The veteran, the gun forward and the MVP: The players who can crack open the AFLW grand final

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If the preliminary finals were anything to go by, Sunday’s grand final between North Melbourne and the Brisbane Lions will be epic.

The footy being played in this finals series is mind-blowing. The moments of brilliance we are seeing from players under immense pressure is extraordinary – just have another look at Anne Hatchard’s soaring mark in the goal square last weekend against North.

From left: Brisbane Lions duo Jade Ellenger and Dakota Davidson, and North Melbourne’s Jasmine Garner and Jenna Bruton.Credit: Artwork: Marija Erecegova. Images: Getty Images, AFL Photos

Finals are all about winning more moments than the opposition. It’s tough, it’s highly contested and goals are harder to come by than in the home-and-away season.

There are several players that I think hold the key to cracking the game open this weekend – here they are.

North Melbourne

Emma Kearney
Fresh off her eighth consecutive All-Australian selection, Kearney has a competitive nature unlike anyone I’ve ever met. If the Lions allow Kearney to play off her opponent and let the ball go over the back of the contest, she will be there to mop it up every time. Kearney is extremely influential off half-back, creating scoring chains via her lethal kick and footy IQ. The run-and-carry, handball-receive game must be stopped to put a kink in North Melbourne’s back half.

Tahlia Randall
Arguably in some of the best form of her career, Randall’s body work in isolated one-on-ones has gone to another level. Having gone head-to-head with her a few weeks ago, I know that Randall is reading the ball extremely well in the air and delivering excellent pressure at ground level. She clunked six marks in the preliminary final and is the link for North Melbourne’s potent tall-forward attack alongside Kate Shierlaw. The most important match-up that the Lions need to get right is when Randall pops up in the ruck inside-50. In the first final against the Dees, she kicked two goals by shaking opposition rucks off and snapping at goal from that very position.

Jasmine Garner
The AFLW’s coaches MVP is one of the most consistent midfielders in the competition. What makes Garner so damaging is her ability to execute effective possessions and deliver consistent clearance and metres gained numbers for her team. However, the biggest influence she’s had for the Roos this season has been her ability to kick goals. When she floats inside 50 as a midfielder, Garner often has a size advantage on her midfield opponent. From 12 outings this year, Jas has kicked 11 goals. Some teams have considered different match-ups for Garner when she is inside 50, however it is more likely that Lions defenders will have license to roll off their own player to help close out the aerial contest with Garner. If Garner kicks an early goal, it’ll be a tough day for the Lions.

Jenna Bruton
Bruton, such a classy, quiet achiever with incredible skills, is one of the best short kicks in the game. Arguably best on ground in last week’s preliminary final, Bruton had her contest game at her brutal best. Bruton and Kearney were both in the 2018 Bulldogs premiership team that played against the Lions at Ikon Park. This previous experience will be a huge factor in helping to settle the Roos’ midfield early in the game. If the Roos get the ball into Bruton’s hands when entering inside 50, the Lions defenders will struggle to stop her elite ball use.

Influential Kangaroo Jenna Bruton.Credit: AFL Photos

Brisbane Lions

Shannon Campbell
A finals player. Not that it needed to be proved again, but Campbell’s nerves of steel kicked in with the game-winning goal in the preliminary final. While Campbell was swung to the forward line after Dakota Davidson went down with a knee injury, I believe she will be needed down back this week to rally her troops against North’s tall forwards. Campbell is a stoic defender who is a tough, intimidating player to come up against. The Lions play a back shoulder defence, so it’ll be important for their midfield to put pressure on the ball carrier.

Dakota Davidson
Davidson is another player who is in the best form of her career. After a scare last week, Davidson has been cleared of any serious knee injury but will no doubt be heavily strapped and slightly hampered on Sunday. Having kicked a career-best 21 goals, earning her first All-Australian selection this season, Davidson’s aerial work inside 50 is elite. Her contested marks have been some of the best we have seen this year. The Roos can’t let Davidson run and launch at the ball, nor can they let her control the 50 with her commanding leads. Davidson is an energy barometer for the Lions.

Bella Dawes
You only had to look at Dawes’ face post-match to know how much another grand final berth for the Lions means to her. Ruthless at the contest, Dawes is tough and thrives in challenging moments. Every time her team needed a spark this year, Dawes has been able to lift her team with inspirational efforts. Another energiser bunny for the Lions, her craftiness around the contest and clean pick-ups at ground level are outstanding. Dawes needs to be at her intimidating best to ensure the Lions get first use at stoppages.

Ellie Hampson, Jade Ellenger and Orla O’Dwyer celebrate a Lions win.Credit: Getty Images

Jade Ellenger
Ellenger has had a terrific season. In the last quarter of the preliminary final when the game was on the line, this speedster had a huge impact. Sweeping around the back of contests, Ellenger’s ability to gather intercepts, provide defensive coverage and get the ball going forward has been pivotal this year. The Lions’ wingers are the best in the competition: Orla O’Dwyer, Sophie Conway and, of course, Ellenger. If the Lions can get the ball on the outside to Ellenger and her wing crew, it’ll be hard to stop their influence at both ends of the ground.

Regardless of the result on the weekend, both sides should be proud of their incredible efforts to get to this year’s grand final. It’ll be a sold-out Ikon Park, so make sure you tune in to watch some of the best footy we have seen!

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