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The 2007 AFL Grand Final is coming up this weekend, and I’m in the right place to soak up the buzz – Adelaide.

The two teams competing in the Grand Final are Port Adelaide “Power” and Geelong “Cats”.

What’s AFL?

This is mostly for the world-wide visitors to this site. If you’re an Aussie, just skip this part!

AFL stands for Australian Football League. You’ve heard of Australian Rules Football? Well that’s what the teams in the AFL are playing – Aussie Rules.

A Brief Introduction to Australian Rules Football

Aussie Rules Football is more similar in nature to rugby than soccer, though it is somewhere in between. A contact sport in which players can be tackled, pushed, shouldered and generally obstructed a fair amount (within reason). Upon first watching, Aussie Rules can seem a little bit strange, it can sometimes just look like a 20 man scrabble for the ball on the ground, but once play opens up, the skill level is clear for all to see.

The object of Australian Rules Football is to kick the ball between the 2 large posts at the end of the oval – the goal. These large posts have smaller posts outside of them, if the ball just misses the goal, the team scores a ‘behind’. Goals are worth 6 points, behinds are worth 1.

AFL is played over four 20 minute quarters, with a break between each, and a longer break at half-time.

How teams reach the AFL Grand Final

The AFL Grand Final is essentially a playoff final of the top eight teams in the AFL regular seasons league table. The top teams have home fixtures against the lower placed teams, and, if they lose, get another bite of the cherry. The lower teams are eliminated if they lose.

There is a secondary round where the winners of the first round play the losing team from the other final, with the winners from this going into the Preliminary Final (a semi final).

The Preliminary Finals winners go forward to the Grand Final (a bit like the Superbowl in the NFL Gridiron competition).

The AFL Grand Final Prize

The teams are playing for the 2007 ‘flag’ – the premiership – the right to be called champion of the AFL for 2007. They are playing for this massive cup! The picture on the left is of the celebrations after the West Coast Eagles captured the flag in 2006 (the had lost the year before in the 2005 Grand Final by just 4 points!)

The 2007 AFL Grand Final

This year, as should usually be the case, the teams placed first and second in the league made it through to the AFL Grand Final:

Geelong “The Cats” Vs Port Adelaide “The Power”

The Cats

Geelong won the league with relative ease, and are widely regarded as having been the best team in AFL this year. They have been tipped by most to win the Grand Final.

However, their Preliminary Final against Collingwood “The Magpies” was much closer than many had anticipated, which has led some commentators to question whether this years crop of Cats have what it takes to win in a knockout situation (as it was their first elimination game of the season).

In the previous finals match (which they could have lost and still had a chance due to their 1st place league position) Geelong had absolutely destroyed the Kangaroos by 100 points in a terrific display of Aussie Rules Football.

Jimmy Bartel – Brownlow Medal Winner 2007

Geelong also have Jimmy Bartel, this year’s AFL Brownlow medal winner (awarded last night) in their camp, and confidence is sure to be high following that award.

The Power

Port Adelaide, on the other hand, must be regarded as underdogs in this years Grand Final. Though they finished second, and managed to beat Geelong in the regular season, their team lacks the depth Geelong posses.

However, they performed extremely well in their Preliminary Final, albeit against the same Kangaroos that were destroyed by Geelong, and may be sharper, and more confident going into the Grand Final.

Where and When is the 2007 AFL Grand Final?

This years AFL Grand Final will be played out at the MCG, Melbourne, this Saturday – 29th September 2007 – and starts at 2:30pm Australian Eastern Time (so 2:00pm here in Adelaide! 12:30pm for viewers in Perth). It is broadcast live on Channel 10.

The AFL Grand Final Winner?

I fancy Geelong to take out this years Grand Final. They look a more professional and cogent unit. They seem to have the pscychological edge to, as everything about their players shows they are confident in their own ability.

Port are also a good side, and not to be discounted, but for pure ability and self assurance, I’d back Geelong to win this one.

Whatever the result, it should be a good match-up. Roll on Saturday.