AFTER a round of less than underwhelming finals – with the Eastern/Dandenong clash the exception – the top four teams remain in contention for the 2017 TAC Cup premiership. There is one thing for certain – a metropolitan team will face a country team in the grand final for the second consecutive year. In the first match of the day, Geelong Falcons take on Dandenong Stingrays in the preliminary final at Simonds Stadium with the winner to run out on Etihad in a week’s time.

Geelong Falcons vs. Dandenong Stingrays

Geelong: 2nd, 15-3, 1570 points for, 953 points against, 165%
Dandenong: 3rd, 12-6, 1543 points for, 1297 points against, 119%

As I said last week, Dandenong Stingrays were my tip for the 2017 premiership and I have stuck by them through the entire season. This game will be incredibly tough though because Geelong have been the most consistent team all year with all their three losses coming within a month when they were understrength through National Under 18s Championships. On form, Geelong is the superior team, and even on combine invites, Geelong overtook Dandenong who had no shortage of AFL Academy players at the start of the season.

Last week, Geelong defeated Gippsland 16.11 (107) to 3.4 (22), booting 12 goals to zero after quarter time to dispose of their opponents in style. Ethan Floyd was instrumental off half-back and along the wing, racking up 34 disposals (71 per cent efficiency), five marks, three clearances, eight inside 50s and three rebounds. Cassidy Parish (26 disposals, seven clearances), bottom ager Ed McHenry (25 disposals, 11 tackles), Gryan Miers (24 disposals, three goals) and Sam Walsh (24 disposals, two goals) were all impressive in the victory.

Dandenong’s job was much tougher after an abysmal first half saw them trail Eastern Ranges 9.9 (63) to 2.1 (13) at the main break. Somehow they found their mojo and booted 12.6 to 2.3 in the second half to run over the top of the Ranges and keep their premiership aspirations alive. Potential number one pick Luke Davies-Uniacke was enormous, picking up 33 disposals (21 contested), six clearances, four marks, five inside 50s, two rebounds and kicking a powerful goal. Hunter Clark was equally important in the second half after an indifferent start, having 24 disposals, nine clearances, five inside 50s, three rebounds and laying a whopping 16 tackles. Others worth mentioning were Bailey Morrish (15 disposals, three rebounds), Oscar Clavarino (15 disposals, six marks) and Bailey Williams (14 disposals, 19 hitouts, five inside 50s).

The changes:

Geelong Falcons did not announce their omissions on Thursday night, bringing in the determined Bayley Cockerill, key forward Tom McCartin as well as Cooper Cartledge , with three players from their 27-man side to be dropped. Meanwhile the Dandenong Stingrays will need to omit three players as well after bringing in ball-winning midfielder Ali Zijai, Dylan Morris and bottom-age big man Bailey Schmidt.

The tip:

These two sides are very evenly matched and it might be a typical saying, but the midfield that gets on top will control the game. Both sides have defences that are capable of intercepting and using pace to rebound out of their back 50, with the likes of Floyd and Matthew Ling at one end, while Josh Bateman and Bailey Morrish will do the same up the other end. Given I have stuck with Dandenong all season as my tip for the flag, I will do so here, but I think the winner of this game will win the flag.