This week…

We have the Grand Final Matchup!

Welcome to Balls of Steel’s AFL Beat!

Holy shit my team is in the Grand Final!!  WOOOOOOOO!!!!!  Here are your recaps:

Brisbane Lions 42 v Geelong Cats 82 at The Gabba

The Cats started strong but missed kicks kept the game close until the second half, when they blew it wide open.

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Footy Tipping Contest

Here is where we are after Finals Week THREE:

We have a new Champion!!  Congratulations to Dolph Ucker for winning this year’s Gently Used Fleshlight (TM)!!  Even though he was only able to get one correct pick, neither SonOfSpam nor BFC were able to get both right, so there is now no way for them to catch him. 

Seriously, Dolph, if you send me your address via DM, I will send you a nice bottle of liquor.  Let us all know what kind of liquor you want in the comments!  If you don’t drink, I can send you a case of Corona Hard Seltzer or make a donation on your behalf to the charity of your choice.

Also, kudos to BC Dick for continuing to grind and move up in the standings.  He can still overtake Yeah Right for 7th and for 6th place!  Please keep in mind that the Footy Tipping Contest continues through the Grand Final so I remind you, as always,

DON’T FORGET TO PUT THE FOOTY TIPS IN!

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Without further ado, it’s

Balls’ Sechs

1- As had been the pattern, the team that lost the regular season matchup was able to win the rematch in the first Preliminary Final.  Richmond used their finals experience to outlast the Power.  The game went down exactly as I thought it would as it was close throughout, but it was the Tigers holding on at the end, not Port Adelaide. 

2- In the other game, I did not expect for the Cats to win by a large margin.  It could have actually been a bigger blowout if the Cats had kicked straight from the beginning.  The Lions were just a little too inexperienced for the moment, but they will learn greatly from this and will be back better than ever next year.  From the Wooden Spoon four years ago to a Preliminary Final this year, that’s a hell of an improvement and coach Chris Fagan should be commended. 

3- We got our All-Feline Final with the Tigers facing the Cats.  WHO YA GOT?!?

4- In Round 17 of the regular season, the Richmond Tigers beat the Geelong Cats by a score of 57 – 31 (26 points).  Will the pattern of the result going the other way the second time around hold true?  In finals, the teams that lost the regular season game have gone 6-2.

5- The Grand Final figures to go two ways:  Either it’s a really close game throughout and it’s low scoring or it’s a blowout.  If the Cats can kick accurately from the start, they can get the blowout.  The key for the Cats to win is to control the clearances, control possession, and force the Tigers to play a Geelong-style game.

6- For the Tigers to win their third title in four years, they must create chaos and turnovers in the midfield.  They will try to exert pressure on the Cats to force holding the ball penalties, incorrect disposals, or bad hand passes or kicks that all result in turnovers.  That’s their game and if they are allowed to play it, they will win. 

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That’s all for this week.  

You can find the latest broadcast information on the Australian Football Association of North America website here.

Here is your live broadcast schedule with North American broadcast partner:

Grand Final

Saturday, October 24, 2020

1:30 AM – Richmond Tigers v Geelong Cats at The Gabba (FS2, TSN3)

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As a reminder, here is what they’re playing for:

See you next week!