Trio of Magpies turn up the power for final

		P	W	D	L	%	Pts
1	Sydney	22	17	0	5	142.88	68
2	Hawthorn	22	17	0	5	140.78	68
3	Geelong	22	17	0	5	113.77	68
4	Fremantle	22	16	0	6	130.40	64
5	Port Adelaide	22	14	0	8	129.92	56
6	North Melbourne	22	14	0	8	117.04	56
7	Essendon	22	12	1	9	106.34	50
8	Richmond	22	12	0	10	105.77	48
9	West Coast	22	11	0	11	116.86	44
10	Adelaide	22	11	0	11	114.05	44
11	Collingwood	22	11	0	11	94.14	44
12	Gold Coast	22	10	0	12	93.74	40
13	Carlton	22	7	1	14	89.75	30
14	Bulldogs	22	7	0	15	81.95	28
15	Brisbane	22	7	0	15	69.26	28
16	Greater Western Sydney	22	6	0	16	76.72	24
17	Melbourne	22	4	0	18	68.37	16
18	St Kilda	22	4	0	18	60.76	16

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Overall it’s a great result for Panthers

Young Panthers, from left, Sam Overall, Caleb Daniel and Jake Veide will be hoping to take South Adelaide into its first grand final in 35 years. Picture: Dave Cronin. Source: News Corp Australia

NINE months ago, Sam Overall's SANFL footy dream appeared over. On Sunday he might be a key factor in taking South Adelaide to its first grand final in 35 years.

Juggling work as an apprentice carpenter and cricket with Encounter Bay, Overall was cut during pre-season by Glenelg where he had played a handful of lower grade games in 2013.

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE BOTH PRELIMINARY FINAL TEAMS

Resigned to playing footy in the Great Southern League, the 19-year-old's mum then contacted South, and new coach Brad Gotch decided to take on the 193cm Overall as a long-term project.

But this "project" has come to rapid fruition, with Overall named as the Panthers' attacking spearhead against Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval this afternoon.

''He's from Victor Harbor and I think he was having trouble getting to training during the early part of the year,'' Gotch said

''He got cut because I think (Glenelg coach) Nick Stevens had about 90 players he was going through at that stage.''

Gotch said Overall's schedule created similar challenges when he began training at Noarlunga. He missed most of the pre-season matches, busy playing his part in Encounter Bay's cricket Premiership.

"He was training with us three times a week, training cricket twice a week and also playing some basketball," Gotch said.

"He's an active kid and that's what he wanted to do but he started to get tired.

"He was getting up at 6am every morning then not getting home until 9pm. So we cut him back to two nights a week to balance that out.

"We had a little bit of a talk to him about pulling back just to keep him in the program. We just decided we didn't want to lose him."

Overall spent the season developing in the reserves until he produced two standout games six weeks ago, forcing selectors to offer him a league debut against the Eagles in round 16.

This afternoon's Preliminary Final will be his sixth league game, and he has made the goal-kickers' list in all bar one of his senior matches so far.

"He showed something in his first game," Gotch said.

"And he's just picked up week-in, week-out leading him to kicking three goals last week."

PORT ADELAIDE v SOUTH ADELAIDE

Adelaide Oval, Sunday, 2.40pm

MAGPIES

Backs: Krakouer, Clurey, Russell

Half-backs: Heath, Stevenson, Amon

Centre: Hitchcock, Logan, Stewart

Half-forwards: Byrne-Jones, J. Butcher, Newton

Forwards: Ah Chee, Harvey, Shaw

Ruck: Bruggemann, Summerton, S. Gray

Interchange (from): A. Young, Impey, Mitchell, Flynn, Slattery

In: J. Butcher, Mitchell, Russell, Hitchcock

Out: R. Young (finger), Biemans

PANTHERS

Backs: Dale, Crabb, Fields

Half-backs: Murphy, Thewlis, Taylor

Centre: Veide, Cross, Rose

Half-forwards: C. Daniel, Eddy, Rolfe

Forwards: Macleod, Overall, Gulden

Ruck: Brooksby, Liddle, Gotch

Interchange: Bass, Secull, N. Daniel

Radio: 5RPH, LifeFM

TV: 7mate

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Swans and Buddy could be a AFL’s dream scenario

