David King isn’t sure who the number one seed is following the first week of the 2023 finals series.
While Collingwood and Brisbane – the number one and two ranked sides going into September – saluted and have booked home Preliminary Finals, King is having struggles splitting the two sides.
King believes it’s a luxury that both sides have the rest in week two and he expects the side that holds up best defensively to separate themselves in a Preliminary Final and potential Grand Final matchup.
“I guess that I probably value your ability to stand up defensively is what will win it in the end,” King said on SEN Whateley.
“The biggest moments in a Grand Final or a Preliminary Final will be won by the team that's got more defensive stability.
“Whether that's through one individual like a Darcy Moore or a Nathan Murphy or whether it's Harris Andrews or whoever it is for that one person to stand up, or that one group of people to stand up, I think separates big games.
“To see what happened to Harris Andrews, it puts a little shiver down the spine if you're a Brisbane fan.
“He was actually looking pretty vulnerable. He started really well. He had the first two intercepts of the game and then that was it for the next 70 minutes.
“Jack Payne looked at fraction vulnerable for the first time in three months, I thought, ‘Oh, there's something there that's gettable’, and it hadn't looked like that for a long time.
“I thought Collingwood's back six, that's the best they've played for two months, and they did it in a different way.
“So, for me, is there a number one? I don't think it matters who the number one seed is.
“They're both at home, they’re both in a Prelim, they’re both seriously healthy.
“You just charge on, it's just about now rest and recover, they get to sit back for a week.
“What a luxury it is. Some say, ‘Oh, but you've only played one game in so and so’. But what a treat, what a treat.”
Gerard Whateley was also torn when asked who his top seed was as he thinks the two leading sides almost cancel each other out with their strengths.
“I'm a bit torn,” Whateley said.
“Collingwood defensively were so good, but Brisbane's all-out assault when it was go-time in the third quarter - that's the equal of anything I've seen all year.”
King hopes to see the Magpies and Lions face off in a Grand Final to see the battle play out and he discussed a world where that matchup eventuates with Whateley.
King: “If both teams get 50 inside fifties and concede 50 inside fifties. 50 each to them and their opponent - I would think Collingwood would stand up more down back, but I would think Brisbane would score more in the forward half.”
Whateley: “That’s it, I agree exactly with what you've just said.”
King: “I sort of hope they play each other in the big one.
“You get to find out what actually does win it.
“We all think defence, but I've they’ve got some wildcards, Brisbane.”
Collingwood will play one of Port Adelaide or GWS for a spot in the Grand Final while Brisbane will host either Melbourne or Carlton in their home Prelim.