Jacqui Reed: The Blues need to pick up where they left off in the second half of their win over the Tigers. That means contested ball must be their focus. They trailed in that stat for the majority of the match against Richmond, but as soon as they were able even it out, they were back in it. The Blues ended up overtaking the Tigers in that area, finishing with a tally of 137-129. That sort of effort needs to be replicated against the Swans, who pride themselves on being first to the ball. It's their trademark, so Mick's men must be up for an in-and-under contest. They also need to be as efficient inside 50 as they were against Richmond. The Swans are a great defensive side, and if the Blues are to challenge, they have to keep chipping away at the scoreboard.
Ninth and still going: can the Blues keep up their unlikely September campaign? Picture: AFL Media
Ashley Browne: The Blues won't train much this week. The next five days will be as much as about recovery as anything, although outgoing fitness coach Justin Cordy should be expecting a pay increase in his next employment contract given the sizzling way the Blues have stormed home in the past fortnight. They'll need a plan to counter the Swans tall forwards if indeed they go down that path again and they need to start better. They've played unbelievably well to come back and win the past fortnight, but they don't want to keep chancing their arm. As long as Chris Judd, Bryce Gibbs and Marc Murphy can maintain that sort of form, you have to give the Blues a chance. And Mick Malthouse won seven of nine games there against the Swans while coach of Collingwood. That's a stat to warm the heart of any Bluebagger.
Nick Bowen: Agree with Ash that the Blues' priority will be to freshen themselves up. The Swans have had a two-day head start in their preparation and Carlton will want to make sure their legs are fresh enough for Saturday night's clash. Obviously they'll be sweating on the fitness of Matty Kreuzer, who spent quarter-time down in the rooms being assessed for an apparent foot injury. Kreuzer will need to be at his best as he and Robbie Warnock face a big battle against Shane Mumford and Mike Pyke, who is now really dangerous floating around the Swans' forward line. The Blues' mosquito fleet performed as well as it has for some time against Richmond and Eddie Betts, Jeff Garlett and Chris Yarran will need to hit the scoreboard against the Swans because Carlton won't want to bank on Nick Duigan being so effective as Jarrad Waite's sidekick next week. But the Hawks beat the Swans in the midfield on Friday night so Ash is right (twice in one day, who'd have thought?) that the Blues have a chance. Chris Judd, Marc Murphy and Bryce Gibbs have to fire again and get some support from Mitch Robinson and, if fit, Brock McLean.
2. Can the Cats go any further without Tom Hawkins?
Adam McNicol: I suppose the place to start here is wondering whether a half-fit Hawkins would have helped against Freo. Given the Cats often bombed the ball into a crowded forward line, it's hard to imagine that Hawkins would have taken many marks. But he would certainly have been more of a handful for the Dockers defenders than Josh Walker, who had a shocker in his first final. As for next week, the Cats can certainly beat the Power without Tomahawk. I think they just need one of their half-forward types – Steven Motlop, Allen Christensen and Mathew Stokes – to play a bit closer to goal. The trio kicked only one goal between them against Freo, but they have the ability to put Port Adelaide to the sword.
Stand-in forward Josh Walker failed to make an impact against the Dockers at Simonds Stadium. Picture: AFL Media
Peter Ryan: Geelong can, but I'd be surprised if Hawkins doesn't play next week. His management has been the one low point in the Cats' season so far. Walker or Shane Kersten should have been exposed in the past month to give them confidence or rule them out. Geelong's forward line lost its structure without Hawkins. He is predictable to his teammates and the smalls worked harder on the ground to cover for him, as Adam implied. The Cats do not need him to beat Port Adelaide but they need him to win the flag. They now start behind the eight ball, having lost a chance for a week's rest before a preliminary final.
Mark Macgugan: Sorry to the readers looking for a bit of spirited debate or at least an alternative view, but I'm going with Adam and Pete. Of course the Cats can press on without Hawkins – for another week at least. Port has surprised everyone all season, but let's be honest: there's probably as much chance of Geelong losing a second game on the trot as there is of Ross Lyon and Shane McInnes – the journalist the Freo boss had a spirited post-game crack at - enjoying a night on the town together sometime this week. The Cats may have looked a little vulnerable up forward against the Dockers, but you can bet the Labor Party's remaining seats that champions such as Steve Johnson, Jimmy Bartel, Paul Chapman and Joel Selwood will lead the way next Friday night.
