One of the key matchups in Saturday’s Preliminary Final between Brisbane and Carlton is Jacob Weitering’s task of nullifying Joe Daniher.
While Weitering performed well in the chaotic Semi Final win over Melbourne as he was able to drop off opposition forwards, he’ll likely have to play a more lockdown role this time around with the Lions having a handful of dangerous forwards.
The main tall forward Carlton must stop is Daniher, with the star Lion dominating the club’s Qualifying Final win over Port Adelaide with five goals, six marks and 16 disposals.
With a potential matchup between two key guns potentially proving pivotal to the result, Brownlow Medallist Gerard Healy and Western Bulldogs great Brad Johnson looked into how it could play out.
The pair believe Daniher must back up his strong September start while Weitering may have to play in a different way to how he has been in recent weeks.
Healy: “How big a game is this for Joe Daniher? He needs to have two big finals.”
Johnson: “I thought the first one was big, but this is even bigger, isn't it for Joe?”
Healy: “He’s probably going to be on Weitering. Weitering may be taken up the ground by Joe who may fly up the ground.
“But I thought Weitering’s game last week and Carlton’s strategy to have Weitering as the drop-off player was absolutely superb.
“He took a lot of intercept marks. Whether or not he can do that against the Lions is going to be debatable with the way Joe plays.”
Johnson: “Weitering is really good at just that little nudge to get you under the ball … the push, he does it really well.”
Healy: “He gets away with it.”
Johnson: “He doesn't do it the way that you have tried to get it adjudicated all year with both hands in the back. He uses his body and in a really good technique, he gets good body on early to push you under a little bit.
“If Joe plays on him, you’ve got to expect that. I think that's the thing I'm looking for the most.
“You can't be out-marked in one on ones. He (Daniher) has to play up and back.”
Daniher performed well last time he faced the Blues, kicking two goals to go with 15 disposals, six marks and five inside 50s.
The bounce for Saturday’s Preliminary Final is set for 5:15pm (AEST) at the Gabba.