1 – This was never going to end well for Jack Ginnivan
Love him or hate him, Jack Ginnivan is a real character and almost a breath of fresh air when you compare him to the robots who seem to be prevalent among the personality types in professional sports. With all that in mind, maybe Jack may indeed need to learn to keep certain things to himself, especially when there’s a fair chance it’s going to be used as motivation by your next opponent. Or, worse still, result in you being publicly humiliated in front of 50,000 people.
A lot has been said about Hinkley’s display, but it’s hard to argue that there was no justice in it. I personally found Jack’s tweet pretty funny. I actually find him to be a generally amusing and unique individual. The kid can play the game, and the move to Hawthorn looks to have turned out well for the young man. You can see that the Hawks are going to be a huge threat next year already. But Jack is obviously not very familiar with Murphy’s Law. The football world thought the Hawks were raging favourites in this game.
Port had other ideas.
I’m sure they wanted to win for their coach and atone last week’s embarrassing defeat. And there’s no doubt in my mind that the words of Mr Ginnivan would’ve added a little more spice to their preparations. Considering that the margin was just 3 points, perhaps if he had not sent out that fateful tweet, it could’ve resulted in a narrow Hawks win. I guess we’ll never know that for sure, but Jack Ginnivan may think twice in future.
2. Port Adelaide have won their last eight games in a row against Sydney
Now there’s a stat that I’m sure a lot of people weren’t aware of, although I’m sure they’ll be more than aware down at Alberton Oval.
Considering how strong Sydney are year after year, it’s actually quite astounding to think that the last time Sydney enjoyed a victory over the Power was way back in 2016. It was at the SCG in Round 20, and among the stars for the Swans that day was a young 20 year old kid from the Sydney Academy called Isaac Heeney. He had 25 touches on that occasion and booted two goals. I daresay he will also be a major factor in the game this Friday night.
The score on that occasion was 100-33. Since 2016 it’s been all Port Adelaide in each of their last eight encounters, culminating in that fateful night just six weeks ago back in Round 21 where the Swans were reduced to virtual bystanders in a 112 point demolition. Georgiades and Rioli both scored four while even the out of form Charlie Dixon was able to help himself to three majors that night. The Power midfielders all dominated and everything went right for them on the night. And yet strangely enough, the Swans will be raging favourites to go on through to the big dance. I just wonder if the people putting their hard earned money on the line realise that, for all intents and purposes, It very much looks like the Power might have the wood over the Swans. We’re about to find out if that’s still the case.
3. The Hawks look to be a scary proposition in 2025.
I guess enough has been said about what the Hawthorn Football Club was able to achieve this year after their slow start. Arguably, they were the best-performed side after Round Five and came frighteningly close to third week of the finals courtesy of a James Sicily set shot that hit the woodwork with just a minute left on the clock. We can talk about this as much as we like, but moving forward, players now want to come and play for what has become a destination club once again after a few lean years.
Nobody saw them playing finals this year, but virtually everyone you ask will say they’re certainties to be in contention next year. The talk is that Tom Barrass will join the team. The Hawks are also doing their best to secure Josh Battle. Josh has had a strong year at St Kilda and should fit nicely into the Hawthorn defence. With Barrass there as well, you could be looking at a May/Lever like combination. Sam Mitchell seems to know which players he believes would fit into his team, and based on just how quickly he has turned this club around, with a couple of ready made additions like these two, the year of 2025 could be huge for Hawthorn. They’re a young side playing as good as any side going around, but will the younger players be able to sustain the form long term? Whatever the case, Hawthorn under Sam Mitchell is going places.
4. Did the Giants just choke in their two finals games?
The dreaded C-word has reared its head once again. In the Qualifying Final, you might’ve been prepared to forgive that loss even though the Giants had a 27 point lead late in the third term. The Swans have been the best side all year, and have often finished games strongly. They’ve shown an ability to score quickly and chase down deficits, so you could argue it was a case of just Sydney being a little too strong in the end and the Giants were considered unlucky after playing well in the first three quarters. Let’s also not forget the magnitude of brilliance exhibited by Isaac Heeney in that final quarter. You’ll be hard pressed to find a stronger effort than that by an individual throughout history in a final.
