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AFL finals

Geelong once again underlined they are the team to beat for the Australian Football League (AFL) premiership in week one of the AFL finals, but there was enough evidence to suggest the engravers should hold off on etching their name on the trophy.

  • By Paul Kermode, Special to Gulf News
  • Published: 23:49 September 8, 2008
  • Gulf News

Dubai: Geelong once again underlined they are the team to beat for the Australian Football League (AFL) premiership in week one of the AFL finals, but there was enough evidence to suggest the engravers should hold off on etching their name on the trophy.

The Cats were superb in their 58-point thumping of St Kilda in the first qualifying final.

They led by 76 points at three-quarter time and the final margin flattered the Saints. However, Geelong have two injury concerns following the game, with Brent Prismall suffering a serious knee injury, likely to sideline him for 12 months, and forward Paul Chapman also having to leave the field with a hamstring strain.

Meanwhile, Hawthorn proved they may have what it takes to beat Geelong this September, after Lance Franklin booted eight goals as the Hawks demolished the Western Bulldogs.

At their best, the Hawks have the midfield depth and forward firepower to worry the Cats, and they look to be hitting their peak.

"I'd still like to think we can improve our footy on what we showed tonight," Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson said after their 51-point win.

Geelong and Hawthorn appear destined to meet in the Grand Final, and they'll both have a week off while the Bulldogs, Saints, Sydney and Collingwood battle it out to see who'll meet them in the preliminary finals.

Sydney, still alive after a come-from-behind win over North Melbourne in front of just 19,127 fans and criticised before the major round for being too old and too slow, will still take some beating.

And Collingwood proved yet again how dangerous they can be, after kicking 12 goals to five after half time to beat the Adelaide Crows in Adelaide.

The season is already over for the North Melbourne Kangaroos and the Crows.

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