3. Is Ken Hinkley coach of the year?
Mark Macgugan: He's had a great year, has Kenny, but Fremantle's win over Geelong in the hostile surrounds of Simonds Stadium on Saturday afternoon probably made Ross Lyon's claim to the title even stronger. Who could have imagined the Dockers pulling off a win like that in the pre-Lyon era? But, if we want to make an argument for Hinkley, there are some nice examples to take from Saturday night's upset win over Collingwood. The belief he has installed in the young group, the cohesion of the backline, the irresistible run and the smothering pressure. With apologies to Alastair Clarkson, it's a flip of the coin between Lyon and Hinkley for me.
Ken Hinkley masterminded another thrilling victory for his young Port Adelaide charges against the Pies on Saturday night. Picture: AFL Media
Ashley Browne: Hinkley gets my vote. Port was a basket case before he took over and look where he has the club now. It is also a reminder that in footy, good things come to those who wait, because time and time again, Hinkley was overlooked for a senior coaching role. He could so easily have been coaching Richmond this weekend, after running a close second to Damian Hardwick at the end of 2009. The Hinkley-David Koch partnership promises to be excellent for Port Adelaide. Lyon has been outstanding at Freo this year and Clarkson's work to win 20 of 23 games this year at Hawthorn with such a brutal draw has been excellent. Brendan McCartney's second half of the year with the Western Bulldogs has also been meritorious.
Matt Thompson: Put Ross Lyon's or Alastair Clarkson's achievements this year next to Ken Hinkley¹s, and the Power coach has to be the clear winner. Freo was expected to get better this year, having reached the semis last year, a top four finish had to be the aim. To flip Mark's coin firmly in Kenny's favour all you have to look at is the belief that was shown on Saturday night and throughout the season, time and time again, much of it musthave come from the coach. From 14th last year to a semi-final, at least, in 2013 no one saw the Power coming. Clarko and Lyon have done what was expected of them, Hinkley has turned the tide of an entire club.
4. Did the Swans make the right call on Lewis Jetta and Gary Rohan?
Nathan Schmook: The Swans made the only choice they could if they were going to bridge the gap against a more powerful team. It was a risk – and it didn't pay off – but what options did they have? Mitch Morton, Brandon Jack, Harry Cunningham and Shane Biggs were dropped from the side that lost to Hawthorn in round 23. They weren't going to be the difference on Friday night at the MCG. In theory, Rohan and Jetta, who have proven game-breaking ability, could have been. They weren't up to it on Friday night, but the Swans have personnel issues and needed to roll the dice.
Jude Bolton wasn't the only high-profile Swan who struggled against the Hawks on Friday night. Picture: AFL Media
Callum Twomey: Agree with Nathan on this. What other option did the Swans have? A qualifying final win would have set up their tilt at back-to-back flags, ensured a home preliminary final, and a valuable week off for their other players carrying niggles. And let's face it, the substitute is a hit-and-miss proposition most weeks. If the Swans were in Hawthorn's position and doing it as they liked in the second half, Jetta could easily have had the same impact as Jed Anderson, the Hawks' sub. I was more concerned with Dan Hannebery's game. He hurt his knee a couple of weeks back, had it strapped on Friday night, and just didn't appear himself.
Nick Bowen: Agree that the Swans had to be bold at the selection table but they overdid it playing both Rohan and Jetta. Yeah, both have the X-factor to turn a final on its head, but both were massively underdone going into Friday night. I know Rohan played the last three home and away games but do you know what his biggest possession tally was in those matches? Seven. Hardly scintillating form to take into a finals campaign. And, of course, Jetta hadn't played since round 10. I think Alastair Clarkson summed it up post-match when he was talking about why the Hawks didn't play Cyril: you don't take injured or underdone players into a final. Given what he did in last year's Grand Final, the Swans were right to play Jetta as their sub, but should have left Rohan out.
