BRODIE GRUNDY v SCOTT LYCETT/NATHAN VARDY
When Nic Naitanui went down with his knee reconstruction in the round-17 win over Collingwood, it could have been a nail in the Eagles’ coffin for the season. But Lycett was mighty that day and he’s teamed well with Vardy to share the ruck load since. Still, the two big Eagles lowered their colours to Collingwood’s All-Australian ruckman in the qualifying final. Grundy also dominated against Richmond last week and easily could have been best afield. He will be tough to stop.
MASON COX v TOM BARRASS
Look at the first 10 minutes of the second term last Friday night for everything you need to know about why Collingwood have persisted with the big American. Richmond’s defence had no answer for Cox, who blew the preliminary final apart with his three big marks and three massive goals. The Eagles defence could rotate this matchup with Tom Barrass likely to start on Cox. But it’s not so much who plays on Cox, but whether the Eagles’ team defence can blunt the supply to him – and whether he can repeat his preliminary final heroics.
JEREMY McGOVERN v CHRIS MAYNE
Eagle McGovern is arguably the most important player in the match, as shown by his key roles in the round 17 and qualifying final wins over the Pies. McGovern is an intercept marking specialist, the AFL version of a mobile brick wall across half-back. One of the keys to the Magpies’ success this season has been much better delivery inside 50 and McGovern knows exactly how to disrupt this. But whether it’s a hip pointer (West Coast’s explanation) or ribs (speculation), McGovern is nursing an injury from the preliminary final. If his mobility is affected, the Pies will smell blood. Also, after McGovern dominated early a fortnight ago, Chris Mayne went to him in a defensive forward role and blunted his impact.
STEELE SIDEBOTTOM v MARK HUTCHINGS
Collingwood’s Sidebottom has been the player of the finals and demands a midfield tag, with Hutchings just the man for the job. Hutchings went with Sidebottom in the second half of the qualifying final and had some impact, but the Collingwood star has a habit of lifting for big games – the Richmond midfield will long have nightmares about what he did last Friday night.
JOSH KENNEDY v TYSON GOLDSACK.
After an injury-blighted season, there’s a sense of foreboding about what Eagles spearhead Kennedy might do in the grand final. He has kicked 2.4 and four goals in the two finals. No-one’s kicked five goals in a grand final since 2014 and you sense if Kennedy can produce a “bag”, then West Coast are well on the way to their fourth premiership. Goldsack has been solid in his three finals after making an astonishing recovery from a pre-season knee reconstruction. But Richmond’s Jack Riewoldt kicked five last Friday, showing the potential vulnerability of the Collingwood key defenders.
LEVI GREENWOOD V ELLIOT YEO
West Coast’s Yeo is a much-improved onballer who was unlucky not to join Sidebottom in the All-Australian team. Fresh from scoring some points against a hobbled Dustin Martin, Collingwood tagger Levi Greenwood might try to cut down Yeo’s prolific output. Easier said than done.
WEST COAST v 2015 GRAND FINAL DEMONS
Hutchings run down by Cyril Rioli … the last time Kennedy was held goalless … Jack Darling’s dropped mark … Luke Shuey’s missed handball. West Coast’s team on Saturday will feature 12 veterans of their grand final shocker three years ago against Hawthorn. Do those bad memories spur the Eagles or are they found wanting again on the biggest stage?
