WILL Richmond end a 35-year Grand Final drought or will it be the Giants who march into a maiden premiership decider? And will it be Patrick Dangerfield and his Cats who move into the last Saturday in September, or Danger's ex-teammates at the Crows? 

Our reporters have their say on the weekend's preliminary finals, picking their winners and taking a stab at how the two big games will play out. 

Check out their tips below. 

Ashley Browne

ADELAIDE v GEELONG
Winner: Adelaide by nine points
Most disposals: Matt Crouch (32)
First goal: Tom Hawkins
The man: He might not get the most possessions, but this will be Rory Sloane’s crowning glory for the Crows, with his tough inside work a key factor in Adelaide's win. The boy from the Lilydale line will book himself an MCG Grand Final.
The moment: 50,000 fans Adelaide fans serenading Patrick Dangerfield as he walks off the ground and into his off-season. 

RICHMOND v GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
Winner: Richmond by 21 pts
Most disposals: Dustin Martin (33)
First goal: Dan Butler
The man: The Giants will be up and about early, but some clean, quality disposals and a couple of great tackles will soothe Tiger nerves and get them on their way.
The moment: Jack Riewoldt marks and kicks the sealer late in the final quarter and then turns triumphantly towards the fans at the Punt Road End … except that there aren't any there! They're already on their way to queue for Grand Final tickets.

Nick Bowen

ADELAIDE v GEELONG
Winner: Adelaide by 19 points
Most disposals: Matt Crouch (36)
First goal: Eddie Betts
The man: With Patrick Dangerfield seconded into the Cats' forward line for long stretches, Matt Crouch takes full advantage, overcoming a Mark Blicavs tag to lead the Crows' midfield to a decisive victory around the stoppages.
The moment: Betts dodges Jed Bews, then bamboozles Andrew Mackie with a feigned handball before dribbling a brilliant goal from the boundary line just before quarter-time. It gives the Crows a handy three-goal lead and dispels any fears they would be rusty after a week off. 

RICHMOND v GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
Winner: Richmond by five points
Most disposals: Josh Kelly (38)
First goal: Dan Butler
The man: Trent Cotchin sets the tone for the Tigers from the opening bounce with his fanatical attack on the ball and opponent. The Richmond skipper isn't the most prolific midfielder on the ground but is the most influential, as the Tigers' defensive pressure ultimately prevails over GWS's high-octane ball movement.
The moment: In the dying seconds of the game, Alex Rance backs into a pack to mark in front of Jon Patton and Rory Lobb, thwarting Greater Western Sydney's desperate last push for victory.

Is Alex Rance set for a signature miserly display against GWS? Picture: AFL Photos

Adam Curley

ADELAIDE v GEELONG
Winner: Geelong by 11 points
Most disposals: Joel Selwood (37)
First goal: Patrick Dangerfield
The man: After his job on Swans star Josh Kennedy last week, Mark Blicavs goes to Matt Crouch, and with Rory Sloane also nullified by Scott Selwood, the Crows midfield can't get enough quality supply to its dangerous forwards.
The moment: Dangerfield's second half move to the midfield leaves Tom Hawkins deep on Daniel Talia, and the power forward marks strongly in a one on one contest, then seals the win in the dying stages. 

RICHMOND v GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
Winner: Greater Western Sydney by eight points
Most disposals: Callan Ward (39)
First goal: Toby Greene
The man: Stephen Coniglio can't quite perform a full shutdown role Dustin Martin, but does enough to limit the Tiger's influence around stoppages and forward of centre to make a massive impact.
The moment: Ward brushes off the Martin 'don't argue' to bring the Tiger down, before Nathan Wilson swoops on the loose footy and drills a trademark 60m drop punt inside the Giants forward 50, where Greene runs into an open goal to end the Tiger charge.

Lee Gaskin

ADELAIDE v GEELONG
Winner: Adelaide by 15 points
Most disposals: Matt Crouch (34)
First goal: Richard Douglas
The man: Matt Crouch. With Rory Sloane largely kept quiet thanks to a hard tag, Crouch racks up 15 contested possessions and is influential at stoppages. 
The moment: Crows skipper Taylor Walker takes a huge contested mark in the last quarter and puts his side in front with a massive goal from beyond the 50m arc.

