Mongrel Team Grand Final Predictions

Winner & Margin (brief why?):

 

Trent – Sydney, 15 points. The Swans are primed to vanquish the demons from 2022 and claim the title they have led from the start in 2024. Their big time superstars are in red hot form and ready to explode on a sunny day, while their previous frontliners such as Rampe, Parker etc are perfectly content playing sacrificial roles to deliver that premiership glory back to the harbour city.

 

Jono – Brisbane, 4 points.  I am a very superstitious that looks for any sign or anything I can clutch onto to make the case for the winner. All signs lead to Brisbane for me. They’ve played at the MCG as recently as last week so that won’t hold any fears. I also believe they have a marginally better forward line and midfield. Unlike Sydney, Brisbane won’t rely on their midfield to kick a few goals between them to win. Also, Fages deserves a premiership with this group!

 

Hodgey – Swans by 19. Darcy Fort is no mug, however, with the midfield attack the swans possess, getting first hands and clearance direction will be absolutely critical. Unless Brodie Grundy has an all-time mare, I think the swans attack being on the front foot is a massive advantage.

 

Matt O – Sydney, 27 points. This just feels like the final day of a two year mission. They’re fresh, they’ve got momentum, and they’ve corrected whatever it was that held them down for a brief period all those weeks ago (I honestly think it was boredom. They were just too much better than everyone else).

 

Justin R – Brisbane, 8 points. It’s time for Chris Fagan and his men to taste the ultimate success. Last year’s heartbreak is in the rear view mirror, and now is the time for this group to put an exclamation point on what has been a remarkable run without collecting silverware so far. On paper, I think the edge Brisbane’s key defenders have over Sydney’s young tall forwards gives the Lions the upper hand overall.

 

The Doc – Brisbane by 16 points – The Lions have been inspiring the last month and after everyone wrote them off early in the year, have been the best side in the second half of the year. Neale may get James Jordon’d but the others around him will step up to the plate.

 

Slugger – Brisbane 2 points. Sydney are the best team, but Brisbane have refused to let that get in their way in their  last 2 matches. Why stop now? They’ll hang around and when Sydney takes a moment to recoup they’ll strike. With the likes of Rayner, Bailey and Ah Chee hitting their attacking 50 at speed.

 

Timbo Higgins – Sydney by 13. I’ve backed Sydney since the start of the season, and I think their midfield just eclipses Brisbane’s, particularly when it comes to attack. The Big O is also a massive loss for Brisbane, and should allow Brodie Grundy to dominate in the ruck giving the Swans midfielders first use.

 

Jimmy D – This is a genuine 50/50 and my heart says Brisbane (who I want to win) but my head says the Swans. In the end, I’ll settle on Brisbane by 7 points. Why? I think that the Brisbane key defenders, even small defenders, are better than the Swans forwards. So, I think it’ll be a struggle at times for the Swans to find a mark going forward, and to kick a score.

 

Matt P – Sydney by 20. Fuck it, we ball. An actively biased selection but what’s the point in watching football if you’re not gonna believe in your fellas?

 

HB – As if my pre-season predictions weren’t bad enough, right? The Swans by 21. I’ve been on this team since 2021 – not jumping off at the final hurdle. Truthfully, I am a bit torn – depending on which team owns the corridor, it could go either way, but if the Swans run from half back, I am not sure the Lions can hold them up. But hey, I’ve been wrong about just about everything else this season… maybe take that as a guide.

 

Norm Smith Medal:

 

Trent – Isaac Heeney. Sure it’s the easy option and everyone’s favourite, but he is playing the game on a different level to anyone else at the moment and is basically unstoppable. Of course if Fagan can somehow plot his downfall he will probably be rewarded with that elusive cup at the end of today.

 

Jono – Will Ashcroft. His performances in the finals series to date have gone under the radar a little bit. He’s primed for this one.

 

Matt O – Brodie Grundy. Talk about being gifted a massive advantage a week out. This is now perfectly set up for Grundy to rip this game apart, and feed his midfielders prime ball, time and time again. And that’s not trying to be disrespectful to Darcy Fort, I’d love to see the ex-Centrals player do well, but there’s a reason Fort has only played 35 games as a 30 year old. If Grundy doesn’t dominate this matchup, something has gone very wrong.

 

Justin R – Will Ashcroft. I know I might be pushing the boundaries of expectation here, and I know it might not be fair to predict a second-year player coming off an ACL to win a Normie, but how good has this kid been throughout the finals so far? I think if he can kick a goal or two in crunch moments while doing his thing connecting play around the ground, he’s every chance.

