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THE DECISIONS
Aliir clear: Swans confident defender will recover in time for the decider. Photo: Getty Images/AFL Media
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How on earth did this match-winning point slip through?
Plays of the AFL preliminary finals
The Swans start in a hurry and cruise past Geelong while in Sydney the Bulldogs win one of the all time great preliminary finals against GWS to reach their first grand final since 1961.
Might be a few more difficult selection decisions this year than is usual in grand final week. For Sydney, it's Aliir Aliir's low-grade medial ligament strain under the microscope, though the Swans will give him every chance of getting to the line. Not to mention co-captain Jarrad McVeigh (calf) and Rising Star winner Callum Mills (hamstring), both automatic choices if fit. But who makes way? Ditto the Western Bulldogs, with Lin Jong best-on-ground on Sunday in the VFL grand final, and the Dogs' only player with grand final experience, Matt Suckling, nursing an achilles strain. There's always hard-luck stories come grand final time, but there's players from both clubs who should they miss out this week might be even unluckier than usual.
THE OPPORTUNITY
On the up: Ben McGlynn back to winning ways with the Swans. Photo: Getty Images
Award-winning Fairfax columnist Tim Boyle wrote a great piece about his former Hawthorn teammate Ben McGlynn on Sunday. And while there's some good stories surrounding 40-odd players this week, the little Swan's is one of the most poignant. He's been a perennial hard-luck story for nearly a decade, playing for the Hawks all season in 2007 but injuries keeping him out when they won the flag the next year. He played 22 games for Sydney in 2012 but tore a hamstring in the qualifying final and missed another premiership. To rub his nose in it further, he was part of the Swans' line-up smashed by his old club on grand final day two years ago. No one deserves a change of grand final fortune more than this guy.
THE PRIDE
Swanning it up: Lance Franklin and Zak Jones celebrate after beating Geelong. Photo: Michael Willson/AFL Media
Sydney's rooms were full of family and friends after their emphatic preliminary final win on Friday night, and none were enjoying the atmosphere any more than Melbourne captain Nathan Jones, beaming with pride in the performance of his little brother Zak for the Swans against Geelong. Returning to the line-up after being seriously concussed in the NEAFL grand final, Jones' hardness at the contest was a real bonus, and he has to be at short odds to hold his spot for Saturday. The grand final would be just his 31st senior game. Nathan has played 223 for the Demons with just two finals appearances now 10 years ago. But there's no jealousy. For the next week at least, he's very much a de facto Swan, too.
THE HAWK
Son of the west: Doug Hawkins, circa 1991.
One of the most satisfying parts of the Bulldogs' thrilling Saturday night win was witnessing the sheer joy of so many long-suffering past players and fans in the immediate aftermath. In the rooms, while it was hard to believe, Brad Johnson actually managed a smile even wider than usual. Radio commentator and Bulldog tragic Tony Leonard was like a wide-eyed teenaged fan all over again. And on 3RRR's late night "Party Show", former Bulldog champion Doug Hawkins was having trouble getting the words out, but perhaps this time because he was overcome with emotion. It was beautiful stuff, and just what this time of year should always be like.