This week on the Real Footy podcast, Michael Gleeson, Jake Niall and Caroline Wilson look ahead to finals and an intriguing first week of match-ups.
All the finals action kicks off on Thursday night when Brisbane host Richmond at the Gabba. Can the Tigers go all the way this year? How much will their recent home-and-away clash be a guide for this elimination final? Will the weight of expectation help Richmond and hurt Brisbane? Are the Lions good enough to win the flag?
On Friday night, Melbourne will face the Swans at the MCG. Though they’re playing away from home, are Sydney the favourites for this game with seven wins on the trot? They have the tall forwards to stretch Melbourne’s defence, and Tom Papley is due to return and provide another point of difference. Melbourne can’t be dismissed though, and this shapes as one of the most intriguing finals on offer.
There are selection queries for the Cats ahead of their final against Collingwood. Should Geelong bring Jeremy Cameron back after his time out with a hamstring injury? Or with the double chance, should they be conservative and keep him on the sidelines? And do the Pies have a good match-up for him if he plays?
Fremantle will host the Bulldogs in the last final of the weekend. The Bulldogs have a good record in the west and Luke Beveridge is known for pulling rabbits out of hats and inspiring his team to unlikely finals runs. And though Marcus Bontempelli is looking back to peak fitness, the Dockers are the favourites for that clash.
AFLW season seven got under way last weekend and one of the biggest stories to emerge from the round was a push to play more games under the roof at Marvel Stadium. Marnie Vinall joins the podcast to discuss that and look back at some of the other news and issues to come out of the round, as well as look ahead to some of the biggest clashes of round two.
Plus: the future of the pre-finals bye, what Dustin Martin’s future might hold, All-Australian selection debate, the latest on Essendon’s coach search and your questions answered.
