Premier League Semi Finals – Match of the Round Previews

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Semi Finals – Match of the Round Previews
 
Preview by Bevan Jones

PL Women - Port Adelaide v Seacliff – Saturday 2 September

What a way to kick off the first week of the finals with a clash between last year’s grand finalists and the prize at the end of it a big one, a week off and a spot in the grand final.

The Port Adelaide Magpies finished the minor round on top of the ladder with a record of 18 wins and three losses whilst the Seacliff Tigers finished the season second with 16 wins, two draws and three losses.

They met only recently in round 19 when the Magpies claimed a 2-1 victory.

Last week in round 21, Seacliff were far too strong with a 6-0 win over Forestville and Port Adelaide ended the minor round in style with a 4-1 victory over Burnside. 

Seacliff coach Matt Morton said they were looking forward to welcoming some players back into the squad that hadn’t played for a few weeks and would hopefully bring a new life to the group.

Morton said the keys were to control their emotions and nullify Port Adelaide’s threats across the pitch.

Magpies coach Paul Finnie said they have had some great battles with Seacliff over the years and were expecting another tough contest this week.

“There's been very little between the top sides in the comp for a few years now so we'll treat this week's semi-final against the Tigers with the same respect and intensity as we always do,” Finnie said.

“We recognise we'll need to lift our game in several areas as they will no doubt come to play and throw various challenges our way. 

“We approach the game with a sense of anticipation and enjoyment of the contest ahead".

Prediction: In closing, there isn’t much between these two sides and that was proven by their recent tight battle in round 19 when the Magpies won 2-1. I am expecting another thrilling contest and for the Magpies to get it done again with a 3-2 victory.

PL Men - Seacliff v Adelaide – Saturday 2 September

With a week off and a grand final spot on the line, it is sure to be a thrilling contest when minor premiers, the Seacliff Tigers who finished with 18 wins and three losses this season take on the Adelaide Peas who finished second with 15 wins, three draws and three losses during the minor round.

Both sides are coming off morale boosting victories in round 21 with Seacliff defeating Forestville 6-0 and Adelaide thumping Grange 7-0.

The Seacliff Tigers and Adelaide Peas met recently in round 18 and on that occasion, it was Seacliff getting a 3-0 victory.

Peas coach Shaun Dawson said the keys to their success were to play at their tempo and be proactive in their outlets and press. 

Dawson said their team play had been excellent for them in the past few weeks and they would look to continue that momentum. 

He said both teams had scored and defended well this year leading to a quality match in the making.

Tigers coach Matt Morton said they have had some fierce battles with Adelaide in finals and were looking forward to another one this week.

“We have been in this position several times before playing Adelaide in finals and it has always been a really competitive battle and we relish the chance to take them on in a final again,” Morton said.

“The keys for us are to play our best hockey and if we do that, we can match it with anyone and get the job done.

“Adelaide has some dangerous players, for us it will all be about controlling emotions and the way we play.

“It was nice to get the positive result last week against Forestville, it was a unique game being a bit of a dead rubber game and it was all about fine tuning and looking forward to the opportunity this weekend.”

Prediction: A spot in the grand final and a week off is the prize for the winner which makes for an enthralling encounter. It is hard to go past Seacliff though with the season they have had in only losing three games. Seacliff to win 4-2.

PL Women - Adelaide v Adelaide University – Sunday 3 September

It is sudden death for the Adelaide Peas and the Adelaide University Blacks with the season over for the loser and the winner to take on the loser of the Port Adelaide and Seacliff Semi-Final clash.

The Blacks are no strangers to sudden death games having won their round 21 match 2-1 against North East in a battle for fourth spot.

For the Peas they had a much more comfortable game to finish the minor round with a 7-0 victory over Grange.

Adelaide and Adelaide University met back in round 19 with the game ending in a nil-all draw.

Peas coach Brodie Gleeson said maintaining their composure against the Blacks this Sunday would be the key to getting the win.

“After a long season we are excited to start the finals campaign. We are excited for the challenge as we head into Sunday’s Elimination Final against an upbeat Adelaide Uni who secured their finals spot in last weekend’s ‘Elimination Final’ against North East,” Gleeson explained.

“Firstly, it’s important for us to control the rhythm of the game. As Adelaide Uni is comfortable defending deep in their half, we need to remain patient and deliberate in our build-up. Maintaining possession and probing their defensive lines with calculated passages to help us create openings and stretch their compact structure.

“Following this it’s important to be clinical in front of the goal and staying mentally resilient if we can’t score early. Facing a team like Adelaide Uni demands patience and focus. 

“We’ll emphasise maintaining our composure, even if we don’t break through their defence immediately. Adapting to the evolving nature of the match will be crucial.

“Finally, defensive organisation will be paramount. Given their ability to score during counterattacks, we’ll work on maintaining a solid defensive shape even when in possession. 

“Quick transitions from attack to defence and keeping our lines compact will be crucial in minimising their chances to exploit open spaces.”

Blacks coach Darren Neimke said they would embrace the opportunity to play finals after sneaking through last week against North East.

“We're excited by the year we've had so far. We're confident, but we're not complacent. We know we must be at our best if we want to win,” Neimke said.

“Every week brings a new challenge; that's how we prepare. We're ready to embrace this week's opportunity and we're not setting any limits on what we can achieve as a team.

“We're not going to change our game plan. We're going to keep doing what we've been doing, and that's playing our hearts out.

“We'll happily wear the underdog tag. The underdog story is one that is often written about in sports, and this week we're aiming to write our own chapter.”

Prediction: With no second chances for the loser, this should make for a mouth-watering clash. These sides couldn’t be separated when they met only a few weeks ago and the two teams are evenly matched. I am tipping the Blacks to upset the Peas with a 2-1 victory. 

PL Men - Port Adelaide v North East – Sunday 3 September

There’s no more second chances as last year’s premiers the Port Adelaide Magpies take on the North East Warriors with the winner to move through to the preliminary final and the loser out of the finals race.

The Magpies finished third with 13 wins, three draws and five losses whilst the Warriors finished the season in fourth place with 10 wins, four draws and seven losses.

Both teams are coming into the game with winning form with Port Adelaide having a 4-2 win over Burnside and North East defeating Adelaide University 6-1.

The Magpies and Warriors last met in round 17 and on that occasion neither team could be separated with the match finishing 3-3.

Warriors coach Jordan Glover said they needed to be confident in their ball movement and build sustained pressure.

Glover said they had built some good momentum into the back end of this year and they enjoyed their battles this year with the Magpies.

He said they needed to be confident in their ball movement to build sustained pressure and that it was important to manage Port Adelaide's transitions as they had high-quality attacking threats.

Magpies coach Mark Victory said this week they would need to play to their strengths with and without the ball. Victory said they know that North East have plenty of young talent in their midfield and front groups that they would need to match. 

He said they were well coached and were expecting a strong contest from North East as always.

Prediction: It would be a real shock to see last year’s premiers out of the finals race after the first week, but the Warriors are full of confidence and an upset could be on the cards. In saying that, I still think the Magpies will be too strong and win in a close one 3-2. 

This week’s Matches of the Round are LIVE on LiveHockey - https://livehockey.com.au