		P	W	D	L	%	Pts
1	Sydney	22	17	0	5	142.88	68
2	Hawthorn	22	17	0	5	140.78	68
3	Geelong	22	17	0	5	113.77	68
4	Fremantle	22	16	0	6	130.40	64
5	Port Adelaide	22	14	0	8	129.92	56
6	North Melbourne	22	14	0	8	117.04	56
7	Essendon	22	12	1	9	106.34	50
8	Richmond	22	12	0	10	105.77	48
9	West Coast	22	11	0	11	116.86	44
10	Adelaide	22	11	0	11	114.05	44
11	Collingwood	22	11	0	11	94.14	44
12	Gold Coast	22	10	0	12	93.74	40
13	Carlton	22	7	1	14	89.75	30
14	Bulldogs	22	7	0	15	81.95	28
15	Brisbane	22	7	0	15	69.26	28
16	Greater Western Sydney	22	6	0	16	76.72	24
17	Melbourne	22	4	0	18	68.37	16
18	St Kilda	22	4	0	18	60.76	16

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Time for Crows to make strong decisions

		P	W	D	L	%	Pts
1	Sydney	22	17	0	5	142.88	68
2	Hawthorn	22	17	0	5	140.78	68
3	Geelong	22	17	0	5	113.77	68
4	Fremantle	22	16	0	6	130.40	64
5	Port Adelaide	22	14	0	8	129.92	56
6	North Melbourne	22	14	0	8	117.04	56
7	Essendon	22	12	1	9	106.34	50
8	Richmond	22	12	0	10	105.77	48
9	West Coast	22	11	0	11	116.86	44
10	Adelaide	22	11	0	11	114.05	44
11	Collingwood	22	11	0	11	94.14	44
12	Gold Coast	22	10	0	12	93.74	40
13	Carlton	22	7	1	14	89.75	30
14	Bulldogs	22	7	0	15	81.95	28
15	Brisbane	22	7	0	15	69.26	28
16	Greater Western Sydney	22	6	0	16	76.72	24
17	Melbourne	22	4	0	18	68.37	16
18	St Kilda	22	4	0	18	60.76	16

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Live: Power surge has Freo in strife

		P	W	D	L	%	Pts
1	Sydney	22	17	0	5	142.88	68
2	Hawthorn	22	17	0	5	140.78	68
3	Geelong	22	17	0	5	113.77	68
4	Fremantle	22	16	0	6	130.40	64
5	Port Adelaide	22	14	0	8	129.92	56
6	North Melbourne	22	14	0	8	117.04	56
7	Essendon	22	12	1	9	106.34	50
8	Richmond	22	12	0	10	105.77	48
9	West Coast	22	11	0	11	116.86	44
10	Adelaide	22	11	0	11	114.05	44
11	Collingwood	22	11	0	11	94.14	44
12	Gold Coast	22	10	0	12	93.74	40
13	Carlton	22	7	1	14	89.75	30
14	Bulldogs	22	7	0	15	81.95	28
15	Brisbane	22	7	0	15	69.26	28
16	Greater Western Sydney	22	6	0	16	76.72	24
17	Melbourne	22	4	0	18	68.37	16
18	St Kilda	22	4	0	18	60.76	16

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‘Hard to see Boomer playing prelim’

Jon Ralph discusses the clash between Brent Harvey and Joel Selwood during Friday night's AFL semi-final between Geelong and North Melbourne.

Brent Harvey and Joel Selwood had a running battle all night. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia

AS much as it's unpalatable and seemingly unfair, it is difficult to see how North Melbourne's Brent Harvey can avoid being suspended for this week's preliminary final.

Everyone by now should understand the stricter bump rule — if you choose to bump and make forceful head contact, even accidentally, then you're responsible for the consequences.

LET BOOMER PLAY: ARCHER

KANGAROOS ESCAPE CATS COMEBACK

Harvey chose to jump and bump Joel Selwood when the ball wasn't even in the vicinity. Not a wise decision.

North Melbourne have won a thrilling AFL semi-final against Geelong, holding on for a six point victory.

Yes, you could argue the head clash wasn't forceful, but a key opposition leader and playmaker was forced off the ground with blood streaming from an eyebrow cut. Not a good look.

