2009 AFL FINALS SERIES - THE GRAND FINAL - ST. KILDA V GEELONG
by The Stinger on Sep.25, 2009, under Australian, Football
VERSUS
Well the match we have all been waiting for and in reality the matchup we have wanted since round 14 is finally just around the corner. St Kilda and Geelong will face off for the biggest prize in Australian football, the AFL Premiership Cup. Who will win and who will have wasted another 12 months? I can only hope and pray that The Saints get up and win.
That’s right, I am a Saints fan and proud of it. Not that I dislike Geelong and the run of good form they have had over the last three years or so but I just want my team to finally win the prize that has eluded them since 1966. Geelong already has broken their premiership drought, let us break ours.
Geelong have a list that is the envy of the rest of the AFL with the likes of Brownlow medal winners Gary Ablett Jr and Jimmy Bartel leading a midfield of stars such as Joel Selwood and Joel Corey. They have a great forward setup with big men Cam Mooney and Tom Hawkins bringing the ball down to Paul Chapman and Stevie Johnson. They also boast one of the fiercest defences with fullback extraordinaire Matthew Scarlett leading a lineup that can defend and then attack in one motion with the likes of Corey Enright and Andrew Mackie.
So is this team beatable? Of course they are, they have been beaten this season and also beaten in the Grand Final last season by Hawthorn. But they are not easy to beat and the Saints will need to be right at their best to get over the line against them on Saturday.
So who will bring the funk and the noise for St Kilda? The midfield is the equal of the Cats at the moment with 2009 All-Australian members Lenny Hayes, Nick Dal Santo and Leigh Montagna matching wits and skill with the dangerous Cats lineup. All Australian team Captain and Saints captain Nick Reiwoldt once again will need to produce his best up forward if the Saints have any hope of winning, but then again he always does.
A big game is needed from small forwards Steven Milne and Adam Schneider and also an effort from the other twin tower Justin Koschitske is required. St Kilda’s season has hinged on their defensive pressure and with a backline comprising of exciting runners like Brendan Goddard and Sam Fisher, a lot of drive is expected to come from the back half.
I hope that this will be an exciting and entertaining game but with the weather scheduled to be atrocious, this might not be possible and it will become a slog and the game will be won by whoever works the hardest. I know that the Saints boys are eager to convince the footy world that playing in the comforts of Etihad Stadium hasn’t made them soft. Let’s hope they can.
Geelong is used to playing in bad conditions so they will not be affected as much as the Saints will be but it does not mean that they have a distinct advantage one way or the other. I think that this will be a tough, tight affair and it will come down to who is in front at 3/4 time and if they can hold on. Hopefully the Saints can win by 3 or 4 goals.
GO YOU SAINTERS!!!!!!
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