We take a look at Saturday’s AFL Finals Week 1 match between Sydney Swans and the Essendon Bombers. The Swans head into the finals as the in form team and at home they have a very good record although the Bombers did push them there during the season so it may not be as one sided as many will think. View our Sydney Swans vs Essendon Bombers match preview.
When: 16:20 | Saturday 09/09/2017
Watch: Channel 7, Fox Footy or ? Watch Online for FREE HERE on your? or ?.
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Can a team from outside the top 4 win the Premiership for a second year in a row? The Swans begin their finals campaign at the SCG against a young Bombers side keen to put the past behind them and write their own history.
Round 14 Sydney 86 Essendon 85 (SCG)
A one point win by the Swans earlier in the year saw both teams incredibly inaccurate in front of goal and a quiet night from both Coleman Medal contenders Lance Franklin and Joe Daniher.
Franklin kicked 0 goals and 6 points and the Swans a collective 20 points in total, failing to put the game out of reach in the second and third quarters where they kicked 3.6. Josh Kennedy had 36 disposals and Isaac Heeney 21 touches, 2 goals and 9 tackles.
For the Bombers Zach Merrett had 33 touches and 6 tackles and Michael Hurley 30 touches and 8 marks. Both Bombers forwards struggled with Daniher kicking 1.2 and Orazio Fantasia 1.4.
LANCE FRANKLIN
The Swans forward is in scintillating form on the back of 10 goals against the Blues to win the Coleman Medal. Franklin’s form line when it comes to kicking goals is very clear. This season he has scored in bursts of games then goes quiet then another burst. Take a look at his goals since Round 9: 4,5,3 then two weeks quiet 4,3,4,3 then two weeks quiet 8,5,10. Based on that chart he is actually due for a quiet game as he only holds his form for 3-4 weeks.
Essendon are ‘optimistic’ about Michael Hurley, Cale Hooker and Orazio Fantasia will be fit for this final and it goes without saying that they are absolutely essential to the Bombers chances.
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MATCH ODDS:
Sydney Swans at $1.19
Essendon Bombers at $5.00
FINAL SAY: If the Swans kicked straight in their last match against the Bombers this game would have been completely different. The young Bombers have done well to make the finals but Sydney are a genuine Premiership contender and will be too strong at home.
BEST BETS:
Sydney Swans 1-39 at $2.15
Total Points Over 171.5 at $1.90