Geelong's compulsory medical report to the AFL match review panel will state how Selwood had to be stitched up during the half-time break. Not a good read.

Even with the lowest rough conduct gradings of negligent conduct with low impact, Harvey attracts 125 demerit points. With a clean record, he pleads guilty and escapes with a reprimand.

Do you think Brent Harvey will be suspended?

Alas, he's lumbered with 41 carry-over points and a 10 per cent bad record loading from the three-game suspension from his Round 21 misconduct offence.

The 25 per cent discount for an early guilty plead would still leave him with 137 points and an automatic one-match ban. Only a successful tribunal challenge to, perhaps, question Selwood's eyebrow scar tissue would allow him to play against the Swans.

You have to feel for the popular Kangaroo, but he had been warned.

* Bruce Matthews has been covering the VFL/AFL tribunal for more than 20 years.

Originally published as 'Hard to see Boomer playing prelim'

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Just what is the AFL thinking?

		P	W	D	L	%	Pts
1	Sydney	22	17	0	5	142.88	68
2	Hawthorn	22	17	0	5	140.78	68
3	Geelong	22	17	0	5	113.77	68
4	Fremantle	22	16	0	6	130.40	64
5	Port Adelaide	22	14	0	8	129.92	56
6	North Melbourne	22	14	0	8	117.04	56
7	Essendon	22	12	1	9	106.34	50
8	Richmond	22	12	0	10	105.77	48
9	West Coast	22	11	0	11	116.86	44
10	Adelaide	22	11	0	11	114.05	44
11	Collingwood	22	11	0	11	94.14	44
12	Gold Coast	22	10	0	12	93.74	40
13	Carlton	22	7	1	14	89.75	30
14	Bulldogs	22	7	0	15	81.95	28
15	Brisbane	22	7	0	15	69.26	28
16	Greater Western Sydney	22	6	0	16	76.72	24
17	Melbourne	22	4	0	18	68.37	16
18	St Kilda	22	4	0	18	60.76	16

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All eyes on Magpies squad for second semi final

SANFL coaches, from left, Brad Gotch (South Adelaide), Seamus Maloney (Sturt), Ben Warren (Norwood) and Garry Hocking (Port Adelaide). Picture: Sam Wundke. Source: News Limited

MAGPIES coach Garry Hocking says Port Adelaide is yet to decide how many players will be held back from its SANFL semi finals clash against Norwood to be available as emergencies should the Power require them the following day.

The SANFL held a finals media session on Tuesday and much of the interest surrounded who the Magpies squad would feature when they entered the major round on Saturday evening.

Port's remarkably small injury list means the Magpies would field a season-high 19 AFL-listed players for the clash if it chose not to hold any emergencies for the following day.

But the events on the Gold Coast three weeks ago — where the Power called in not one but two late emergencies — the club may be cautious.

Port could even hold back three emergencies for Richmond, meaning the Magpies AFL-listed contingent would be reduced to 16.

Hocking said no decision had been made.

"It's only speculation at this point in time,'' he said.

"We've got a (small) injury list which means we've got a really good list to select from for the Magpies and we'll pick a really strong 21."

Cameron O'Shea, Kane Mitchell and Ben Newton were Port's three emergencies last weekend and their presence, or non presence, for the Magpies could have a massive baring on Saturday night's result.

Redlegs coach Ben Warren said his side was eager to get another crack at Port after narrowly losing at Alberton three weeks ago and would focus on tidying up its forward entries.

"The supporters and the club are pretty excited to be playing Port Adelaide at 5:40pm on Saturday in a final at Adelaide Oval,'' Warren said.

"Our forward entries weren't as good as they could have been last time we played them and we've done some work on that."

Sturt coach Seamus Maloney and South counterpart Brad Gotch both agreed the knockout first semi final from 2:40pm was likely to be won in the midfield.

Magarey medallist Zane Kirkwood and Richard Tambling will go head-to-head with the Panther's deep onball unit, which includes Joel Cross, Nick Liddle and Brent Macleod.

South beat the Double Blues a fortnight ago.

"(Ruckmen Angus) Kurtze and (Keegan) Brooksby have had two really good battles this year … and at ground level it's been really evenly fought,'' Gotch said.

