2017 AFL Grand Final
Adelaide v Richmond
Saturday 30 September 2017
MCG, Melbourne
It is the big dance and ironically the two teams with the longest grand final wait are squaring off. Adelaide and Richmond both deserve to be there. Adelaide has been the best team all year and Richmond the biggest improvers, however that is not why they deserve it. They earnt their ticket on the back of defensive pressure and teamwork. Adelaide’s scoring power comes off the back of doing all the little things, while the Tigers game plan is based around harassing the opposition and creating turnovers.
Coming into the season there were queries about Adelaide’s midfield. Those questions are no longer there with the Crouch brothers, Matt and Brad, taking their games to the next level. They release the pressure off Rory Sloane, and allow outside players like Rory Atkins and Riley Knight to play their roles. Richmond’s midfield is their strength and it needs to fire for them to win.
Skipper, Trent Cotchin, was fortunately cleared by the MRP and is playing. If his hit was during the season I doubt he would have got the result. With that said, his two finals have been magnificent. He led the way with his attack on the ball and opposition. His contested work will be on show again and he will be looking to bring players such as Brandon Ellis and Shane Edwards into the game. Then there is Dustin Martin.
The 2017 Brownlow Medallist is the matchwinner. He can do it in the middle or up forward. Adelaide has not played a run with player all season and don’t expect them to start now. They will back their ability against him. Dion Prestia is the other key. He paid Joel Selwood close attention in the first final and might go to Sloane.
These two forward lines are very different. Adelaide’s mix and balance is every coach’s dream. They have the key tall forward in Taylor Walker. The big-bodied Josh Jenkins who can pinch hit in the ruck. The lead up forward Tom Lynch and then the dangerous smalls Eddie Betts and Charlie Cameron, who also put on great defensive pressure. Richmond’s forward line is not so conventional.
Jack Riewoldt is the lone big and the rest of the forwards are small and nibble. Their job is to keep the ball locked in their forward half and create opportunities. Daniel Rioli was sensational last week and it could be someone else’s turn this week.
Alex Rance and Daniel Talia are arguably the two best tall defenders in the game and they will be at either end. Rance is brilliant in the one-on-ones and adds plenty of offence. Meanwhile, Talia is more of an old-fashioned defender who refuses to be beaten. Rance will either take Walker or Jenkins while Talia will get Riewoldt. Both teams also have key playmakers in defence who distribute the ball by foot. Rory Laird is one of the best small backs in the league, while Bachar Houli can penetrate the lines with his kicking skills.
There is no doubt that Adelaide has the team to win. They are balanced in terms of age and experience, smalls and talls and inside and outside players. They regularly kick 100 points a game and that is a winning score. Richmond is probably the only team that can beat them because they will not let the Crows have it their way. They will squeeze in on them and create high-intensity pressure. Their pressure needs to be elite to bring the Crows down and then they need to make the most of their forward opportunities from there. If both teams play at their best, Adelaide wins. If Richmond can force the Crows to perform below their best and then be efficient in the forward half, they will be right in it.
Stadium Record
Adelaide’s recent record at the MCG is good. From their last five they have 4 wins and a draw. In saying that, all their matches were against teams outside the top eight, but you can only beat who you are playing. The MCG is Richmond’s home ground and they love it. They have won their last six there which includes the last two finals. Their overall record in 2017 is 11-2.
Head to Head Record
These two teams have only played each other once is each of the past three seasons. Adelaide won them all. In 2015 they defeated the Tigers by 36 points in Adelaide. They had a convincingly win at Etihad Stadium last year and they smashed Richmond in round 6 this year. That match was played at the Adelaide Oval. These two have only played each other three times at the MCG in the past sixteen years and Richmond leads 2-1.
Match Result
Adelaide has been the best team in 2017 and devastating in their two finals, them to win at $1.74.
Norm Smith Medal
Sam Jacobs is the best big man on the ground and in great form, $21.00 is juicy.
First Goalscorer
Josh Caddy has had a fantastic final series since returning from injury and good value at $12.00.
Words: Rhys Thurston @rhyst03
