The 2017 AFL Grand Final will be contested between the Adelaide Crows and Richmond Tigers as Adelaide is seeking its first Premiership since 1998, and Richmond is seeking their first since 1980. The Adelaide Crows reached the Grand Final by demolishing the Geelong Cats 136-75. The Crows got off to a red hot start and never looked back, as the Crouch brothers combined for 60 disposals, Rory Laird had 32, Charlie Cameron and Josh Jenkins combined for nine goals, and four other Crows including Paul Seedsman had a pair of goals each. Brad Crouch had 10 tackles in a monumental performance. Despite the best efforts of Joel Selwood (34 disposals, 10 tackles), and a pair of goals from Patrick Dangerfield, Geelong looked totally out of sorts the entire contest. The Crows outmuscled the Cats, and kept former Crow Dangerfield on ice. In front of a sellout crowd, the Crows didn’t let up after building a massive lead.
The Richmond Tigers were spurred on by rabid home fans at the MCG as they beat GWS Giants 103-67. The contest was close through the half, but the second half was all Richmond, as the Tigers locked down the Giants forward line, and were fantastic moving forward. Captain Trent Cotchin had 26 disposals and 9 tackles, and he’s hoping to not be suspended for the Grand Final after a knock on Dylan Shiel. Dustin Martin kicked 3 goals for the Tigers, and Daniel Rioli’s star rose high as he kicked 4 goals. Dan Butler, another Richmond small forward, added a pair of goals. Harrison Himmelberg had 4 goals, and Callan Ward had 3, and along with Josh Kelly’s 28 disposals the Giants weren’t terrible, but they were outworked when it mattered, veteran Steve Johnson’s errors a great example of this.
Richmond will have a decided home advantage in the upcoming Grand Final, but Adelaide has been the strongest team in the AFL this season and won their h2h meeting, stay tuned for a full preview of the 2017 Grand Final.
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