Finals fever is finally upon us with Geelong up against Port Adelaide in the first qualifying final from 7.40pm AEST tonight.
Whether you are a player, coach or supporter, this is the time of year you enjoy the most.
Ahead of this blockbuster clash and in partnership with Deakin’s Centre for Sport Research, we break down the two teams and look at some of the key statistics.
Team Selection
Geelong has made two changes with ruckman Rhys Stanley and pressure forward Tom Atkins back in the Cats’ best 22.
Ryan Burton, Zak Butters and Tom Clurey return for Port Adelaide.
On the attack…
Both sides have played an attacking brand of football this year and at the conclusion of the regular season were ranked first and second respectively for most points scored and goal assists.
Both Geelong and Port Adelaide possess a star key forward in Tom Hawkins and Charlie Dixon. Both featured in the All Australian team and in finals football where goals are harder to come by, have the ability to kick a bag of three or four majors which could prove the difference.
Advantage Cats: Geelong are ranked number one in the competition for goal efficiency and second for goal accuracy.
Advantage Power: Port Adelaide created more chances in front of goal than any other side this year.
Player to Watch: Tom Atkins… A player born for finals football with his physicality and attack on the man and ball.
Dual premiership player Mathew Stokes compared Atkins to former teammate Max Rooke.
“He is made to play finals – he is the heart and soul of how that group plays,” Stokes said on Geelong official podcast.
“He is exactly like a Max Rooke who will go in and do everything else that no one else wants to do, in a final they are the most important players because they are all about the team.”
Finals are won in the middle…
Finals are after often won in the middle and whichever team can win the contested ball and clearance count will give their forwards the best chance of kicking a winning goal.
Centre Clearances: Geelong (1st – 11.2) v Port Adelaide 3rd - 11)
Stoppage Clearances: Geelong (2nd – 22.4) v Port Adelaide 1st – 23.6)
Contested Possessions: Geelong (3rd – 121.5) v Port Adelaide 1st – 126.2)
Disposals: Geelong (2nd – 311.7) v Port Adelaide 3rd – 310.9)
Hitouts: Geelong (12th – 28.8) v Port Adelaide 10th – 29.2)
Tackles: Geelong (5th – 52.2) v Port Adelaide 1st – 56.2)
Advantage Cats: Geelong is ranked number one in the competition for centre clearances and is the most powerful side when it comes to scoring from stoppages, averaging almost five goals per game. Geelong’s midfielders this season have applied scoreboard pressure better than most with Sam Menegola, Mitch Duncan, Brandan Parfitt and Cameron Guthrie combining for 37 goals during the regular season.
Advantage Power: Port Adelaide has the best clearance differential compared to their opponents this season. Their game style is built on pressure and they hold an advantage in both pressures acts and tackles per game, with Tom Rockcliff leading them in this area.
Player to Watch: Rhys Stanley… has been a barometer for the Cats this season with Geelong winning seven of the eight games he has featured in, with the only loss coming against the Blues back in Round 3.
Stanley was outstanding against the Power back in Round 12, giving his midfielders first use and pushing back to help out his back six in spoiling Charlie Dixon’s night. If he can do the same again, he could prove the difference.
Backline Dominance…
All premiership teams in recent memory have one thing in common, a brilliant backline.
Advantage Cats: Geelong's defensive group is very experienced and understand how each other plays. The calming influence of the likes of Harry Taylor, Lachie Henderson and Tom Stewart cannot be underestimated in the heat of finals, particularly when Port Adelaide gain ascendancy at different stages in the game.
Advantage Power: Port Adelaide's defenders all like to get off their man and intercept the ball. Between the two sides Darcy Byrne-Jones, Tom Jonas and Tom Clurey are the best statistically in this area.
Player to Watch: Harry Taylor… was one of Geelong’s best last time the two sides. He is a brilliant one-on-one defender and has only five of 69 contested defence losses this season.
