VFL Semi Finals preview

vfl.com.au previews this week's Peter Jackson VFL Legendairy Semi Finals.

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1st SEMI FINAL
Footscray vs Essendon
Sunday September 11, 2.40pm, North Port Oval

Winner to play: Collingwood

Footscray’s VFL-listed talent was exposed against Casey’s hardened bodies in their Qualifying Final, with just eight AFL-listed Bulldogs taking the field. Senior leaders Jordan Russell and Anthony Barry did what they could, but the younger generation were found out late in the game. Essendon, meanwhile, had a mix of AFL and VFL Bombers contribute to their thrilling victory over Geelong. James Polkinghorne (22 disposals, four goals) and Mark Jamar (53 hitouts) were inspirational, while the emergence of Aaron Heppell (28 disposals, 13 clearances - pictured, left) and Nash Holmes (three goals) continued apace.

Footscray ruckman Will Minson faces the task of curbing Jamar’s influence, while a Mitch Honeychurch-led midfield must stand up as it did in a 19-point win against Essendon in Round 7. Another concern will be who the Bulldogs target up forward – if their under-sized attack featuring Mitch Hannan, Nick Jamieson and Jordan Staley can’t win the aerial battle, Bombers defenders such as James Ferry and Josh Freezer will sweep the ball back out. Footscray faces a challenge to reverse Essendon’s win in last year’s Semi Final, but it’s now common knowledge the Bulldogs will never lie down.

2nd SEMI FINAL
Williamstown vs Sandringham
Saturday September 10, 11.40am, North Port Oval

Winner to play: Casey Scorpions

The Seagulls were in fine defensive form when they last met Sandringham in Round 17, keeping the Zebras to a score of 1.14 to three-quarter time before prevailing by 24 points. Williamstown midfielders Willie Wheeler and Michael Gibbons were typically prolific that day, but they felt the heat of Collingwood’s tackling pressure in their Qualifying Final last week. Similarly, the hallmark of Sandringham’s Elimination Final victory was an ability to force Port Melbourne into crucial errors, with Myke Cook (24 disposals, 10 tackles) and Kade Answerth (17, 11 - pictured, right) a big presence in the clinches.

The Seagulls will want ruckman Nick Meese to win his battle with Billy Longer and provide silver service to those at his feet, then have them move the ball quickly to a versatile forward line boasting goalkickers Ayce Cordy, Sam Dunell and Leigh Masters. But reliable Zebras defenders Tom Simpkin, Luke Delaney and Elliot Le Grice are just as capable of winning the ball in the air and dishing off to speedy runners such as Eli Templeton and Jack Sinclair – and if that occurs, the reigning premiers will have their defensive credentials truly tested.

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VFL Semi Finals preview

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