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AFL grand final teams, expert tips: Is this Freo’s first premiership side, or will Lions get their three-peat?

Sydney Morning Herald - Sport ·
AFL grand final teams, expert tips: Is this Freo’s first premiership side, or will Lions get their three-peat?

Jimmy Bartel Brisbane Lions by 35 points. The teams are evenly matched, but the firepower of the Lions’ forward pack will be too much for Freo in the end. Norm Smith Medal: Jaspa Fletcher (Brisbane Lions)

Libby Birch Brisbane Lions by 17 points The Lions’ experience and understanding of what grand final week demands will get them over the line against an opponent with only three players who have played in a decider. Could it be the best three-peat yet? Norm Smith Medal: Kai Lohmann (Brisbane Lions)

Wayne Campbell Brisbane Lions by 23 points. The Lions have played great football the past two weeks and have been here before. Fremantle’s time will come. Norm Smith Medal: Zac Bailey (Brisbane Lions)

Michael Gleeson Fremantle by 8 points The Lions go in as favourites, particularly with Lachie Neale being free to play, but I’ve just got a feeling Fremantle – as the best team all year, albeit patchy in the finals – will have a sense of history-making destiny about them. It’s all a bit contingent on getting more out of Josh Treacy. Norm Smith Medal: Shai Bolton (Fremantle)

Calum Jaspan Brisbane Lions by 19 points The Lions’ squad has four times as much finals experience as their opponents on Saturday. Freo’s relies on tall forwards and the last three grand finals have been decided by smalls. Norm Smith Medal: Zac Bailey (Brisbane Lions)

Emma Kearney Brisbane Lions by 19 points The Lions just have too many weapons across the ground, particularly in the front half, which will be hard for Fremantle to stop. Their experience on grand final day will serve them well. Norm Smith Medal: Will Ashcroft (Brisbane Lions)

Hannah Kennelly Brisbane Lions by 10 points. The Lions have been inconsistent this year, and I just think a three-peat is inevitable. Brisbane’s extensive grand final experience and midfield quality will overwhelm Fremantle. Norm Smith Medal: Hugh McCluggage (Brisbane Lions)

Sam McClure Brisbane Lions by 18 points I think the Lions’ experience and class across the ground will ultimately be too much, and they’ll take control of the game after half-time. Norm Smith Medal: Logan Morris (Brisbane Lions)

Marc McGowan Fremantle by 10 points The Dockers have been the best team all season, are strong on every line, and already overcame finals adversity this year, so they seem well-placed to create club history. Freo have so many potential match-winners, and you need your guns to fire to win a grand final. Norm Smith Medal: Hayden Young (Fremantle)

Jake Niall Brisbane Lions by 10 points The Dockers have sufficient midfield talent and defensive method against a freewheeling team that is defensively iffy. But the Lions have the small forward scoring-power, composure and belief to scrape home. Norm Smith Medal: Hugh McCluggage (Brisbane Lions)

Jon Pierik Brisbane Lions by 11 points The Lions have the midfield depth and composure to claim a hat-trick of flags. The worry for the Dockers is that they have won only three quarters through this finals series. Norm Smith Medal: Will Ashcroft (Brisbane Lions)

Danny Russell Fremantle by 7 points History beckons.

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5News aggregated this summary from the outlet’s public feed. The full article, with all the context, is on www.smh.com.au — the content belongs to Sydney Morning Herald - Sport.

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