RICHMOND v GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
Winner: Richmond by 43 points
Most disposals: Dustin Martin (37)
First goal: Josh Caddy
The man: Dustin Martin. The Brownlow Medal favourite stamps his class all over the game with a magnificent midfield performance while also having an impact up forward.
The moment: Martin delivers a brutal fend, accelerates and kicks a goal on the run to give the Tigers a big lead heading into the main change.

If the Crows get up, Matt Crouch could be their driving force. Picture: AFL Photos

Ben Guthrie

ADELAIDE v GEELONG
Winner: Geelong by 19 points
Most disposals: Mitch Duncan (34)
First goal: Eddie Betts
The man: Mitch Duncan. Duncan is one of the most underrated midfielders in the AFL and has averaged 31 disposals over the past month. His ability to spread hard in attack and hit the scoreboard could be the difference in getting Geelong over the line.
The moment: Dangerfield is isolated deep inside 50 on Jake Kelly midway through the final term. Kelly does well initially to spoil the ball to ground, but Dangerfield's recovery is too swift and he snaps the ball around his body, from 'Eddie's pocket', to kick his fourth goal of the contest to spur the Cats to a memorable victory.

RICHMOND v GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
Winner: Richmond by 10 points
Most disposals: Callan Ward (31)
First goal: Jack Riewoldt
The man: Trent Cotchin. The Tigers skipper was inspirational from the very beginning of the qualifying final against Geelong and Richmond will again look to the captain to set the tone against the Giants.
The moment: It's early in the fourth term and Richmond is feeling the heat with the hard-running Giants' midfield constantly bursting clear from stoppages. Enter Cotchin, who delivers a game-changing tackle to strip Josh Kelly of the footy. The Tigers transition the ball to the other end of the ground, with Daniel Rioli running into an unguarded goal square to send the Tiger army into raptures.

Travis King

ADELAIDE v GEELONG
Winner: Adelaide by 17 points
Most disposals: Matt Crouch (36)
First goal: Rory Sloane
The man: Eddie Betts. The stage is set for the superstar Crows forward to light up the first quarter with a couple of team-lifting goals. 
The moment: The Cats are fighting back in the third term as Rory Sloane and Patrick Dangerfield hunt a loose ball on the wing. Sloane wins the one-on-one battle and bangs it forward for skipper Taylor Walker to outmark Harry Taylor and drill the steadying goal.  

RICHMOND v GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
Winner: Richmond by 10 points
Most disposals: Dion Prestia (29)
First goal: Jacob Townsend
The man: Jacob Townsend. The man of the hour kicks three majors before half-time to get the Tiger Army roaring.
The moment: Dusty dishes out a 'don't argue' on Brett Deledio across half-forward, races inside 50m and kicks the match-winning goal in time-on in the last term. Cue mayhem in the MCG stands.

Will Dusty and his 'don't argue' cut down the Giants? Picture: AFL Photos

Marc McGowan

ADELAIDE v GEELONG
Winner: Adelaide by 13 points
Most disposals: Matt Crouch (34)
First goal: Nakia Cockatoo
The man: Patrick Dangerfield is the answer here, no matter your view on Friday night's preliminary final. The Crows fans are hating on him, the media wants to know where he's playing, and a Cats upset depends on a Danger star showing.
The moment: Every time the perennially underrated Taylor Walker takes a strong grab across half-forward. Back him in for 10 on the night, and if he does that, expect Adelaide's offence to be flowing. Only Lance Franklin and Dustin Martin average more score involvements than 'Tex'.

RICHMOND v GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
Winner: Richmond by 40 points
Most disposals: Dustin Martin (29)
First goal: Josh Caddy
The man: Jason Castagna. The quietly-spoken Tiger almost certainly spent a fortnight worrying about whether he would retain his spot, and will be keen to show why he did keep it. A couple of goals and six tackles should do it.
The moment: Trent Cotchin wins the first clearance and gives to Dustin Martin, who bursts through traffic – likely fending off at least one Giant – and bombs long to Josh Caddy for the opening goal. The Tiger Army erupts and never stops celebrating.

