AFL
Matt WalshJake Michaels 6y

AFL W2W4: Three questions that hold the key to the Grand Final

AFL

If anyone predicted a Collingwood vs. West Coast grand final at the beginning of the year, please take a bow and give yourself a pat on the back.

Most AFL pundits had both the Magpies and Eagles struggling to make finals in 2018, let alone finishing in the top four and going on to meet in the big dance. While credit should deservedly go to Nathan Buckley and Adam Simpson for the sensational turnarounds, but both playing groups have also seen improved contributions from across the board.

Should Collingwood get up on Saturday they would match Essendon and Carlton on 16 for the most premierships in VFL/AFL history, while if the Eagles manage to get the job done, it would be their fourth flag in 26 years.

Here's What To Watch For in the 2018 Grand Final.

Can Collingwood's back six nullify the Eagles' dynamic forward line?

It's a stat line that reads beautifully for West Coast fans but not so much for Collingwood (or Melbourne) supporters: Kennedy, four goals. Darling, Cripps and LeCras; three goals apiece. Rioli, Ryan, Venables; one goal each in the prelim last week.

West Coast has the league's most dynamic forward line and it poses a huge threat to Collingwood's back six which has -- for lack of a better term -- been patchwork for most of the year.

Tyson Goldsack has played just three games this season after rupturing his ACL in March. Matthew Scharenberg and Lynden Dunn are missing, Jeremy Howe has battled injury throughout the season, and there's been a heavy reliance (which has admittedly paid off) on youngsters Tom Langdon, Jack Crisp and Brayden Maynard.

The Pies' defence has punched above its weight but is now facing arguably its toughest task: West Coast in a Grand Final.

The Eagles are now 12-0 in 2018 with both Kennedy and Darling in the same side, meaning the Pies -- after inflicting Richmond's first loss at the MCG in 23 games -- will need to break another record if they're to come away with a 16th flag.

All of West Coast's goalkickers are in form, and while the Pies have been valiant down back in their three finals thus far, it'll take the mother of all efforts to keep the Eagles quiet enough for Collingwood's forwards to kick a winning score. 

Can the Lycett/Vardy combination blanket Grundy?

They've already ticked one All-Australian ruckman off their list but can the Eagles' low-key ruck combo of Scott Lycett and Nathan Vardy do it again?

Last Saturday, the duo nullified lead All-Australian ruckman Max Gawn in Perth but now face arguably a harder task in coming up against the versatile Grundy who is fresh off a 56-hit out, 21-disposal domination of Toby Nankervis and the Tigers.

One thing to bear in mind heading into Saturday's Grand Final is Grundy is a different beast to Gawn. For a ruck, Grundy's follow-up work at ground level is unmatched in the AFL, while his tendency to rack-up plenty of (meaningful) football makes him a damaging midfielder in his own right.

Lycett and Vardy may only have combined for 28 hit-outs against the Dees in Perth last week but they kept Gawn to just 36 on the day -- his lowest since Round 20 (30), and before that, Round 7 (34). He also had little of his usual influence around the ground.

If the West Coast pair can keep Grundy accountable, limit his presence both in the air and on the ground, and give their own team-mates first use of the footy, they will go a long way towards helping their side win a fourth premiership cup. 

Will West Coast allow Sidebottom to run free?

Adam Simpson and the Eagles only need to take a glance at the Brownlow Medal leaderboard to know just how damaging Steele Sidebottom can be for Collingwood.

Earlier in the week Sidebottom finished runner-up to Hawthorn ball-magnet Tom Mitchell for the AFL's highest individual honour. The hard-running Magpie polled a career-high 24 votes (including seven best on grounds) to highlight his extraordinary season which saw him average a shade under 30 disposals, four clearances and four inside 50s per game.

But since finals got underway in September, Sidebottom has arguably shifted into a higher gear. He was Collingwood's best player in their qualifying final loss to West Coast and has gone on to play instrumental roles in wins over GWS and Richmond. It's no surprise to see him as the favourite for the Norm Smith Medal.

But strangely, like Mitchell at the Hawks, few teams deploy a tag on Sidebottom. It's allowed him to operate in acres of space where he has gathered the ball and used it as effectively as anyone else in the league. From West Coast's point of view, this cannot happen on Saturday.

The obvious candidate to run with Sidebottom is Mark Hutchings. He's proven to be more than capable in this role and could limit Sidebottom's influence around the ground. Hutchings is also well suited to matching up on Sidebottom when he ventures forward.

Whatever you do, Eagles, don't let Sidebottom roam free on Saturday afternoon.

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