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There are now six teams remaining in the race for silverware with the Western Bulldogs and Carlton eliminated in week one of the finals, while Geelong and Sydney have another week off following successful qualifying finals wins.
In the semi-finals we’re taking a look at three players who’ll need to make a difference for their team.
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Willie Rioli is a lively player that provides plenty of X-factor. When Port Adelaide takes on Hawthorn on Friday night, the former West Coast player should be looking to replicate the game that he played in Port Adelaide’s narrow one-point win, in Round 10; his team was losing by an 11-point margin with 33 seconds left when Rioli cooly slotted a goal from a set shot.
Connor Rozee needs to lead from the front in a game that may determine the future of Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley. The 24-year-old lowered his colours in the qualifying final against Geelong and should be desperate to rebound from it and play out of his skin in the semi-final on Friday night.
Ryan Burton will need to improve on his performance last Thursday night. The former Hawthorn defender needs to improve the defensive part of his game. Due to Dan Houston and Kane Farrel being unavailable, Burton could be an important player for Port; Houston kicked three goals in the Round 10 game, so Burton will certainly have big shoes to fill.
Massimo D’Ambrosio can count himself unlucky not to be selected on a wing in the All-Australian team. The former Essendon player has arguably been the recruit of the season and the 21-year-old showed why in the elimination final against the Western Bulldogs last Friday night; D’Ambrosio had 32 disposals, five clearances, 519 metres gained, seven score involvements and four intercept possessions.
Nick Watson displayed what he’s capable of in the elimination final against the Western Bulldogs; the small forward kicked four goals and had eight score involvements from 11 disposals.
In the qualifying final between Port Adelaide and Geelong the Cats small forwards had a feast with Tyson Stengle, Gryan Miers and Shaun Mannagh combining for ten goals, which should mean Watson will be a danger at ground level, as that’s clearly a deficiency that Port Adelaide has which Hawthorn can expose.
Nick Watson celebrates a goal. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
Blake Hardwick kicked five goals the last time that Hawthorn played Port Adelaide.
The utility may have to play in defence in the semi-final to curtail the influence of Willie Rioli and Mitch Georgiades at times; the 27-year-old kept Cody Weightman goalless in the elimination win over the Western Bulldogs. It will be interesting to see whether Hardwick has his magnet moved when Hawthorn play on Friday night.
Jack Buckley was immense for GWS in their qualifying final game against Sydney; the 26-year-old finished the game with 13 intercept possessions and polled four votes in the Gary Ayres Medal. The key defender showed his wares and that he isn’t overawed playing big games, as he nearly got his team over the line.
Aaron Cadman is a player that GWS need to contribute, as the young star did, when they last played against Brisbane in Round 22; he kicked three goals in a game that GWS won by 18 points. The 20-year-old should take plenty of confidence into the semi-final, from kicking three goals in the qualifying final against Sydney.
James Peatling did a great job curtailing the influence of Errol Gulden for the first three quarters when GWS played their rivals, Sydney in the qualifying final. The young star showed why there’s interest in him from other clubs, as he finished the game with 12 tackles and seven score involvements.
There’s no doubt that GWS need the 24-year-old firing against Brisbane in the semi-final; last time the two teams met was in Round 22 in a game that GWS won by three goals and Peatling polled ten coaches’ votes.
Will Ashcroft has been an important part of the Brisbane team; they have won eight out of the ten games that Ashcroft has played since his return from injury. The son of a gun has averaged 26.25 disposals in the last four games he has played in, which included the elimination final against Carlton when he had 20 disposals and the most score involvements of any player on the ground with nine.
There’s no disputing the midfielder could get off the leash against GWS, given they may concentrate on negating Lachie Neale and Hugh McCluggage at times.
Cameron Rayner doesn’t have to accumulate possessions to have an influence on a game; the 24-year-old only had 12 disposals, but kicked three goals and had eight score involvements. The forward is a player that GWS could prove hard to stop, given he has plenty of X-factor. Rayner could be one of the players that will decide how far Brisbane go in the final series, given the talent he possesses.
Dayne Zorko provides plenty of run out of defence and has been a revelation in his new role. The All-Australian half-back flanker showed why he has had such a highly rated season when Brisbane obliterated Carlton last Saturday night for most of the first half. What’s impressive about the veteran is his work rate; the 35-year-old finished the game with 29 disposals, eight score involvements and seven intercept possessions.
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