We’re all set for a bumper opening week of finals, with so much at stake for every side.
Known as the season within a season, everything that happened in the regular season matters not now.
Here’s every club’s burning question ahead of the first week of the finals and commentators for every Fox Footy game in our ultimate weekly preview: The Blowtorch!
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AFL FINALS WEEK ONE (all times AEST)
BRISBANE LIONS v RICHMOND
Second Elimination Final
Thursday September 1, 7:20pm AEST at the Gabba
How to watch on Fox Footy: Channel 504 from 6.20pm, hosted by Sarah Jones with Jason Dunstall, David King, Leigh Montagna, Alastair Lynch and Jon Ralph
Lions’ burning question: How does Zorko respond to sledging controversy when his side needs him more than ever?
Zorko made headlines for the Lions for all the wrong reasons a fortnight ago for an unsavoury sledge to Harrison Petty that left the Demons youngster in tears. It came in a quiet game from the Lions skipper that was reflective of the whole team as Brisbane was smashed by Melbourne by 58 points to cost Chris Fagan’s side a top four berth. But the Lions will look to put that aside when they came up against the Tigers and try and make amends for their disappointing 1-5 finals record under Fagan, and of course, will need their captain to lead from the front. However premiership-winning Eagle Will Schofield noted that if he was coming up against Zorko this week, he’d be trying to get under his skin given how poorly Brisbane played against Melbourne with the veteran off his game.
“I probably would try and provoke him. You want to keep it above the belt though, (but) you do want to use everything to your advantage,” Schofield said on Fox Footy’s AFL Tonight. “Dayne Zorko is a good player, he’s the captain of that team. I think you do have to try and provoke him and get him off his game, because clearly last week he didn’t have a good game and he was off what he usually does. If you can get him in that state again I wouldn’t put that off the table.”
Tigers’ burning question: How much of a lift does Dusty give?
Although it’s yet to be officially confirmed, Dustin Martin is expected to return against the Lions for his first match since Round 16 due to a serious hamstring injury. We haven’t seen a lot of Martin this year, playing just eight games due to a combination of personal reasons and his hamstring setback. But he’s likely to return on the September stage he’s made his in recent years including winning three Norm Smith medals on the grandest stage of them all. He’s also really shined at the Gabba, kicking 10.0 straight from three finals at the venue, per Fantasy Freako, which includes his remarkable performance in the 2020 decider. So Martin’s return is timely as the Tigers and Lions add another chapter their finals rivalry of recent years.
Speaking on Fox Footy’s AFL 360, Tigers coach Damien Hardwick suggested Martin would “play a different role” if he was to make the final side.
“He will play predominantly forward. We know he’s played that role before and he’s quite capable,” he said. “Against Brisbane he’s had some really good games like that. What we do know is that players of Dustin’s ilk put themselves where they need to be. I’ve said this often as a coach, the very best players have got a great understanding of where to put themselves at the best of times.”
MELBOURNE v SYDNEY SWANS
Second Qualifying Final
Friday September 2, 7:50pm AEST at the MCG
How to watch on Fox Footy: Channel 504 from 7pm, hosted by Garry Lyon with Nick Riewoldt, Jonathan Brown, Nathan Buckley, Kath Loughnan, Cameron Mooney and Jon Ralph
Demons’ burning question: Will finals bring out the best in Dees?
Melbourne’s ball movement has been an area of concern in recent times including being ranked 16th in the competition over the last six weeks. It’s the only obvious knock on the Dees ahead of their bid for back-to-back flags, while they’re also ranked 16th for average pressure applied (177), and more alarmingly, they’re 17th for forward-half pressure applied (168). It’s meant Simon Goodwin’s side has struggled offensively at times, although Melbourne did send a scary reminder of how damaging it can be in its 58-point smashing of Brisbane last fortnight.
Saints great Nick Riewoldt noted that the Dees have “struggled to move the ball,” but highlighted that the more chaotic and contested brand of finals could make it less a factor.
“I still think when they get back to the way they play, maybe all of our concerns come finals time when the pressure is at its greatest would’ve been misplaced, because they’ve never relied on perfect footy,” he said on Fox Footy’s On the Couch. “Even when you go back to last year’s grand final, out of the plays that Fritsch got on the end of, none of it was all that pretty — it was just surge and hack it forward and weight of numbers.”
Swans’ burning question: Are they the sleeping giant in flag race?
Sydney’s recent form is as good as any side — and it’d make for nervous reading for the other finalists. The Swans have found their best form in the lead into finals, going 5-0 over their last five weeks, and they’re armed with stars all over the field with a good mix of youth and experience that looks hungry for success. Crucially, their premiership profile ranks first among the eight top-eight sides (made up of clearances [1st], post-clearance contest [4th], ball movement (1st) defending ball movement [2nd]). So while most would have Geelong and Melbourne ahead of Sydney in the flag race, is John Longmire’s side being disrespected? Don’t discount the Swans pulling off an upset here.
