Triple M Footy Preview — Preliminary Finals

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The Triple M Footy Preview is brought to you with our good mates at Crownbet. Each week, a member of the triplem.com.au team will look at the fixture and put their neck on the line with their call for the games of the round. With odds for each team thanks to Crownbet.

Keep up to date with the latest odds on all the weekend’s action at Crownbet.com.au.

Adelaide vs. Geelong

The Crows are well placed to earn themselves a first grand final appearance in 19 years, with a home preliminary final fixture. Not many sides are able to come away with a win at Adelaide Oval - they're 35-14 there since the move. It's more a stomping ground than a home ground.

Maybe Geelong is one of those teams that can pull this off. They did lose by 21 points at Adelaide Oval last time they played, but before that the Cats did have the wood, winning the previous five. Adelaide's supreme outside ball use was defended superbly in all of those wins, as recently as three months ago, so they more than have the tools to cause an upset here. Even with a couple of wins here, Adelaide hasn't scored 100 points against Geelong in eight attempts, home and away.

But Adelaide has been the best team all year. They were first on the ladder after stamping themselves in round one and have stayed around there all year. It'll take something special to knock them off.

Adelaide by 16

Crownbet odds:

 

Adelaide 1.40

Geelong 3.05

Richmond vs. GWS

The third Richmond/GWS this season arrives on Saturday, and it's an excellent chance for either side to earn an elusive grand final spot. The previous two does say plenty about both sides, and it might suggest Richmond's game plan is enough to unnerve GWS.

Richmond were unlucky to lose back in round nine, but their last clash said the most about the two sides. GWS were perfectly fine during the early, stop-start stages of their round 18 clash at the MCG, before Richmond's frantic pressure and defence set in. From quarter time onwards GWS recorded 21 more disposals, nine more marks and had more of the play, but it all went nowhere under Richmond's forward pressure, with the Tigers recording 54 inside 50s to 32 and kicking nine goals to three. It was textbook Richmond.

But it's hard to write off the Giants completely. Last week's semi final against West Coast had the intensity of a pre-season clash but the Giants were slick and moved the ball brilliantly, and against a side like Richmond that's exactly what it takes.

If they have the courage to execute under their pressure then they're an excellent chance of making a grand final themselves. But it will be tough.

Richmond by 26

Crownbet odds:

Richmond 1.58

GWS 2.45

Ethan Meldrum

21 September 2017

Article by:

Ethan Meldrum




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