Coach's Column
Kangaroos Coach Dean Laidley writes a column for the Canberra Times each Saturday. At the weekend he wrote about
Pressure is so intense in finals football it often turns the match from a tactical battle into old-fashioned contested one-on-one football. With that in mind I have previewed the four key match-ups that will go a long way to deciding the results of the remaining three AFL finals this weekend.Adelaide V FremantleSimon Goodwin (Adel) v Matthew Carr (Freo)With Ricciuto and McLeod missing much falls onto the shoulders of Goodwin. He can play inside and outside and is critical to the Crows midfield. I would expect that M. Carr would be sent tag him to curb his brilliance.
Matthew Clarke (Adel) v Aaron Sandilands (Freo)Both midfields have great potency so if one of these rucks can take control at the stoppages it will give their forwards, through midfield domination, enough opportunities to kick a winning score.
Graham Johncock (Adel) v Jeff Farmer (Freo)The key to this game for the Crows will be to limit their scoring ability. Farmer has lit up the Dockers in the past two months and is the type of player you need to stop to beat them as they win when he is on song.
Scott Stevens (Adel) v Matthew Pavlich (Freo)When looking at this game and in particularly both forwards lines you see there is only one power forward capable of ripping the game apart in the space of minutes - Matthew Pavlich. This is what makes Stevens’ role so important. If he can hold Pavlich, it will give the Crows a chance at holding the Dockers to a beatable total.
West Coast v SydneyBarry Hall (Syd) v Darren Glass (WC)Darren Glass did not play in Round 15 and he is the key in tonight’s match. Last time the two teams met Hall allowed the Swans to keep control of the game for most of the night with his four goals and he needs to be stopped or curbed. This match-up is crucial.
Tadhg Kennelly (Syd) v Adam Selwood (WC)Kennelly is the Swans launching pad from defence for the Swans and I would expect John Worsfold would run a half-forward with him. Adam Selwood has been successful at this in the past, but for it to work against Kennelly he needs to kick goals.
Ben Mathews (Syd) v Ben Cousins (WC)While many clubs target Judd when they think about stopping the Eagles, you need to stop Ben Cousins as well. In the past six weeks he has averaged 32 possessions and a goal. Cousins’ gut-running is what allows him to churn out numbers like this and the Swans need to limit this. Mathews will get first crack.
Darren Jolly (Syd) v Dean Cox (WC)Earlier this season Dean Cox was favourite for the Brownlow Medal. Injury curbed the middle part of his season, but he has now had four weeks back and is running in to peak form. When Cox is on song he is not only dominating in the ruck, he is also gathering possessions and kicking goals. If he is allowed to do this tonight the Eagles will win.
Collingwood v Western BulldogsBrad Johnson (WB) v Nathan Lonie (Coll)Johnson is a very good contested mark and Lonie will be able can match it with him in the air. Lonie also has very good endurance and Johnson has taken that part of his game to a new level this year. Another reason that this match-up is important is that if Lonie can contain Johnson, it will allow play maker James Clement to roam the back 50 and help out the other defenders.
Scott West (WB) v Collingwood MidfieldWhat do you do with Scott West? Even when he is tagged he racks up the touches. He had 40 possessions last time these two teams met and his opponents included Licuria, Swan, Johnson and Buckley rotating through him. In that match he had 8 centre bounce clearances, but none around the ground and only three inside 50s. Collingwood will probably rotate a number of player through him, however to be effective they must ensure that they stop the quality of ball that he delivers. This is through pressure and hunting the ball when matched against him.
Dale Morris (WB) v Alan Didak (Coll)This year the Bulldogs have given Morris some big jobs and tomorrow is expected to be no different. The Magpie small forward has had an All-Australian type season with his elusiveness and ability to hurt teams on the scoreboard. Collingwood are dangerous in the air inside F50, but the Dogs need to make sure they just concentrate on that because at ground level Didak has the potential to cut them to threads.
Daniel Cross (WB) v Shane O’Bree (Coll)This will be a wonderful battle through the midfield. Cross works so well in tandem with West, and his importance to the Dogs can sometimes overlooked. As for O’Bree, the other Collingwood midfielders receive a lot of the kudos but he is their workhorse who wins them plenty of the ball. These two are likely to go head-to-head and the winner of contested ball battle between them will help gain the midfield ascendancy for their team.