"We feel like we've got a little bit more depth in there so that's where we might be able to get them."

Maloney praised the effort of his midfield in last week's loss to Norwood and said his forward line needed to step up.

"We need to play with a bit more dare to give our forwards space but its also about our forwards winning their positions,'' Maloney said.

"We didn't have a clear winner up forward (against Norwood)."

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VB vows to keep steering Crows

Crows captain Nathan Van Berlo speaks to the media at the crows end of season gathering at the Hackney Hotel. Photo: Tom Huntley. Source: News Limited

RE-BOOTED Nathan van Berlo wants to continue as Adelaide skipper next season despite the winds of change sweeping West Lakes.

Patrick Dangerfield and Rory Sloane co-captained the Crows this season after the 182-game midfielder was struck by a weighted training sled in a freak training mishap during January at Max Basheer Reserve.

Van Berlo, 28, says he can combine a comeback from a snapped Achilles tendon and leadership responsibility as Adelaide enters a crucial season — hoping to end a two-year exile from finals action.

"I love leading the club and it has been a huge honour for me and we will have those discussions in due course, when the time is right," said van Berlo, who has led Adelaide in 68 games since 2010.

"It has been an honour to lead the footy club."

Van Berlo was a chance to return for the Crows had they made the finals but will have to wait another six months to end a "frustrating" stint on the sidelines.

"I guess I will have an 18 month pre-season to get myself up and going for 2015," he said.

The Crows gathered this morning to commence end of season celebrations at the Hackney Hotel ahead of a bus tour through the Adelaide Hills. It could be a final chance for bonding with list and coaching overhaul expected over the summer following a 10th placed finish.

Leading goal kicker Eddie Betts and rookie Charlie Cameron caught the eye while Dangerfield and veteran James Podsiadly arrived in matching suits.

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Power, Crows with bumper All-Australian options

		P	W	D	L	%	Pts
1	Sydney	22	17	0	5	142.88	68
2	Hawthorn	22	17	0	5	140.78	68
3	Geelong	22	17	0	5	113.77	68
4	Fremantle	22	16	0	6	130.40	64
5	Port Adelaide	22	14	0	8	129.92	56
6	North Melbourne	22	14	0	8	117.04	56
7	Essendon	22	12	1	9	106.34	50
8	Richmond	22	12	0	10	105.77	48
9	West Coast	22	11	0	11	116.86	44
10	Adelaide	22	11	0	11	114.05	44
11	Collingwood	22	11	0	11	94.14	44
12	Gold Coast	22	10	0	12	93.74	40
13	Carlton	22	7	1	14	89.75	30
14	Bulldogs	22	7	0	15	81.95	28
15	Brisbane	22	7	0	15	69.26	28
16	Greater Western Sydney	22	6	0	16	76.72	24
17	Melbourne	22	4	0	18	68.37	16
18	St Kilda	22	4	0	18	60.76	16

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Barrack with your head, not your heart, in finals

		P	W	D	L	%	Pts
1	Sydney	22	17	0	5	142.88	68
2	Hawthorn	22	17	0	5	140.78	68
3	Geelong	22	17	0	5	113.77	68
4	Fremantle	22	16	0	6	130.40	64
5	Port Adelaide	22	14	0	8	129.92	56
6	North Melbourne	22	14	0	8	117.04	56
7	Essendon	22	12	1	9	106.34	50
8	Richmond	22	12	0	10	105.77	48
9	West Coast	22	11	0	11	116.86	44
10	Adelaide	22	11	0	11	114.05	44
11	Collingwood	22	11	0	11	94.14	44
12	Gold Coast	22	10	0	12	93.74	40
13	Carlton	22	7	1	14	89.75	30
14	Bulldogs	22	7	0	15	81.95	28
15	Brisbane	22	7	0	15	69.26	28
16	Greater Western Sydney	22	6	0	16	76.72	24
17	Melbourne	22	4	0	18	68.37	16
18	St Kilda	22	4	0	18	60.76	16

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It’s not all black and white for Power

PORT Adelaide's core statement of "never being torn apart" is being tested by the compromise to wear the club's Magpie heritage jumper for the Power's first final at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.

Power unfazed by mediocre form heading into finals

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