The things we learnt: Gold Coast get their fairytale finish

Gold Coast get their fairytale finish

It just had to be Swallow, didn’t it.

In a coming-of-age win, inaugural Sun David Swallow, who in his 248th game and first finals match, kicked the sealing point to give the Suns their first-ever finals win.

But you wouldn’t have known that it was the club’s first finals game from how they played.

Their two best midfielders, Noah Anderson and Matt Rowell, combined for 66 disposals, 21 scoring involvements, and 19 inside 50s, which saw the Suns generate plenty of opportunities going forward.

Jarrod Witts, won the hit-out battle against Sean Darcy in the ruck and managed to lead the Suns in contested possessions for the game.

And Bailey Humphrey had a second quarter to remember as he kicked three goals, which helped quell Fremantle's comeback attempt during the second.

Under Damien Hardwick, the Suns have shown a lot of development and improvement in handling the big moments, with this win being the culmination of that so far.

And now they face their biggest test in the biggest Pineapple Grapple match in its 15-year history.

Nicholas Quinlan

The sum of Hawthorn’s defensive parts

After a heartbreaking semi-final loss last year, Sam Mitchell made a point in the trade period of improving their defence.

And adding the likes of St Kilda’s Josh Battle and West Coast’s Tom Barrass during that time, it strengthened an already improving defence, which looked set to contend for a premiership.

And on Saturday, it was the sum of their parts that made the Hawks’ defence as strong as it was and helped them progress to another semi-final.

Jarman Impey was superb from half back as he finished up with 960 metres gained for the match, which really improved Hawthorn’s transition game.

Blake Hardwick played a stellar role on Toby Greene. He managed to keep the mercurial forward to just 12 disposals and two behinds, with the captain’s effect on the game heavily subdued while managing 14 intercept possessions of his own.

While Hogan kicked three goals on him, Barrass had his measure for the majority of the game, which impacted the Giants going forward.  

And their captain, James Sicily, also had plenty of impact with 11 intercept possessions from his 17 disposals at an 88.2% efficiency rate, which was particularly important.

If the Hawks are to go beyond the semi-final stage against Adelaide, it will likely be this defensive cohort that will get them there.  

Nicholas Quinlan

Doubt Geelong at your own peril

If people weren’t already convinced by Geelong, they should be now.

Chris Scott’s Cats were imperious against the Brisbane Lions - the reigning premiers - on Friday night in a comprehensive 38-point MCG win.

It could have been more if they took all of their early chances.

While the Lions at times huffed and puffed, they were in the end no match for a top quality football side.

Ollie Dempsey was electric with three goals from 25 disposals on the wing, Jeremy Cameron arguably could’ve had five before half-time, Tom Stewart was impenetrable in defence and Oisin Mullin destroyed Hugh McCluggage.

Mark Blicavs was exceptional, Bailey Smith and Max Holmes are a handful.

Doubt the Cats at your own peril. They have flown somewhat under the radar in the lead-up to the finals series.

But they need to be taken very seriously. Their game is set up for finals footy. Scott is a genuinely excellent coach.

Yet another prelim awaits.

And where to now for the Lions?

They have been mixing their best and worst all season.

Their best is possibly the most impressive footy in the league. But the gap in performances has been evident.

They'll be sweating on Lachie Neale's calf...

Andrew Slevison

This Collingwood side is built for finals

In hindsight, we all should have seen this coming.

The Magpies have been criticised all year for their age, but it came back to help them majorly in Thursday's 24-point Qualifying Final win over Adelaide.

A raft of Collingwood's 30+ year olds Scott Pendlebury (23 disposals), Steele Sidebottom (three goals, 15 disposals), Jamie Elliott (four goals), Brody Mihocek (five scoring shots for 0.5), Jack Crisp (22 disposals) and Darcy Cameron (one goal, 24 hitouts, 15 disposals) were everywhere as the Magpies were cool in the crisis compared to a Crows side that was a bit all at sea.

Mix that experience in with a red-hot Jordan De Goey, who becomes genuinely two times the player he usually is in September with the magic of the Daicos brothers, and it's easy to see why the Magpies are not only dangerous but as good a chance as any to win it all.

If that backline can continue holding up, which there's every chance it does given the names of Moore, Houston, Maynard, Quaynor, Perryman, Daicos, an improving Billy Frampton and potential inclusion of Jeremy Howe are in D50, then why can't the Pies make it two in three years?

They'll likely face one of the Cats or Lions in a home MCG Prelim in two weeks, and while that won't be an easy task, the extra week off for these bodies could be the thing that sets them up perfectly to make it to the last Saturday in September again.

Superb away performance.

Lachlan Geleit