AFL Preliminary Final Preview and Teams: Sydney v North Melbourne

AFL. Swans v Kangaroos

TV: Channel 7, Fox Footy. 
LUXBET SAYS: Sydney $1.21, North Melbourne $4.60

THE GAME
Sydney v North wasn’t the preliminary final many of us expected at the start of the season. Sure, the Swans were meant to get there as they hit new Buddy-powered heights but the Kangaroos? North were meant to make up the top-eight numbers and be cannon fodder for the big guys. Now they get their chance on one of the biggest stages against a Swans outfit that may be a little nervous themselves given the weight of expectation on their shoulders.

TEAMS

Sydney

No change

Emergencies: Laidler, Mitchell, Towers

North Melbourne

In: Jacobs

Out: Macmillan (hamstring)

Emergencies: Currie, Tippett, Mullett 

PAST BATTLES
It didn’t seem it at the time but North’s 43-point win over Sydney in Round 4 had a huge impact on the season. That loss was the Swans’ third from their first four games and questions lingered over whether Franklin was fitting in and his effect on the club’s culture. More significantly, many wondered if Sydney were up for the fight anymore. The darkest hour is often just before the dawn and that loss galvanised Sydney in a big way as they won a club record-equalling 12 consecutive games after that. Since then, the Swans have lost just two matches, one of those being a Round 23 defeat to Richmond where half the players were rested.  

WILL BOOMER HARVEY PLAY?
The week’s biggest talking point surrounds Brent Harvey. Having been suspended for three matches – including North’s comeback win over Essendon in the Elimination Final – Harvey was Melbourne’s most relieved man when he got his chance to pay the Kangaroos back and play against Geelong last week. But once again, white line fever would get the little veteran as he opted to bump Joel Selwood and copped a one-week ban from the MRP. Harvey is fronting the Tribunal on Tuesday night but even if the ban’s upheld, don’t be surprised if North appeal and stretch the whole saga out ‘til the last minute.

COLD HARD FACT
North Melbourne was the only team from outside the top four to beat every team in the top four during the year. Questions remains as to whether the Kangaroos played each of those sides at good times though.

Quote of the week
“Is Ninja Turtles based on a true story?” Sydney ruckman Tom Derickx showed he has plenty of work to do to match it with Margaret and David when he interviewed Ninja Turtles’ stars Megan Fox and Will Arnett during the week.

KEY INJURIES
Sydney

Aliir Aliir (Shoulder) Season
Tom Derickx (Hamstring) Season
Alex Johnson (Knee) Season
Nick Malceski (Hamstring) Test
Lloyd Perris (Knee) Season
Updated: Tuesday, September 16

North Melbourne
Leigh Adams (Concussion) Test
Tom Curran* (Foot) Indefinite
Majak Daw (Foot) Season
Cameron Delaney (Toe) Season
Taylor Garner (Hamstring) Season
Nathan Grima (Corked quad) Test
Lachlan Hansen HipT est
Jamie MacMillan (Hamstring) Test
Robbie Tarrant (Tibia) Season
Updated: Tuesday, September 16

SELECTION COMMITTEE
The main worry for the Swans revolves around key rebounding defender Nick Malceski. One of the competition leaders for metres gained coming off half-back, Malceski strained his hamstring during the first quarter of Sydney’s qualifying win over Fremantle. He’s only had 13 days to recover, an extremely short time for a hammy, so whether he’s risked remains to be seen. Tom Mitchell or Dean Towers are a chance to replace him if Malceski doesn’t get up.

North Melbourne face an anxious wait on whether Harvey plays on Friday night. If he doesn’t Ben Jacobs, dropped for Harvey after the win over Essendon, would almost be certain to return to the team. There have been suggestions Joel Tippett may play as North look for an extra tall to combat Sydney’s forward line. But the Kangaroos appear a fairly settled line-up at present and we don’t think too many changes will be made.

LAST FIVE GAMES
Sydney
W 26 Port Adelaide
W 71 St Kilda
W 63 Western Bulldogs
L 3 Richmond
W 24 Fremantle – Qualifying Final

North Melbourne
W 50 Western Bulldogs
W 7 Adelaide
W 30 Melbourne
W 12 Essendon – Elimination Final
W 6 Geelong – Semi-final

FINAL WORD
If Sydney has a kryptonite it appears to be wet weather. Against GWS in Round 1, as soon as that massive thunderstorm hit they gave up the ghost and allowed the Giants to run all over them. In Round 4, it was another wet day when North got the better of the Swans while Sydney’s win over West Coast on a sodden day in Perth was nothing to write home about. With storms forecast for the harbour city for the rest of the week, the wet conditions may play into North Melbourne’s hands, bringing the two sides a little closer together.

By rights, this game appears to be Sydney all the way. Despite their poor start they have dominated the competition since Round 4, losing just two matches since then and producing some seriously impressive displays of attacking footy. Franklin’s move to the Swans has paid the club back in spades and Buddy is even a chance to earn a Brownlow after a hugely impressive first year with the Bloods. So much for smashing the club’s culture!

But North are also riding a serious wave of momentum too. They’ve had their flaky moments throughout the season – losing to Brisbane and Carlton being right up there -  but at their best have beaten all the top-four sides through their pressure, skill and relentless running. Kane Turner’s promotion to the seniors appears to have been the final piece in the puzzle as North have been in brilliant form since his debut, the teenager adding some serious grunt to their midfield. Ben Brown showed against Essendon he’s more than prepared to take a final by the scruff of the neck while the likes of Levi Greenwood, Ben Cunnington and Nick Dal Santo have been classy throughout. 

Funny things happen in preliminary finals too and the wet weather brings an extra layer of unpredictability. But while North have been in good form, their adventure comes to an end this weekend. Sydney by 23 points. 

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