Preliminary Final: West v Centrals - Sunday 20 September @ Adelaide Oval

West - 3rd (11-7 54.91%)
Centrals - 5th (9-8-1 51.59%)

2015 Results:
Round 5: West 13.17.95 d Centrals 9.7.61 @ City Mazda Stadium
Round 14: West 11.12.78 d Centrals 10.7.67 @ Playford Alive Oval

Centrals hung on for dear life in their win over Port, while West gave the Eagles a good run for their money but ultimately fell short. Will Centrals fairytale finals run continue, or will West get the job done?

Westies' to be too good for what has been a very gallant Central over the last 8 or so matches

Looks to be 2 evenly matched teams going on form.

Centrals have the momentum now and could push Westies to the edge of the cliff.

However and a big however, Westies should be able to hold on and forward themselves into a Grand Final.

Lee vs Phil

The prize here is much bigger than what Malcolm and Tony had to gain.

Yes. Thought it was sorted, but Central have been terrific.

Yes, for those not aware, Lee and myself had a bet that whoevers team finished the higher would have a new member for season 2016...

I must admit, even after getting into the finals and knocking the reigning premiers off, I had found myself perusign the membership page of the WAFC website...

Dare to dream...

In Laird We Trust...

Praise the Laird...

P.S - Good luck on the weekend, Lee, it has been an enjoyable battle

West have a couple of key outs with Hill, who has had a very good season IMHO, and like many West players, has probably been under-rated outside of the WAFC...

Aaron Fielke is a classy player, goes without saying, and always seems to give Central a few match-up headaches...

No doubt the Dogs heirachy will be pleased he is not there...

This will be a real war of attrition between two sides that have a nice mix of youth, experience and class...

Have tipped against the Dogs the last 3 weeks and it seems to have had the opposite affect, but will hold off on seeing the teams until making my selection...

Very much looking forward to the game...

Paul wrote:Lee vs Phil

The prize here is much bigger than what Malcolm and Tony had to gain.

Nothing compared to BIG Phil v Scrappy
Ive now lost 2 lots of ham and pineapple pizzas on the 2 CD finals games with BIG Phil

BIG Phil
Would you like another small ham and pineapple pizza on the Prelim final as well ?

Big Phil wrote:Yes, for those not aware, Lee and myself had a bet that whoevers team finished the higher would have a new member for season 2016...

I must admit, even after getting into the finals and knocking the reigning premiers off, I had found myself perusign the membership page of the WAFC website...

Dare to dream...

In Laird We Trust...

Praise the Laird...

P.S - Good luck on the weekend, Lee, it has been an enjoyable battle

You too, Phil, I don't think either of us thought it would come down to the result of a Preliminary Final.

Same again next year, regardless of result?

Scrappy wrote:

Paul wrote:Lee vs Phil

The prize here is much bigger than what Malcolm and Tony had to gain.

Nothing compared to BIG Phil v Scrappy
Ive now lost 2 lots of ham and pineapple pizzas on the 2 CD finals games with BIG Phil

BIG Phil
Would you like another small ham and pineapple pizza on the Prelim final as well ?

Want to up the stakes, Scrappy?

If Central win the Prelim, you owe me a Party Size Ham & Pineapple Pizza...

If West win, then we are all square and you owe me nothing...

Sounds fair?

Big Phil wrote:

Scrappy wrote:

Paul wrote:Lee vs Phil

The prize here is much bigger than what Malcolm and Tony had to gain.

Nothing compared to BIG Phil v Scrappy
Ive now lost 2 lots of ham and pineapple pizzas on the 2 CD finals games with BIG Phil

BIG Phil
Would you like another small ham and pineapple pizza on the Prelim final as well ?

Want to up the stakes, Scrappy?

If Central win the Prelim, you owe me a Party Size Ham & Pineapple Pizza...

If West win, then we are all square and you owe me nothing...

Sounds fair?

Ye$

After witnessing Centrals beat South to knock us out the finals race in the last round of the year, I walked out thinking they are red hot to create something special......

They will...Centrals by 3 goals.