 

Hodgey- James Rowbottom. His bullocking attack on the ball will be a feature today, and it will be very interesting to see which swans prime mover he goes to. While he doesn’t hit the scoreboard like his midfield cohorts, it’s his defensive role that provides the green light for his teammates to attack

 

The Doc – Joe Daniher. I know Darcy Fort will assume the ruck mantle for the big dance but Joe as a second ruck key forward could be the man who gets it done for the Lions, he’ll put on a marking clinic and kick four.

 

Slugger – Chad Warner. We all saw what he did on the big stage two years ago (in an 80 point loss!). Votes always go to ball winners who hit the scoreboard and Warner does both in spades. If the game is close and he’s had a big impact I reckon he might the first player in a long time that can snag the BOG in a losing side.

 

Timbo Higgins – The Chad (Warner). He is a proven big game player who can hit the scoreboard, and he showed on Brownlow night that Heeney is not the only one people noticed this season. There are alot of goals in this Swans midfield, but I’m backing The Chad to kick 2 or 3 which will be enough to get him over the line.

 

Jimmy D – Kai Lohmann is set for this game and for Norm. Grand Final Day sees players rise, it makes them as players. Now, Lohmann has had a great season, and a couple of good finals. I just get the sense he plays for his teammates and he rises under pressure. No better time than today!

 

Matt P – Chad Warner. His game is built for it, he almost did it in a losing effort two years ago, he’s got flash new boots… All signs point to him going off in a big way, and when he goes off it’s especially flashy.

 

HB – The Chad. Has already played a very good Grand Final, as one of the few Swans to stand up in 2022. That said, if Brisbane get up, I do like what Will Ashcroft brings to the table.

 

Surprise Player:

 

Trent – James Rowbottom to deliver his customary hard nosed defensive game, but also bob up offensively and claim NSM votes.

 

Jono – Callum Ah Chee doesn’t get as much fan fare as some of the stars from both sides will get today. He’s almost an igniter. If he bobs up for a crucial goal or two, his team will lift.

 

Matt O – Jaspa Fletcher. With all the focus on Will Ashcroft, look for the other wunderkind to stake his own claim on the Grandest stage. The other Brisbane midfielders will get the attention from the Swans, leaving Fletcher to strut his stuff unimpeaded.

 

Justin R – Matt Roberts. It probably shouldn’t be a surprise given how well this bloke has played across half back for most of the season, but Roberts has put up some big stats this year and I can see that continuing on the MCG. Similar to what Kiddy Coleman produced in last year’s decider.

 

Hodgey- Braedan Campbell. With all the focus going to contain Nick Blakey, I expect the scythe of a left foot Campbell possesses to really do some damage today.

 

The Doc – For the Lions, I’ve got Callum Ah Chee to continue his big finals series with a couple of big time goals, while for the Swans, I want to see Joel Amartey have an all-time performance, clunking everything in sight.

 

Slugger – Eric Hipwood. This may be a terrible call, but I’ve just got a feeling Hipwood gained a bit of confidence out last weeks Preliminay Final. I think he’ll bob up to kick 3 goals and have a hand in a few more in a career defining performance.

 

Timbo Higgins – Jarrod Berry. Has quietly had a very good finals series so far. He spoke after the prelim about exorcising some demons after the 50 he gave away in last year’s GF and got pretty emotional. He’s coming into this game with a point to prove and is probably the least heralded of all of Brisbane’s midfielders. It was a real toss-up between Berry and Luke Parker, but in the end Berry has more to prove so is more of a “surprise”.

 

Jimmy D – much has been made about the absence of the Big O for the Lions. McInerney is a vital cog to their stoppage work, as well as a great team man. He will, unfortunately, be the injured player missing a medal this year. However, his replacement, Darcy Fort, gets a great opportunity. A much lesser name, coming up against Brodie Grundy, it’s a fascinating battle. Most would expect Grundy to dominate, but I reckon Fort wins this battle comfortably, hits the scoreboard, and even features in the Norm Smith votes.

 

Matt P – Peter Ladhams? If I say it here does it manifest it??? I jest. Darcy Fort probably has a game that shows people why Max Gawn said he was the best backup ruck in the league and tries to bully Grundy, and on the Swans side i think a (mostly) fully fit Justin McInerney plays a blinder. When he’s on song, it completely changes the complexion of the ground, opens up space for runners, and lets the team do what they do best. A key cog.