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PLAYERS and coaches talk about taking things a week at a time, but fans are always gazing ahead and thinking about the "what ifs''. MATT WINDLEY takes a look in to the crystal ball to determine just who your team might come up against throughout September.
HAWTHORN
Week off
To play winner of this week's Geelong v Port Adelaide semi-final in preliminary final next Friday night.
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Hawthorn players would undoubtedly welcome a Port Adelaide victory against Geelong this week. Hawk defender Josh Gibson insists the club isn't thinking about a possible preliminary final against the Cats next Friday night, but everyone knows the blockbuster is on the cards. Gibson's right, you can't disrespect Port Adelaide - especially a Port Adelaide side that so comprehensively defeated Collingwood last week.
But if lightning were to strike twice and Port did defeat the Cats then the following week Ken Hinkley's men would have to make a third consecutive trip to Melbourne, beat two top-two teams in a row and also reverse a five-match losing streak against the Hawks.
The match-up that almost everyone wanted to see in the Grand Final, Hawthorn and Geelong, can now only occur in the prelim. Surely, with a week's break, the Hawks would be in as good a position as ever to snap an 11-game losing streak against their arch rivals.
FREMANTLE
Week off
To play winner of this week's Sydney v Carlton semi-final in preliminary final next Saturday afternoon.
Fremantle is in the box seat to make its first ever Grand Final now. The Dockers have won 16 of their past 17 games at Patersons Stadium - including 10 in a row dating back to Round 3 this year - and so will fear neither Sydney nor Carlton in next Saturday's preliminary final. For the record, Fremantle and Sydney played out a 70-all draw at the SCG in Round 8 this year, while the Dockers smashed the Blues by six goals at Etihad Stadium in Round 19.
GEELONG
Semi-final v Port Adelaide, MCG, Friday 7.50pm
WIN: MCG preliminary final against Hawthorn.
Geelong's record against Port Adelaide is formidable. It has won the past nine games between the two sides dating back to Round 21, 2007. Interestingly the two teams have played just once at the MCG and that was the Cats' record-breaking 2007 Grand Final victory. Geelong will hold no fears of a potential preliminary final against Hawthorn considering it has won its last 11 games against the Hawks.
LAST FIVE v PORT ADELAIDE
R20 2013, Simonds Stadium, Geel 20.9 (129) def PA 16.8 (104)
R9 2013, AAMI Stadium, Geel 18.8 (116) def PA 9.14 (68)
R14 2012, Simonds Stadium, Geel 14.15 (99) def PA 8.13 (61)
R3 2011, Simonds Stadium, Geel 17.20 (122) def PA 6.7 (43)
R4 2010, Simonds Stadium, Geel 23.21 (159) def PA 10.4 (64)
SYDNEY
Semi-final v Carlton, ANZ Stadium, Saturday 7.45pm
WIN: Patersons Stadium preliminary final against Fremantle.
Recent history points to a Sydney win against Carlton this week. Outside of the fact that qualifying final losers traditionally bounce back to defeat elimination final winners, Sydney has won the three games that it has played against the Blues at ANZ Stadium.
It has also won the past two games between the two sides, including a 22-point win at the SCG in Round 14 this year. The form line against Fremantle, should Sydney advance, however is less clear because the Dockers and Swans rarely meet at Patersons Stadium. Only twice since 2005 have these teams met in Perth - Fremantle won by 21 points on Anzac Day in 2009, but Sydney won the most recent encounter, by nine points, in 2010.
LAST FIVE v CARLTON
R14 2013, SCG, Syd 8.17 (65) def Carl 5.13 (43)
R19 2012, Etihad Stadium, Syd 14.9 (93) def Carl 10.11 (71)
R13 2011, Etihad Stadium, Carl 15.10 (100) def Syd 10.6 (66)
R6 2011, SCG, Carl 12.15 (87) def Syd 10.11 (71)
EF 2010, ANZ Stadium, Syd 14.15 (99) def Carl 13.16 (94)
PORT ADELAIDE
Semi-final v Geelong, MCG, Friday 7.50pm
WIN: MCG preliminary final against Hawthorn.
Port Adelaide, as gutsy as it as been this year, is really up against it this week against a Geelong side it has not beaten since 2007.
That said, the experts - this column included - tipped similar gloom for Ken Hinkley's men last week. Should the Power get through, then it will face another mammoth task against Hawthorn next week - the Hawks have won the past five games between the two sides dating back to Round 7, 2011.
LAST FIVE v GEELONG
R20 2013, Simonds Stadium, Geel 20.9 (129) def PA 16.8 (104)
R9 2013, AAMI Stadium, Geel 18.8 (116) def PA 9.14 (68)
R14 2012, Simonds Stadium, Geel 14.15 (99) def PA 8.13 (61)
R3 2011, Simonds Stadium, Geel 17.20 (122) def PA 6.7 (43)
R4 2010, Simonds Stadium, Geel 23.21 (159) def PA 10.4 (64)
CARLTON
Semi-final v Sydney, ANZ Stadium, Saturday 7.45pm
WIN: Patersons Stadium preliminary final against Fremantle.
Carlton defied history in so many ways last week, clearly becoming the first side in AFL/VFL history to win an elimination final after technically only doing enough during the home and away season to finish ninth.
And while the Blues are in to semi-final week, they will have to create history again this week by winning at a ground - ANZ Stadium - they have never won at before. Tantalising for Blues fans, however, is the fact that their side has won its last two games against Fremantle at Subiaco, so a preliminary final at that ground next week won't necessarily hold any fears should it come to that.
LAST FIVE v SYDNEY
R14 2013, SCG, Syd 8.17 (65) def Carl 5.13 (43)
R19 2012, Etihad Stadium, Syd 14.9 (93) def Carl 10.11 (71)
R13 2011, Etihad Stadium, Carl 15.10 (100) def Syd 10.6 (66)
R6 2011, SCG, Carl 12.15 (87) def Syd 10.11 (71)
EF 2010, ANZ Stadium, Syd 14.15 (99) def Carl 13.16 (94)
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