Central were $81.00 to go top in the lead up to the South v Central match, (South were $26.00) i thought about it but couldn't see them winning 5 'elimination' games in a row, can't see them winning but i'm sure it'll be close for the majority of the day

Some big calls to make, for both clubs, from the selection point of view...

Injury clouds and risks of players coming back in underdone to be heavily discussed...

Look forward to seeing the selected teams come out later today...

Correct, Phil.

WEST
West Adelaide has been dealt a further blow with key defender Adam Hartlett ruled out of Sunday’s Preliminary Final against Central with a thigh injury.
A member of the Bloods’ leadership group, Hartlett hurt his quad during the first term of the Second Semi Final but continued to play in pain.
‘’He’s been fantastic for us particularly with his on-field discipline this year,’’ West football manager Andrew Marks said.
‘’He’s been displaying great leadership so he will certainly be missed.’’
The former Carlton player has been joined on the Bloods’ omission list with defender Logan Hill and classy forward Aaron Fielke, who have both been sidelined with concussion.
Ex-Glenelg utility Riley Milne looms as the direct replacement for Hartlett after being named at centre half-back.
‘’Riley can play tall or small and he can rebound off his opponent to provide some important drive for us,’’ Marks said.
Star midfielder Taite Silverlock is edging closer to a return from a hamstring strain suffered against Port in the Qualifying Final.
‘’As the week has gone by he’s getting closer to playing,’’ Marks said of Silverlock.
‘’But he’s got to train with the main group on Friday night first as he hasn’t managed that yet.’’
Should Silverlock not recover it could open the door for strong-bodied midfielder Jadyn Brind to make his League debut.
A member of the McDonald’s SA Under-18 team this year, Brind – from Roxby Downs – measures in at 180cm and 92kg.
His fellow State team-mate, Jack Agostino, looks certain to replace Hill in the back pocket while key position player Ben Klemke has been included on the extended interchange bench.


F: Haysman, Webb, Anderson
HF: Green, Tuck, Beech
C: Homburg, Stevens, Schiller
HB: Caire, Milne, Wasley-Black
B: Agostino, Keough, Helbig

R: Willits, Schmidt, Snelling
INT: Silverlock, Klemke, Middleton, Brind, Porplyzia
IN: Milne, Silverlock, Brind, Klemke, Agostino
OUT: Hill (concussion), Fielke (concussion), Hartlett (quad)

Hartlett out is a big blow for the Bloods...

The Dogs up to their eyeballs in this one and a chance for a new member in 2016

looks like a few other radio stations coming on board for the rest of the finals.

does the sanfl pay for their involvement?

Big Phil wrote:Hartlett out is a big blow for the Bloods...

The Dogs up to their eyeballs in this one and a chance for a new member in 2016

Don't get ahead of yourself, Phil.

There's still a bit of quality in the side, despite the outs

Central by 19

Dogs by 34pts

The Hatchet wrote:looks like a few other radio stations coming on board for the rest of the finals.

does the sanfl pay for their involvement?

I believe that FiveAA and ABC will be calling the Preliminary Final and Grand Final then TripleMMM will also be doing the GF, as well...

No, to my knowledge, the SANFLdoesn't pay them, they provide the coverage as a 'community service' at their own cost. But, they are a commercial station and have a huge sponsorship income to cover their costs...

Too many quality outs for the Bloods.

Harlett controlled the back half against Port, the inexperienced Shaw and Harvey let him do as he pleased and he set up the wall across half back, directed his fellow backmen into place and Port looked unable to score because of it.

Last week, while playing injured, had both Wundke and Ainger to deal with and it proved too much for he and Westies back half to deal with.

Centrals hardened finals bodies to dictate terms here, Centrals by 22 points.

Booney wrote:Too many quality outs for the Bloods.

Hearing there could be another one, now?

Big Phil wrote:

Booney wrote:Too many quality outs for the Bloods.

Hearing there could be another one, now?

Sadly heard that as well.

Was very confident we'd win up to I saw that Hartlett was an out. He is our most important player.

Centrals have pretty much been playing elimination finals for each of the last 8 weeks or so, so surely you would think it would be taking its toll.

Earlier in the week I thought we'd win by 10 goals but now I think it is going to be a hell of a lot closer. Maybe a kick either way and hopefully it is the bloods on the right side of the ledger.