylor Adams for the medal. And I reckon Josh Thomas might kick the first goal. Unless Goldsack does a 2010. Just hope it doesn’t go to extra time. Go Pies.
AO: I’m liking Jordan De Goey for Norm. Big game player, freakish talent and got us going last week. Good luck to whoever gets the gig on him. And Go Pies!