Almanac Footy: Doggies book a prelim date with Port as Yeppoon Swans register a seventh straight flag

 

For a while, as I watched the live-stream (but no commentary) of the AFL Capricornia Grand Final between the mighty Yeppoon Swans and Glenmore Bulls, the latter had the Swannies measure.

 

A series of pro-Bulls umpire decisions had Yeppoon on the back foot and with the Rockhampton crowd behind Glenmore at the picturesque Rockhampton Cricket Ground – a boilover loomed.

 

However, this is the Yeppoon Swans we’re talking about and many of my mates and others suggested the umpires did their best to get the Bulls to charge home for a premiership.

 

Not to be, led by key forward Josh McKee, the Swannies steamed home to their seventh grand final win in a row.

 

Yeppoon ‘only’ won by 23 points.

 

Margins mean nothing in premiership wins.

 

However in terms of an as competitive AFL Capricornia grand final one can get, this one was it and it was the closest one in years at A-grade level.

 

It may well be the Swans’ most satisfying one since the club’s dynasty began in 2015.

 

Onto ‘my other club’ Boyne Island-Tannum Sands Saints, another premiership trophy was added to the U15s team after BITS thrashed Rockhampton Brothers Kangaroos 99-1.

 

This team is a ‘mini-Yeppoon’. A side full of class players and character and hopefully most of these guns stay and represent the Saints’ senior team for years to come.

 

And now onto the big boys and their toys in the AFL!

 

It all comes down to this.

 

The quirk and the irony.

 

Two teams go head-to-head in the form of one with all the advantages and rest.

 

The other going against all odds and hoping for a Western Bulldogs ‘miracle on the road’ 2021 potentially replicated from its 2016 triumph.

 

However the Doggies face a freshened, full-strength and a stay-at-home Port Adelaide Power this Saturday night at a 26500-strong pro-Power fans-filled Adelaide Oval.

 

Western Bulldogs upstaged a Brisbane Lions outfit in a game that was theirs to lose.

 

The running power of the Dogs was too much for the Lions to bear late in the game.

 

It’s this aspect that will put a ‘RED ALERT’ sign to Ken Hinkley and his Port Adelaide coaching staff colleagues.

 

How to nullify the brilliant Marcus Bontempelli, the dashing and daring Bailey Smith whose running ability is the best in the AFL and the ball-getting capacity of Tom Liberatore, Lachie Hunter and Jack MacRae will be another task for Hinkley and his team.

 

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge was criticized with the use of Tim English up until before last week’s elimination finals win against Essendon.

 

He’s now got the tag-team of English and Lewis Young right.

 

The ruck pair will face a powerful combination of Scott Lycett, who destroyed the Bullies’ rucking duo in round 23, and versatile Peter Ladhams.

 

Western Bulldogs’ much-vaunted midfield face an on-ball brigade that runs as deep as any in the competition.

 

Port’s midfield bulls of Ollie Wines, Travis Boak and Willem Drew complement the half-back-cum-midfield run of Dan Houston and Ryan Burton.

 

Throw in the class of Robbie Gray, Connor Rozee, Zak Butters and Xavier Duursma, the Power’s forwards could benefit if they go one-on-one against the likes of impressive half-backs Taylor Duryea, Bailey Williams and key position stopper Alex Keath.

 

Bailey Dale and Caleb Daniel are class ball users and need to be minded with close-checking Port Adelaide half forwards.

 

Dale’s and Daniel’s ball use late in the game against Brisbane Lions was of the highest class.

 

The Adelaide Oval stage is set.

 

Port Adelaide Power should be ready and highly motivated by the prelim-final pain of 2014 and last year.

 

The Western Bulldogs are riding on adrenalin amid injury concerns over skipper Bontempelli (knee) and livewire young forward gun Cody Weightman (head knock).

 

The ‘Bont’ was having treatment to his knee in the final few minutes as he sat on the bench while Weightman was bumped by ex-team-mate Marcus Adams just prior to half-time and was replaced by Jason Johannisen for the second half.

 

It’s not yet determined if Weightman’s injury comes under the concussion and subsequent 12-day recovery rule implemented by the AFL.

 

With the unpredictable nature of the AFL and its decision-makers, expect the star forward to take his place in the Doggies team this Saturday night.

 

 

BRISBANE                                5.3      6.5      9.9      11.12 (78)
WESTERN BULLDOGS         3.4      6.6      7.11    11.13 (79)

 

GOALS 
Brisbane: Cameron 3, Bailey 2, Daniher, Fullarton, Lester, McCarthy, McCluggage, Robinson
Western Bulldogs: B.Smith 3, Liberatore 2, Hannan, Johannisen, Macrae, Naughton, Schache, Weightman

 

BEST 
Brisbane: McCluggage, Zorko, Cameron, Robinson, Lyons, Coleman
Western Bulldogs: Macrae, Daniel, Bontempelli, B.Smith, Keath, Liberatore 

 

INJURIES
Brisbane: Payne (head); Berry (concussion)
Western Bulldogs: Weightman (concussion), Bontempelli (knee)

 

SUBSTITUTES
Brisbane: Ryan Lester (replaced Jack Payne)
Western Bulldogs: Jason Johannisen (Cody Weightman)

 

Crowd: 36,470 at the Gabba