Nathan Buckley and Kane Cornes have taken a closer look at Saturday’s St Kilda v GWS Elimination Final and have picked out the key match-ups.
The biggest star of the clash is without doubt GWS captain Toby Greene who was also named All-Australian captain for his stellar 2023 home and away season.
Given how important Greene is for the Giants, with the medium forward booting 60 goals from 21 games this season so far, Buckley thinks he’ll be the one name that St Kilda must stop.
The former Collingwood coach expects fellow All-Australian Callum Wilkie to get the assignment even though he usually plays on taller forwards.
“The matchup for me that stands out is obviously Toby Greene the All-Australian captain and Callum Wilkie, another All-Australian player, and I think those two will find each other,” Buckley said on SEN Breakfast.
“Wilkie's been as good defensively as any defender in the comp, his intercept marking game is established.
“But what he's probably been underrated a little is how good he is in one-on-ones and how hard he is to find space on.
“He usually gets a marking threat. So, you would think it's either Hogan or Riccardi in that in that balance.
“But I think Toby Greene is clearly going to be the name that is going to be circled over and over and over on the St Kilda board.
“He's got to be the guy they've got to look to stop and look to prevent.”
One aspect that makes Greene so dangerous is the Giants' spread up forward but Buckley believes Wilkie must be the man because of how clinical he is when the ball is in dispute inside 50.
“GWS has spread their forwards really well. When they go into their front half, they move the ball so quickly and their forwards stay away from each other,” Buckley said.
“They make it really difficult to defend and if they've got an outnumber, they just pick the best target going forward.
“Toby, he's damaging because he's smart to find the space, but Callum Brown and other forwards are standing up in those situations.
“But it's when there's a pack or there's a bit of a ball in dispute, that’s when Toby Greene stands up in that front third and you need your best defender on him.
“So, I think Wilkie would be the one that would get that job for me.”
Cornes believes GWS will also look to beat St Kilda on transition following the stoppage as he backs their outside runners to get on top of their opponents.
Another matchup that could be pivotal is one that favours the home side with Rowan Marshall enjoying a dominant season in the ruck.
“I just feel like the Giants have got a few more outside threats from their midfield,” Cornes said.
“Their run and spread will be interesting with Coniglio and Kelly, Green can match Steele inside.
“Can they (GWS) get them on the outside?
“The ruck battle, I mean, how influential can rucks be and whether they cancel each other out?
“But Rowan Marshall's work around the ground is significant and Kieren Briggs has been just a bull for them, a battering ram as a player.”
Saturday’s Elimination Final between St Kilda and GWS is set for 3:20 pm (AEST).