Taber Talk, now in its seventh season, returns for Week 2 of the 2013 AFL FInals Series.
He’s opinionated, controversial and insightful.
Last week, he dramatically and correctly picked Fremantle for an upset win over Geelong at Symonds Stadium. His preview of the other three matches read like a horoscope where there was hope for every team’s faithful. But on balance, it seemed like he was leaning for the eventual winners which gave him a perfect score of four from four in Week 1.
He is Daryl “DT” “Smooth” Taber and he’s been writing Taber Talk each week of the AFL Finals Series since 2007. And he is back for Week 2 of the 2013 AFL Finals Series.
To Play, Or Not To Play?
In the lead up to the finals last weekend we heard a lot about the highly regarded Chris Newman. The former Richmond captain, a veteran of 232 games, had never played in a final. He was also coming off a three week absence due to injury. At half-time, the Tigers led by 26 points. ‘Newy’ had a sensational first half that included nine possessions in the 2nd quarter. Could things have been any better?
Two quarters later and his team had wilted under the pressure from a more experienced opponent. Newman had just two possessions in the last half.
This week, leading up to the bounce, we’ll be updated on the prospects of many injured players taking to the field.
How often do we hear, ‘If he is not 100 per cent fit he won’t be picked?’ The reality is very few players go into a finals match 100 per cent. Carlton took a massive risk playing Judd. It paid off handsomely. The gamble Fremantle took on Luke McPharlin also worked well. On the flip side, the Swans missed with Gary Rohan and Lewis Jetta. Will the Swans take exactly the same risks with these two players this week?
Injury doubts hover over the following high profile players: Adam Goodes, Adam McVeigh, Jude Bolton. Tom Hawkins, Harry Taylor, Brock McLean and Matthew Kreuzer. And, most likely, a few more we are yet to hear about.
Friday Night 19:50 Geelong v Port Adelaide, MCG
The Cats kicked only nine goals against Freo. If they choose not to risk Hawkins, Podsiadly will need support from another ‘tall’, probably Nathan Vardy. When Stevie J doesn’t fire (he snared two goals in the first quarter last weekend), they rely heavily on their other mid-fielders to hit the scoreboard.
Port Adelaide will go into this game with the same ‘do-or-die’ attitude. Last week, Logan, Ebert, Cornes, Jonas, Lobbe and Carlile were fantastic at taking the game on. Although they do not have the injury concerns of the other three competing teams this weekend, they face another massive task against a professional Geelong team with the right balance of finals experience and youthful enthusiasm. Recent finals history suggests the Cats will fight back.
I expect the Cats will have too much class for Port Power and will find a way to win.
Saturday Night 19:45 Sydney Swans v Carlton, ANZ Stadium
Some recent stats about the Swans are quite surprising. They have won just one of their past five games. In their most recent two final quarters they have scored five goals compared to Carlton’s 14. As mentioned above, they have many selection concerns and may need to risk playing Goodes, particularly if some of their other warriors don’t come up. Their match-fitness concerns are heightened by the fact that Carlton has finished recent games strongly.
The Swans tend not to tinker too much with their structures during a game and rely on players to beat their opponents. They will use Mumford, Jesse White and the ever-improving Canadian, Big Mike Pyke, up forward and in the ruck when required, to challenge the smaller Blue defenders. This will be an extra challenge given that Sydney also have ‘man-mountain’ Tippett up forward as well.
Carlton, on the other hand, have many ‘swing men’ so it’s not uncommon to move players when things are going awry. They have built-in to their game-plan the flexibility to make sweeping changes without unsettling their line-up. Henderson, Waite, Walker and Duigan have all had success playing forward and back. Such versatility and unpredictability could prove crucial against the highly structured Swans. As usual the midfield struggle will be all-important with Gibbs, Judd and Murphy taking on Kennedy, Jack and Hannaberry.
These two teams met in Sydney in round 14 on a very wet night when Sydney won by 22 points. Carlton has won all other interstate games this season. The Blues also have the fitness, self-belief and ability to slash significant deficits in quick time, although this is fraught with danger against the reigning premiers.
Sydney won four more games than Carlton this year and therefore deserve to start as favourites. Injuries to Swans players even this contest a little but I think Sydney is most likely to win a close one.
Hawthorn and Fremantle are in the box seat. They will be very comfortable with their positions and next week will confront teams full of bruised and battered bodies. Winning in week one of the finals series has set them up beautifully.
Taber Talk, now in its 7th Season is syndicated on AFL Asia’s website – each Thursday of the 2013 AFL Finals!
Next week, look out for our special guest columnist who will replace DT. He will be on special assignment without access to the internet.
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