“Their game is built for finals,” triple premiership winning Lion Jonathan Brown told On the Couch. “They’ve been able to fix up their contest stuff the last six to eight weeks and their pressure game is outstanding. In the last six weeks, they’re second for contested possessions differential and points from turnover differential. If they can bring that elite pressure like they do every week, they’re going to be in the game.”
GEELONG CATS v COLLINGWOOD
First Qualifying Final
Saturday September 3, 4:35pm AEST at the MCG
How to watch on Fox Footy: Channel 504 from 3.30pm, hosted by Garry Lyon with Nathan Buckley, Jonathan Brown, Nick Riewoldt, Dermott Brereton, Nick Dal Santo and Jon Ralph
Cats’ burning question: Can they atone for qualifying final woes?
Look away now Geelong fans. The Cats have won just one of their last seven qualifying finals since 2013, and are just 1-8 in the first week of the finals since 2012 (including a loss to Collingwood in 2019). So while there’s certainly a different feel down at the Cattery this year — and their more aggressive game plan should hold them in greater stead in the post-season — their qualifying final woes remains something of a blemish on the club. Throw in that Geelong ‘hosts’ Collingwood at the MCG and there’s enough elements of pressure on the Cats to suggest this will be no easy win for Chris Scott’s rampant side.
“You look at their finals record and their first quarters, they’ve kicked a total of four goals from their past five combined opening quarters in week one finals — that’s a poor record,” Brisbane great Jonathan Brown told On the Couch. “In all those finals, they’ve kicked less than 10 goals too, so that’s not going to get it done, especially in the modern game. I think it’s different this year … but that is hanging over their head.”
Magpies’ burning question: Can the fairytale continue?
Collingwood’s 2022 season has been nothing short of remarkable in Craig McRae’s first in charge — going from 17th to fourth including an 11-game winning streak and unprecedented amount of close victories. Of course, the Pies’ percentage of 104.3 is the lowest by a top-four side since Melbourne in 1998 and third-lowest of the AFL era. It’s created debate over how genuine Collingwood is as a flag threat — not that any of its fellow finalists will be underestimating the club. But could the string of close wins have actually helped harden them? Perhaps the biggest enigma of the finalists, the Pies get another big opportunity to test themselves against the best against the flag favourite Cats.
“It’s going to be a great test. We always say come finals, percentage is a great leveller. So Geelong has been around 160 per cent the last six weeks, Collingwood around 105 per cent,” Jonathan Brown highlighted on On the Couch. “It’s going to be interesting to see whether that comes into play, or whether Collingwood just continues this charmed run.”
FREMANTLE v WESTERN BULLDOGS
First Elimination Final
Saturday September 3, 8:10pm AEST at Optus Stadium
How to watch on Fox Footy: Channel 504 from 7.30pm, with Jason Dunstall, Brad Johnson, Jordan Lewis, Matthew Pavlich and Jon Ralph followed by Best on Ground with Mark Howard, Jonathan Brown, Nathan Buckley, Nick Riewoldt and Kath Loughnan
Dockers’ burning question: Is their style built for finals?
Fremantle ranks 15th in the competition in ball movement, with many questioning whether the club’s slower, methodical approach is suited to finals. It’s led to the Dockers’ woes in the forward half where they also lack reliable goalkicking personnel outside of Rory Lobb, who’s set to return from injury to give them a boost in that area of the field. And Nat Fyfe, who’s played primarily forward this season is likely to miss the rest of the finals after a hamstring blow. Justin Longmuir will be acutely aware that the Dogs rank 15th in the competition in defending ball movement, so trying to take advantage of that could be the key to his side getting the win.
“They’ve got to score. In the last six weeks they’re 17th for points scored and 15th for points from turnover,” Demons great Garry Lyon told On the Couch. “But it’s an opportunity for them back at home against a Western Bulldogs side that is vulnerable against teams who can get it in quick.”
Bulldogs’ burning question: How do they fare without key barometer?
The Bulldogs’ major strength is their dominant work at the coalface — ranked first in the competition in clearances and points from stoppage and sixth in post-clearance contest. But unfortunately if you strip back their ascendancy at stoppage, the Dogs are just a middle-of-the-road side statistically. Therefore the loss of their midfield barometer Tom Liberatore to injury is a hammer blow as arguably the important piece who makes this side fire. Luke Beveridge does an have a deep on-ball brigade of stars including Marcus Bontempelli, Josh Dunkley and Jack Macrae, but opposition have historically had great success in shutting down Liberatore, so how they fare without him altogether will be telling.
