Hoping Port win tonight. They have slipped under the radar a bit this year but now is the time we find out how good they really are. I think Port match up reasonably well on Geelong, some big bodies to put pressure on Geelong. I think Port will win, the way they played in last year's PF shows what they are capable of, that game could have gone either way. I'm expecting huge congestion at each end of the ground as both teams flood back while the chip-mark-stand game continues in the middle.
Sydney v GWS is almost impossible to pick, they really are evenly matched but I just get the feeling GWS are peaking at the right time and Sydney are probably a year or two off being real contenders. GWS to win but either result will not surprise me.
Melbourne should beat Brissie. They have fixed the issues they had in 2018 and should go into the finals as favourites. Coming top of the ladder has not been the place to win from much of late, but the last time they came top they won, also, olympics in Tokyo - the parallels are lined up, down to you Melbourne. Melbourne are a different team from even a couple of years ago, that comeback win against Geelong shows an ability to hold firm which is needed in finals. If Melbourne can stem the flow of goals when their opposition are having a run (which seems very hard for any team with the way the game is being played now, but finals could be different) then they have the ability to go all the way. Brisbane are good, but Melbourne are better.
Footscray v Essendon is a difficult one. Footscray are the better team, but their form is abysmal. I reckon Footscray will come back and win this one, they went close with Port last week and Essendon are an easier prospect.
Sad to see we're out of it but there is plenty of hope for 2022.
DS