WHAT HAPPENED IN WEEK ONE OF THE AFL FINALS
RESULTS
* Qualifying final: Richmond 13.17 (95) def Hawthorn 9.10 (64).
* Qualifying final: West Coast 12.14 (86) def Collingwood 10.10 (70)
* Elimination final: Melbourne 10.15 (75) def Geelong 6.10 (46)
* Elimination final: GWS 10.19 (79) def Sydney 4.6 (30)
THEY SAID IT: “I don’t mean to be too unflattering, but you guys are like a bunch of sheep.’ – Alastair Clarkson tries and fails not to be unflattering to journalists after Hawthorn’s qualifying final loss to Richmond.
MAN OF WEEK ONE: GWS co-captain Phil Davis emphatically came out on top after his much-hyped duel with Sydney superstar Lance Franklin, who was held goalless at the SCG.
KEY MOMENT: Tom Hawkins was lining up for a goal that would have put Geelong 15 points behind Melbourne in the third quarter of a tense elimination final at the MCG. But he never got to take the shot after skipper Joel Selwood grabbed Jake Melksham high in a costly brain fade.
TALKING POINT: Is it OK for Toby Greene to channel Jackie Chan when he’s trying to protect space in a marking contest? The star Giant was brilliant in his side’s win over Sydney but his tactic of sticking a leg into opponents raised eyebrows again.
STATS THAT MATTER: The Demons scored a famous win in their elimination final against Geelong on Friday night 4375 days since they last appeared in an AFL final in 2006.
TRIBUNAL WATCH: Toby Greene’s studs-up marking tactics might draw a fine but certainly not a suspension. Likewise Lance Franklin who delivered repeated jumper punches to Phil Davis in a fiery last-quarter incident at the SCG. Richmond’s Josh Caddy was fined $3000 for two separate misconduct charges against Daniel Howe.
KEY INJURIES: Josh Kelly (GWS, knee), Brad Sheppard (WC, hamstring), Ben Stratton (Haw, hamstring), Alex Rance (Rich, foot), Tom Stewart (Geel, neck).
WHAT’S NEXT: Hawthorn take on Melbourne in a knockout semi-final at the MCG on Friday night and Collingwood will host GWS at the same venue in a semi-final on Saturday night. The Tigers and the Eagles will put the their feet up and host preliminary finals in a fortnight.
