AFL Grand Final Preview
We wait a whole 12 months to find out who'll play on the last Saturday in September. Well, a year later, we
have a Grand Final between the same two teams. Who would have guessed?
Sydney and West Coast, surprise, surprise. Save for quick-starting Adelaide and a fast-finishing Fremantle,
for much of the past year, these have been the two teams most pundits have fancied to slog it out for the
Premiership.
So they're back, bigger and better, and both with something to prove. Sydney is here to prove that 2005
wasn't a fluke, while West Coast want to prove they're no chokers.
So, who is going to get the chocolates? Can't decide? Flip a coin.
Make sure to catch every history-making and breaking moment right here @ SportsAustralia.com
Bet of the week: Daniel Kerr to win the Norm Smith Medal $8.00
You have to figure that Ben Cousins and Chris Judd will get tagged, but Daniel Kerr might be allowed to
roam free. And if he does, he's a near certainty to take home the Norm Smith Medal. Great value.
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SATURDAY AFTERNOON
2006 AFL GRAND FINAL
Sydney Swans vs West Coast Eagles
Melbourne Cricket Ground
12:30pm (WA), 2:00pm (SA), 2:30pm (EST)
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SYDNEY
B: Richards, Barry, Malceski
HB: Kennelly, Roberts-Thomson, C.Bolton
C: Buchanan, Kirk, Ablett
HF: O'Keefe, O'Loughlin, J.Bolton
F: Schneider, Hall, Fosdike
FOLL: Jolly, Goodes, McVeigh
I/C: Mathews, N.Davis, Dempster, Doyle
EMG: Spriggs, Bevan, Vogels
NO CHANGE |
WEST COAST
B: Wirrpanda, Glass, Selwood
HB: Waters, Hunter, B.Jones
C: A.Embley, Cousins, Braun
HF: Chick, Hansen, Stenglein
F: Armstrong, Lynch, Seaby
FOLL: Cox, Judd, Kerr
I/C: Banfield, Butler, Fletcher, R.Jones
EMG: Graham, Rosa, Staker
IN: Wirrpanda
OUT: Graham |
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Umpires: Vozzo, Allen, Goldspink.
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The one parting gift Grant Thomas left with football fans was this comment prior to his final match as
coach of St Kilda: At the end of the day I've seen very few finals games won by strategy and tactics. They
are predominantly won by attitude and effort.
And that's exactly what will happen on Saturday. Both these teams definitely have the capacity to win the
Grand Final, but it will come down to who wants it more, and who can execute better on the day.
Sydney have stronger key-position prospects than the Eagles, but West Coast have more quality midfielders
than the 15 other clubs put together.
And that might prove the difference in the end. As good as Sydney has been all year, West Coast have been
that bit better. It will go down to the wire, but on the wide spaces of the MCG, the Eagles might have that
edge.
West Coast by 9 points.
Until next season, Happy punting!
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