• After the siren: Is this as good as semi-finals footy gets?
• Make your September forecast with the 2014 finals predictor
1. Will the Swans' high-priced forward line prove too much for the Kangaroos' backline?
There's no doubt the Swans' forward line packs a potent punch on paper with Lance Franklin, Kurt Tippett, Adam Goodes and Sam Reid proving a handful height-wise for pretty much every team. The Roos need to decide now how they best go about combating them. They've got Scott Thompson and Nathan Grima, and would love to have Lachie Hansen fit but he's no certainty to get up after struggling with hip/groin issues for the past month. Brad Scott has already floated the possibility of calling up 25-year-old Joel Tippett, who has only played four senior games this year and recently recovered from pectoral and knee issues, to bolster the backline's height. Firstly though, Scott said he would have to talk to Tippett about the prospect of playing on his brother, "because you don't want big brother pushing little brother around". But, while there's sure to be plenty of focus this week on who plays on who, the Swans' ability to score from clearances and drive the ball inside 50 to their tall timber means the Roos are going to have to focus on team defence and reducing their clean delivery into attack if they're going to stop the big Swans. – Jennifer Phelan2. Can North Melbourne's run-and-gun strategy work against the Swans?
The Kangas came out firing against Geelong in their semi-final on Friday night. Rather than simply try and keep possession of the ball, like they did in the first half of their elimination final win over Essendon, they blazed the Sherrin through the middle of the ground at high speed. It was a high-risk strategy, as turnovers in the middle of the ground often prove very costly, but it paid off handsomely. Brad Scott's side blew the Cats to bits, racking up 110 disposals to 66 in the first quarter and kicking seven of the first nine goals. But it's highly unlikely that the well-drilled and well-rested Swans will be sliced open so easily. So Scott now needs to decide whether to encourage his men to be a bit more patient and careful with the ball at ANZ Stadium next Friday night, or whether to simply go out all guns blazing again and hope for the best. If they go no the attack and it comes off, the Roos could snatch an early lead against the minor premiers and then try to control the tempo of the contest from there. But if the Swans were to force a raft of turnovers in the middle, Scott's men could find themselves out of the game by quarter-time. – Adam McNicol3. Can Hawthorn's backs handle the Power sharpshooters?
Brian Lake, Josh Gibson and Ben Stratton would have enjoyed their weekend off until roughly 9.30pm Saturday night when Robbie Gray turned the semi final in Perth on its head. The Hawks' defenders would back themselves against Power tall forwards Jay Schulz and Justin Westhoff, but the main threat on Saturday will be at ground level. Gray kicked four goals from five possessions in the third quarter against Fremantle, spending more time forward and getting his team back into the contest. Chad Wingard, who also booted four goals, provided the knockout blow. The Hawk defenders proved in their opening final they can shutdown the opposition's tall forwards, keeping Geelong's Tom Hawkins to one goal. The Power forward line, however, boasts multiple in-form sharpshooters who are relishing the big stage. Back in round 10, Gray, Wingard and Angus Monfries combined for nine goals against the Hawks at Adelaide Oval. Against Fremantle on Saturday night, Schulz and Westhoff combined for one goal. The Power's best avenue to goal might not be through the key forwards, and the Hawks' valuable key defenders might not dictate the result of Saturday's preliminary final. – Nathan SchmookWATCH: Where the Power won Saturday night's thriller in the west
