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The Demons gave their fans something big to cheer for, in winning their final game of the season and making the finals.

By EDWARD BOURKE

It's been a long road to the finals for Melbourne, and they're up against a team that has a heap of finals experience. 

Elimination Final: Melbourne vs Geelong 

Friday September 7, 7.50pm at the MCG

On Friday night two teams with completely contrasting finals fortunes over the past decade will come face to face.  Melbourne, only 0.5 per cent away from a 2017 finals berth, have not featured in September since a 2006 semi-final defeat at the hands of Fremantle in Perth.

They will meet a regenerating Geelong side who still boast extraordinary finals experience, with Joel Selwood having three premierships to his name, Gary Ablett and Harry Taylor two each, and Tom Hawkins and Mitch Duncan with one – all from the Cats’ golden run from 2007 to 2011. Geelong have only missed one finals campaign since and will rely heavily on their experience to handle a combative Melbourne line-up. With Geelong claiming the honours as the best defensive side in the competition (ranked first with 1554 points conceded), this looms as a juicy finals match-up, with a spot in an MCG semi-final against Hawthorn beckoning for the victors.

Talking points

The Toms

The MCG crowd could be treated to an old-fashioned shootout between key forwards on Friday night. Hawkins (58 goals from 20 games) has enjoyed a terrific season, entering All-Australian calculations after he struck a rich vein of form in July. Tom McDonald (48 goals from 17 games) has been a reliable source of goals for the Demons, who are leaning on him more heavily since Jesse Hogan’s season-ending injury. While both teams have other avenues to goal, these players are both potential match-winners with opponents that will be eager to shut them down. 

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elimination final 

The midfield battle

Geelong’s star-studded midfield group have had their share of criticism this season, but facing the combination of Patrick Dangerfield, Ablett and Selwood along with Duncan and mature-age revelation Tim Kelly is a daunting task for any September opponent. Melbourne’s hard-nosed on-ball division will look to Max Gawn for first access at the stoppages, with Jack Viney’s likely return adding to a sea of contested ball-winners including Clayton Oliver, Nathan Jones and Angus Brayshaw. The key to a Melbourne victory will be using their advantage at the clearances while preventing Geelong’s classy midfield from hurting them with their ball use forward of centre.

Team balance

Both coaches will have concerns about the composition of their line-ups. For Melbourne, speedster Dean Kent will miss out with an AC joint injury while inside midfielders Jack Viney will return. Melbourne may want to play to their strengths and try to bully Geelong with a physical, tackling game, but leg speed can be vital in breaking the lines on a wide MCG.

Players to watch

Christian Petracca (Melbourne): Petracca’s numbers this season haven’t been huge, but he helped bury GWS with a three-goal spurt in the final round, and will be eager to stand up in the biggest game of his career so far. His strong body will help Melbourne combat Dangerfield and co around the stoppages, while he stands as a difficult match up for a Geelong defender when forward.

Mark Blicavs (Geelong): Blicavs’ selection in the All-Australian squad of 40 raised a few eyebrows, but he is valued greatly by Geelong and Chris Scott for his flexibility. He has been heavily influential when used as a defender, reading the play well to intercept mark and provide run out of defence, but where he could be most valuable tonight is in the ruck. Incumbent ruckman Ryan Abbott has just three games under his belt, so expect the former steeplechaser to be used in spells to try and wear Gawn down and help Abbott nullify his impact.

PREDICTIONNo one is more familiar with finals footy than Geelong. The Cats’ two tight victories from the home and away season will leave Melbourne with a psychological hurdle to overcome if the game is taken deep into the final quarter.Geelong by 11 points.