The winners and losers of the first week of the finals

Well, week one of the 2024 Finals Series is over, and so are the Blues and the Dogs. It’s amazing to think that there were times during the season where these teams seemed like the “it” teams, and in the end, we just added an “sh” to the end

Anyway, time to get into the real winners and losers of HB this weekend.

WINNERS

ISAAC HEENEY

Exactly what the Swans needed from their 2024 Superstar. He may not have been the MVP, he may not have been able to win the Brownlow and resting him in the final round of the season might have cost him the AFLCA Champion Player of the Year Award, but by far… what a way to prove your worth to a team!

Heeney put the Swans on his back to keep them in the game against GWS. At one point it was really Giants versus Heeney, and he kept them in touch.

As the final quarter began, it was Heeney again who struck a spark and fanned the flames among his teammates, and this time, some of them caught on too.

Thai was the game of a championship player – the best the season has to offer. And without ignoring Nick Daicos, Marcus Bontempelli and whoever else takes the Brownlow, THIS is what an MVP looks like in full flight. Great game from Heeney.

DAY ZORKO

It must be hard for Dayne Zorko’s critics to watch him play right now. Time for a dole, maybe? I mean, to some, he was never more than a hostile little prick who relied on getting under his opponents’ skin. Of course, those people ignored his five best and fairest awards – made it easier to condemn him, you know?

In the first half of the Lions’ win over the Blues, Zorko set the tone for his team by making shots like Jon Bon Jovi did for Santa Fe Gold in 1995. I was there to see what happened.

I included this as part of the reviews, but it deserves a spot here – Zorko is a man without a conscience when it comes to kicking with the foot. Hard kick? Not according to Dayne – he looks up, sees a target in traffic, trusts his skills and pulls the trigger.

And you know what? He hits the target more often than not!

There are a lot of good halfbacks in the league but I would put his kicking ability above all others. Not only does he take the difficult kicks but he also hits them well.

Just like Jon Bon Jovi already hit a lot in 1995. He can count himself lucky that there were no camera phones back then…

SOLID AMBROSIO

There were plenty of choices in that Hawthorn team, but I thought D’Ambrosio’s play was fantastic, both because of where he comes from and what he showed in this game.

Imagine being in his shoes last year? Nearly top 22 at Essendon. Not really considered much by Brad Scott, and only managed eight games.

And now?

Now he scores over 30 points in the final and beats the Dogs with his foot skills.

The Hawks use him brilliantly, always making sure he has space to judge and find a target. At stoppages they play him as the release man at the back of the game, and the Hawks mids know he, or Karl Amon, are there to use their skills to help them out of trouble – it’s a great formation to maximise Massimo’s talent, and he delivers in spades.

ZAC GUTHRIE

Oh no… Tom Stewart is out of the team… what do we do?

Fear not, my Blonde Bellarine Mafia… the man once considered the lesser Guthrie is here to save the day.

Can Zuthrie win the Cats’ best and fairest this season? After being a scapegoat for so long, he has emerged as one of the best intercept players in the game over the past two years. But to call him that is to detract from his genuine defensive efforts – Zuthrie actually takes responsibility for his man. So many of the best interceptors like to zone and freelance on defense.

Not Zuthrie – the Cats are getting the best of both worlds with him in defence, at the moment. He will pin down an opponent AND he will win his own football.

No Tom Stewart?

No problem.

Zuthrie has it under control.

THE WIZARD

The best way to do that is to answer your critics in a finale.

Earlier this season, a lot of people were making jokes about Nick Watson getting kicked out of Hogwarts. They don’t let people who are almost wizards in, you know?

Well, it may have taken Nick a while to figure out which end of his magic wand to hold, but when you see him score four huge goals as the Hawks overwhelmed the Dogs… it’s safe to say he’s been readmitted on a full scholarship.

The post-match scenes, with The Wiz sitting next to the adoring, wizard-hat-wearing Hawthorn fans, were fantastic. The game needs more of that. I don’t know when the Hok-Ball bubble will burst, but until it does, I’m thoroughly enjoying this.

LOSERS

MICHAEL VOSS

Imagine being in charge of a team that performs so poorly in the first half?

I could have had Hinkley in this spot but he gets another chance this weekend. This is a huge missed opportunity for Michael Voss and his Blues – a wasted season that ended with a fizzle.

We must remember that this team was at one point close to being favourites for the Premier League (maybe Sydney not included). Names like Cripps, Walsh, Curnow, McKay, Weitering… teams would kill for such a core.

And now the Blues sit out the rest of the final. Their coach must be devastated.

I know they support them.

Charlie Dixon

I think this might be a bit harsh, as the midfield’s attempts to feed him and Esava Ratugolea the ball were pathetic, but there are times when a big striker has to force himself into the game… and I don’t think Charlie can do that anymore.

The center wants to, but the body… just can’t.

I hope Dixon can get back on his feet one more time and have a great game this weekend. Against a defence that has just lost its underrated key defender, Sam Frost, Port need something special from their big man. If they get another result like Charlie’s last weekend, they’ll be done for.

JACK MACRAE

His fall at The Kennel was extraordinary.

Three Australian brass players, a talent for the game that is second to none, and yet the best Macrae could come up with was a place as a substitute in a losing match.

The writing is definitely on the wall at Whitten Oval. There are many ways in which a player can be told that his services are no longer required and I think Jack Macrae knows very well that this is the case for him. He is 30 years old, he has a few good years ahead of him but he needs to play football somewhere else to get the best out of himself.

He has a contract until the end of 2027 so the Dogs will likely ask for overs for him, but they have shown what he is really capable of: you don’t pay overs for a guy who isn’t the best 22.

TOBY GREEN

This one hurts. As you may know, I am a huge Toby Greene fan.

However, he was badly beaten by Dane Rampe at the weekend and also squandered his chances in front of goal. His missed shot in the first quarter was so far removed from the player that Toby Greene is, it was as if aliens from the planet Daniher had come down and swapped his talent for their own.

Greene is a warrior. He is a leader and a champion of the game, but he had a bad one this week. In a game that was decided by a kick, I think that will be a heavy burden for the captain. I hope he bounces back.

CONNOR ROZEE

You are the captain of a proud football club.

Time to play it that way. I’ll leave it at that.

As always, a big thank you to those who support this work. It is a labor of love for me, and you as members of the site basically keep me going. So sincerely… thank you – HB

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