LET THE BATTLES BEGIN
SIMEON THOMAS-WILSON investigates eight key match-ups which could decide the fate of Saturday’s grand final
GEELONG and Sydney have many weapons at their disposal. How can Chris Scott and John Longmire maximise their strengths while also putting a blanket on some key opponents at the MCG?
Here are some of the match-ups to keep an eye on when the Cats and Swans clash to decide the 2022 premier.
SAM DE KONING V LANCE FRANKLIN
JACK Henry went to Franklin when the Sydney superstar kicked his 1000th goal way back in round 2.
De Koning missed that SCG match and should get the job on the Swans superstar this time around. Arguably the best young key defender in the AFL will go up against the biggest name when it comes to full-forwards.
De Koning marked Brisbane Lions star Joe Daniher completely out of the preliminary final, kept Aaron Naughton to a goal when they last played, while he also did well on Max King.
It’s an tasty match-up.
JED BEWS V TOM PAPLEY
HE doesn’t get a lot of external praise but Bews has barely been beaten this season, and has become the Cats’ dependable small defender.
In his match-ups this year against Will Hayward, Luke Breust, Jack Mahony, Michael Walters, Robbie Gray, Maurice Rioli, Cameron Zurhaar, Kysaiah Pickett, Jamie Elliott and Charlie Cameron, Bews has allowed just seven goals.
Only Rioli kicked multiple goals on Bews.
Papley has been huge for the Swans this finals series. He booted two and three goals against Melbourne and Collingwood in Sydney’s run to the grand final. He’s Sydney’s fire-starter. His energy is infectious among his teammates.
His disposals, forward 50 marks, forward 50 groundball gets, goals and score involvements are all elite. Keeping him quiet will be a major part of Chris Scott’s planning.
Given Bews’ ability to blanket his opponents this season, you’d assume that he goes to Papley. It’s just another mouth-watering battle for fans to enjoy.
TOM STEWART V RYAN CLARKE
SINCE Clarke returned to the Sydney side in round 15 he has pretty much tagged each week.
This includes keeping Jack Sinclair to 11 disposals in 54 minutes of their match-up, Jordan Dawson to six touches in 40 minutes, Nick Daicos to 12 in 55 minutes in round 22, Christian Salem to 12 in 99 minutes and Daicos to 16 in 90 minutes in the preliminary final.
If Stewart isn’t the most important Geelong player in his loose-man role in defence then he is pretty close.
In 2022 his average of 8.9 intercept possessions a game is the best in the competition for general defenders, as is his 2.9 intercept marks.
His average of 7.4 marks per game ranks him sixth in the league, while his 23.6 disposals rank ninth and his 510m gained per game sits 10th. Geelong depends heavily on Stewart’s cool, clean play dominating in defence. Can Clarke stop this?
JEREMY CAMERON V DANE RAMPE
THE height difference is stark – Rampe stands at 189cm; Cameron is 196cm.
The Swans will back their dependable defender to run with the Cats superstar, which is huge given Cameron’s ability to roam across the field. Rampe kept Cameron goalless in round 2 and Sydney would love a repeat performance.
But in the 2016 qualifying final, Cameron gave Rampe a bath – kicking three goals on him in the third quarter. They have had plenty of battles over the years and they get to go again on the biggest stage.
JACK HENRY V ISAAC HEENEY
HEENEY is ranked elite for disposals, forward 50 marks, forward 50 groundball gets, goals and score involvements,
demonstrating just how dangerous the Swans can be in attack. Jake Kolodjashnij could be in the mix to man the Swans star but Henry looks primed for the job. Heeney can produce the sublime – a matchwinner for the Swans. Franklin (52 goals), Heeney (45), Hayward (33) and Papley (31) lead Sydney’s goalscoring this season. It’s a good spread.
Heeney looms large and stopping him will be a big task ahead of Henry.
PATRICK DANGERFIELD V CALLUM MILLS
DANGERFIELD was on from the get-go against the Brisbane Lions in Geelong’s huge preliminary final win. He kicked a goal within the first minute and was best afield by quarter-time.
It was the first part of what was a season-best performance by the Cats superstar.
His 720m gained was a season high, his 16 contested possessions and eight clearances were the second best of the year for him, his 28 disposals was the third best and eight score involvements were the fifth best.
Only the score involvements, the fourth best in the match, wasn’t a game high for the Cats superstar.
The way Longmire uses Mills is fascinating.
A player who can hunt the footy with the best of them when in the midfield, Longmire likes to put Mills behind the ball as a loose defender when the heat is on.
But Mills stood
Dangerfield when the two sides met earlier this year. And given how good the Cats star was last week, there’s a strong chance Longmire does the same again.
TOM HAWKINS V TOM MCCARTIN
EVEN if Sydney stops Cameron, the Swans also have to worry about the force of nature that is Hawkins.
With brother Paddy Mccartin more suited to taking the key intercept marks, expect Tom to take on Hawkins.
Hawkins only kicked the one goal against the Swans in round 2, but it is his selfless play which makes him a danger even if he doesn’t hit the scoreboard himself.
Mccartin grew up as a Geelong boy, he now takes on the Cats gun full-forward.
RHYS STANLEY V TOM HICKEY
THE first centre bounce at the MCG will only fuel the theory that you don’t need a star ruckman to be successful in the AFL. Hickey has been huge for the Swans in the back half of the season, matching it with Max Gawn, Luke Jackson and Darcy Cameron this finals series.
From round 21 onwards he has improved his hitouts-to-advantage average to 8.4 per game, an increase of 40 per cent, his contested possessions have increased by 35 per cent to 13.4 and his clearances by 23 per cent to 4.8. With Sam Reid likely to play more forward, Hickey’s importance only increases.
At the Cats, Stanley has copped the brunt of criticism at times but he still plays an extremely important role for the Cats. Both rucks have been discarded by other clubs.
For the winner it will be the sweetest of victories.
The Swans celebrated in round 2. But will Geelong have the last laugh and the premiership?