Dinny Navaratnam

ADELAIDE v GEELONG
Winner: Adelaide by eight points
Most disposals: Matt Crouch (31)
First goal: Eddie Betts
The man: Jake Lever. The young defender, who could be on the move in the off-season, will feast on intercept marks all night.
The moment: A captain's goal from Taylor Walker on his left boot in the third term sparks the crowd into a frenzy, giving the Crows a lead they won't give up.

RICHMOND v GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
Winner: Richmond by 11 points
Most disposals: Dustin Martin (33)
First goal: Toby Greene
The man: Trent Cotchin. The skipper was excellent in his side's qualifying final win against Geelong and will set himself to produce a similar effort.
The moment: Jack Riewoldt takes a huge pack mark and then slots the set shot early in the last quarter to spark the Tigers, helping take them to the Grand Final.

Jake Lever will be hoping the signs point to a Crows grand final berth. Picture: AFL Photos

Peter Ryan

ADELAIDE v GEELONG
Winner: Adelaide by 13 points
Most disposals: Matt Crouch (28)
First goal: Steven Motlop
The man: Taylor Walker has waited five years to be back in a preliminary final after Hawthorn prevailed over Adelaide by five points in 2012. Now skipper of the Crows, he has led the team through so much that he will stop at nothing to make the AFL Grand Final. He will be a man on a mission on Friday night.
The moment: Eddie Betts only needs half a metre of space to be dangerous and when Jed Bews slips, the Crow pounces on a loose ball near the boundary and kicks a miraculous goal to put the Crows in front for the first time.

RICHMOND v GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
Winner: Richmond by 17 points
Most disposals: Dustin Martin (38)
First goal: Jack Riewoldt
The man: Toby Greene stands between Richmond and victory with three first-half goals. He creates havoc inside 50, taking every opportunity and Alex Rance is sent to curtail his influence. Their first two one-on-ones in the second half are classic battles but Greene prevails.  
The moment: Trent Cotchin runs down Josh Kelly to tackle him and create a loose ball that spills to Dan Butler in space. Butler sprints forward with half of Greater Western Sydney in pursuit and drills a goal from outside 50 to seal a Grand Final spot for the Tigers. Jolimont registers on the Richter scale.

Nathan Schmook

ADELAIDE v GEELONG
Winner: Adelaide by 11 points
Most disposals: Matt Crouch (32)
First goal: Charlie Cameron
The man: Brad Crouch. With Dangerfield starting forward, Crouch will take advantage and be the most influential midfielder. Built for finals, his clearance wins will keep Adelaide rolling at critical times.
The moment: The 'Texan' and Betts combine. The Adelaide skipper finds the biggest name in SA football free inside 50 and Betts does the rest, snapping the sealer.  

RICHMOND v GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
Winner: Richmond by 22 points
Most disposals: Dustin Martin (34)
First goal: Josh Caddy
The man: Nick Vlastuin. Tough and smart, Vlastuin will be the crucial loose behind the ball that frustrates the Giants with his intercept game. If he is made accountable he will shut down that man and crash packs and help teammates like a wrecking ball. 
The moment: 'Dusty' delivers. The superstar Tiger is isolated inside 50 with the game on the line, winning a one-on-one marking contest and converting to give the Tigers' breathing space.

Could Toby Greene be the man to quieten the Tiger faithful? Picture: AFL Photos

Callum Twomey

ADELAIDE v GEELONG
Winner: Adelaide by 22 points
Most disposals: Brad Crouch (29)
First goal: Sam Menegola
The man: Adelaide spearhead Taylor Walker kicks four vital goals to push the arm wrestle in the Crows' favour. Walker's accuracy and ability to take his chances separates the Crows from the wasteful Cats.
The moment: Rory Sloane lays two bruising tackles in a row early in the last term that leads to an Eddie Betts goal to all but seal the Crows' passage to the premiership decider. 

RICHMOND v GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
Winner: Richmond by 12 points
Most disposals: Josh Kelly (33)
First goal: Toby Greene
The man: Trent Cotchin's brilliant season continues with a 34-disposal and two-goal display to lead the Tigers' midfield unit in its pivotal battle with the Giants' engine room.
The moment: Jack Riewoldt kicks two goals late in the third term to steady the ship and lead Richmond into the Grand Final.