GWS looked to be cruising to a good win against the Lions on Saturday night. Midway through the third term, the Giants got out to a game-high lead of 44 points before the Lions woke from their slumber to kick five unanswered goals in just nine minutes to trail by just 13 points. The Giants scored the next three to push the margin back out to 31 points and had seemingly withstood the challenge. But it wasn’t to be. The final term saw the Lions kick the last six goals of the game to win by 5 points in a miraculous win. For two and a half quarters they looked insipid and outclassed. They had scored just five goals at that stage and their inaccuracy woes were on full display. From that point the Lions scored 10.3 to just 3.2 to set up an appointment to play the Cats in the Preliminary Final. The Giants are out in straight sets and no doubt will be wondering how they could let a 44 point lead slip away.
5. Big Joe Daniher has his moment in the sun
It was the 28th minute of the last quarter when Daniher was awarded a free kick for a clumsy attempt to try and get the ball out of bounds without making it obvious. The Lions were trailing by 11 points at that stage. The call was insufficient intent and it was the correct one. Every time Joe is lining up for goal, it’s always heart in mouth stuff. Anything can happen when Joe has the ball in front of goal. His left foot shot from the boundary line was perfectly executed to bring the margin back to just one points with around five minutes still remaining. At the 30 minute mark he took a strong mark on the lead and was just 30-35 metres out on a slight angle. After slotting a really tough goal from the tightest of angles, many would’ve been almost expecting him to miss the far easier shot as he’s been known to do.
To the delight of Lions fans, Joe struck it perfectly and the Lions had eradicated a 44 point deficit in around 45 minutes of football. Joe Daniher finished the game with four goals from 13 touches. He had two on the board in the first quarter and didn’t have much of an impact through those middle two quarters. But when his time came, he came through with flying colours. And Joey does have a pretty big smile and I’m guessing it’s still there. He’s in pretty reasonable form right now, but the confidence gained from kicking those two goals under all that pressure is immeasurable.
6. Dayne Zorko would be feeling pretty relieved right now
Nobody can say that the 35 year old has had anything but an amazing season. At his age, he doesn’t seem to be wearying in the slightest as he continually knocks up midfield numbers playing off a half back flank in his latest role with the Lions. However, on Saturday night, there were moments in the first half I’m sure he’d like to have over again. Twice within minutes in the first quarter he seemed to be a mere spectator as his direct opponent James Peatling slotted two goals in similar fashion. Commentators seemed baffled as it had the appearance of Zorko either giving up on the contest, or not paying Peatling enough respect.
By half time, even the Giants players were getting stuck into him over what looked like four goals that had resulted from questionable efforts. And as the lead from GWS stretched out to 44 points midway through the third, even the great Zorko must’ve been dreading what the headlines would say the following day. Fortunately for the veteran, the Lions responded kicking five in a row including one by Zorko, himself. The last six goals kicked in the match by the Lions included his second, and when the siren sounded and Brisbane had snatched the remarkable come from behind victory, all of a sudden Dayne’s numbers of 25 possessions and two majors looked like a solid performance and those moments he was regretting became far less significant. He can count himself lucky on the one hand, but, at the end of the day, he did what champions do when they seem down and out.
7. Any of the four remaining teams can win the flag
It’s fair and reasonable to say that both Sydney and Geelong are in the box seat to win their respective Preliminary Finals. They’ve had the week off and are playing in familiar surrounds, so it all seems to be lining up nicely for the two early qualifiers. Except, this is 2024, and it’s one of the most bizarre seasons we’ve witnessed in a long time. Both Sydney and Geelong have had losing streaks of four or more games and Sydney suffered one defeat of over 100 points against the side they’re facing this weekend. Sure, Port Adelaide caught the Swans at their lowest ebb for the year, but to say it won’t be on the minds of all the players playing would be foolish.
Geelong flew under the radar for most of the season because, basically, they weren’t really setting the world on fire in many of their matches. When you analyse it further, after winning their opening seven games, their win-loss record since is a modest 8-8 during the home and away season. So their form has been a little up and down to say the least, and if the Lions were to come out and win this week, it wouldn’t be a total shock. The Cats will possibly be hoping for a continuation of the Lions’ poor showing at the MCG. Whatever the case, the two Grand Finalists is far from decided, and this season of all seasons is one likely to throw in one or two twists before it’s done.
