He’s opinionated, controversial and insightful.

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 the Big One: the 2013 AFL Grand Final.

Taber says, “We’re in for an Old-Fashioned ‘No Holds Barred’ Grand Final.” And so we say, you better read on!

MCG 2:30 Hawthorn v Fremantle

Many Thanks to Dave O’Shea for ‘subbing’ for me last week. Great tipping too! And speaking of tips, congratulations to our ex-Swannie Goal umpire (alias ‘Ong Za’) on winning the Vietnam Swans tipping competition on ‘percentage’. Every year he’s up there, and every year he beats me!

You may feel a sense of ‘de ja vu’ reading this Grand Final Preview as just 12 months ago I questioned  whether the best offensive team, Hawthorn, could get over the most resolute defenders back then, the Swans.

So have Hawthorn improved their game enough this year to kick a winning score against an even better defensive team in the form of the Fremantle Dockers? Directly after their loss last year, the Hawks shored up their own backline by acquiring a quality full back, Brian Lake. Lake has had a great year and has allowed the likes of Guerra, Hodge, Smith and Birchall to attack even more.

And up forward the Hawks have relied less on Franklin for their goals and in fact have often looked more potent without him. Jarryd Roughead won the Coleman medal this year, a great effort considering he often feeds the ball to his fellow forwards. Gunston, Puopolo, Breust and Rioli are a great support cast but need to break free from the web cast by the Dockers defence. In what may be his last game for the Hawks, it’s time to step up Buddy! Similarly, Ross Lyon needs a big game from Pavlich. Here’s the opportunity for these two champions to stamp their authority in a Grand Final.

Hawthorn has had a great season that included a 12-game winning streak, they finished the home and away season on top of the ladder, had the highest overall points scored and finally broke the ‘Kennett Curse’. However, they bear the burden of again being premiership favourites, and after last year’s Grand Final loss this load will get heavier the longer the game remains tight.

Fremantle has completed a remarkable two-years under coach, Ross Lyon, becoming the most difficult team to score against in the League. Freo’s overall percentage of 134 is only 2% lower than Hawthorns, even though they scored 500 fewer points. Ross Lyon bases his game plan on defence first, insisting all his players place enormous pressure on their opponents. In his arsenal he has the two most dedicated (insert annoying) taggers in Crowley and Ballantyne, that can also accumulate quality possessions. Impressively, Crowley has quashed Stevie J and Kieren Lack in the previous two finals. In somewhat of a turnaround, I expect all the Hawks to target these two taggers with some physical presence whenever they can. Freo may try similar tactics on “General Hodge? Expect fireworks folks! It will be hot in the kitchen, especially early on!

The Dockers have only two players that have played in grand finals, albeit with other clubs. In stark contrast, the team that played the Cats last week had 18 Hawthorn players that have played in a grand final. Both Michael Voss and John Longmire suggest Fremantle can win their first ever grand final if the big occasion does not distract them from fulfilling their roles within the team and applying their typical, relentless pressure.

Midfield Battle

Most games are won in the midfield. Freo’s Aaron Sandilands will be simply too tall and too good for Hale and Bailey. He is well supported by Zac Clarke. This means that the Dockers should often get first use of the ball. Hawthorn usually like to sub out Bailey for a midfielder late in the game. This will leave them short in defence if Sandilands goes forward, a massive task for a defender. On the other hand, Hale often goes forward and is generally a reliable mark and great kick at goal.

Form players for Freo include Mundy, Fyffe, Barlow, Pavlich, Mayne and McPharlin but also some that sneak under the radar such as Hill, Walters and Duffield. Last week Burgoyne, Hill and Rioli stood up when the game needed to be won. Burgoyne often shows his class in tight contests and I expect he will be another Hawk Freo are planning to shut down. Gunston rarely goes a game without kicking goals. Sewell, Lewis and Mitchell share the workload and Isaac Smith provides plenty of run and is a beautiful long kick.
This grand final promises to be another battle fought right through to the end. The forecast weather of showers, strong winds and possible storms won’t suit the high marking forwards. With the main emphasis from Fremantle being defensive-pressure I expect the winning score to be quite low.

I will stick with my week one tip, Fremantle. I expect them to apply enormous pressure again and dry up the Hawks scoring opportunities. It will be interesting to see if they can perform the same heroics under ‘grand final’ pressure, just as the Swans did last year.

Wherever you are watching our great game, Enjoy.

From everyone who reads thevietnamswans.com, we would like to express our gratitude to Daryl Taber for his 7th Season of delivering Taber Talk. Absolutely outstanding again, DT! Nearly more fun to read than watching the AFL Finals.