THE GRAND FINAL DRUM.
This week closes out the 2011 season and the shortlived career of The Drum. After a season that shaped as an even one, we are once again back on the last Saturday of the year with the Kangaroos and the Saints. This will be the fourth time in five years this pair have met in the decider, with the Kangaroos looking to even the ledger at two wins each from those four matches.
So how will they match up?
The Kangaroos have a great mix in their forward line, with the exuberance of youth and some experienced heads. They have great marking ability in their spearheads, and on the lead are very difficult to stop. Overeem is in some of his best form, and is as sure footed as a mountain goat in front of the sticks. They won't spill many, but young Lachlan Maloney is delivering on his promise and at ground level is as effective as anyone in the League. Old heads in Bishop and Akeroyd add to the mix, and even unlikelys like Vincent Woodgate popped up recently to add to the headaches for the opposition defence. The ability to rotate any of Hodge, Cotter, or Cam and Mitch Douglas into the forward zone means that the Kangaroos are short odds to find the right mix against the best efforts of the Saints. At the same time, the Saints are not short on experience nor class to plug the dyke. Elphick is probably the best defender going around, Matt Harrison is industrious and hard to beat in a one-on-one and Joe and Sam Kimmince give them an advantage in height. The battle at that end of the park should be enthralling.
The midfield is where the Kangaroos will look to press their true advantage. Whilst not the tallest ruckman, Painter is effective enough with the likes of Hodge and the Douglas boys at his feet. The way those three click with the run of Robinson and the joeys like Hudson and Ferguson can be spellbinding, and the Saints will have to work hard to cut down the clean ball available to them across the middle of the field. The Saints are a little shorter on sparkle in the centre, but not on grunt or effort, with the Pay brothers, Hadland and Dunlop all amongst a group that will most certainly have a crack. Little Mick Corcoran also provides a little X-factor with speed and guile. If the Saints are to get a sniff, they will have to right on song in the midfield, and providing plenty of run off the ball to match their opponents mobility.
The Saints forward line has thrown up some surprises this year, and will have an advantage in height. Whitton is as dangerous as ever and is one capable of slotting a bag for the Saints, but young Hamish Bird has grown into his first year of footy and Walker and Gould are both very effective across half forward. Nick Baird is a long kick and a strong body in a contest, and The Drum would not be surprised if Joe Kimmince sneaks forward at some stage to take advantage of his leap. They have no shortage of goals in them if they are given enough good use of the red nut. The Kangaroos back six, though, are their unsung heroes. Johnson is battle hardened and the general the defence needs, and Daye loves the tough stuff and will not give away an easy possession. Drew Murden was magnificent across half back in the major semi-final and while he might be in for a tougher time this week will be high on confidence. Cotter may well wander back to assist, especially if there is any hint of the Saints getting on top, and his read of the ball and ability in a contest is just plain frustrating for attackers.
The Kangaroos have been the form team all year and apart from a single hiccup have had few true challengers. They have had a light run into the end of the season, with this just their third match in five weeks. The freshen up can help some, but not all. The Drum does not expect that will prove much of a hurdle, and trusts Tim Cotter has guided his charges through that time to have them ready to unleash their best. If they do come up to their best, with even luck they will just be too good.
The Kangaroos will go into the match as clear favourites and deserve to win. But football can be a fickle mistress, and one of those big challenges they had came in a narrow victory over the Saints not too long ago. The Saints have not beaten the Kangaroos this year, but the last time they met in a final at number one was in 2009, with the Saints recording a memorable victory. They will head down with no fears and ready to toss abandon to the breeze as the underdogs. Nick Baird might not be quite Bart Cummings, but The Drum senses the Saints have a sense of the Rogan Josh timing about them and thinks their last effort for 2011 will be their best.
The Drum has been proven to have no idea and has no shame this week to admit to head scratching. Plenty points to the Saints coming good at the right time, but in the end The Drum has to go with the best runner in the best form.
THE DRUM: KANGAROOS BY A LUCKY THIRTEEN POINTS.
Last Modified on 15/09/2011 21:09