A spot in a Preliminary Final awaits as Week 2 of the AFL Finals gets underway this Friday night.
The Dees and Blues will battle it out with the winner facing Brisbane at the Gabba the following week.
On Saturday night, the Power takes on the Giants in what should be a cracking contest as Collingwood awaits.
Who will progress to a Prelim?
Who will be sent packing?
Can we find some value?
Read on in our AFL Semi Finals Tips & Preview below.
Melbourne will do what they can to avoid back-to-back straight-sets exits as they meet Carlton at the MCG on Friday night in the first final between the two clubs since 2000.
With Carlton winning 10 of their last 11, breaking through for their first finals win (and series) since 2013 the Blues will take plenty of confidence into this match…and that’s not just from their army of long-suffering supporters.
The Demons got close to pipping the Magpies in the Qualifying Final last week, but wasting 32 more inside 50s than Collingwood would really get to them.
If Christian Petrraca can find himself up forward with Bailey Fritsch, it should help Melbourne convert on the scoreboard and not be as wasteful where it matters most.
Carlton managed a one-goal win over the Swans, with most fans still trying to recover from that roller-coaster of emotions in that final minute to just hang on and progress to the second week of the finals.
When these two last met, the Blues recorded a famous four-point win in what was one of the games of the year.
While Jacob Van Rooyen and Angus Brayshaw will miss for the Dees, Harry McKay is out for the Blues and at the time of publication, Jack Martin has a date with the tribunal.
Brisbane will be hoping that the Dees and Blues beat the crap out of each other (metaphorically of course), and it should be another grinding close game like we saw back in Round 22.
Having said that, the Dees have won eight of their past nine against the Blues and if they can fix their issues up forward, even with Carlton’s spirited performances and big Charlie down the other end – they should be able to progress to the prelim against the Lions.
Despite an excellent home and away season and locking a spot in the top four, Port could be out in straight sets unless they can beat GWS in the semi-final at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.
A Preliminary Final against Collingwood awaits, and the Power will need to beat the Orange Team who have won nine of their last 11, coming off a big win over the Saints in their Elimination Final at the MCG last week.
Port Adelaide heads into this game as $1.60 favourites at the time of publishing, and have managed to win their past eight games at home when favourites.
They also smashed GWS when these two last met in Round 22 by 51 points at home, in what was one of only four losses the Giants have had this season by over four goals
However, Port was punished on the scoreboard and all over the ground by Brisbane last Saturday night at the Gabba, plus some injury niggles are in vouge at Alberton and their past month of football hasn’t given big premiership vibes.
The Giants don’t mind playing away either.
GWS has won eight of their 14 games away this season – at eight different venues including at Adelaide Oval back in Round 18.
The orange team will need Toby Greene to fire up – he’s kicked 25 goals in those away wins this season and you’d expect Stephen Coniglio to return after missing out last week due to injury.
It’s easy to write off a team that had a bad Qualifying Final loss, however, the Giants have been sensational this year and have all the makings to steal victory off Port in what should be a close one.
The price on offer for a GWS upset is too good to pass on.