It’s taken 24 minor rounds and 4 rounds of finals and the big dance is finally here the 2011 Grand Final. And what a grand final its set up to be, the two heavyweights of the past 5 years Geelong and Collingwood.

As always leading into a grand final there’s a bit of drama around who will play this year we have Stevie J and his knee can the superstar prove his fitness in time and with Collingwood can the all Australian canter half back Ben Reid and big ruckman Darren Jolly do enough to take part in the big one we will know the answer come Saturday afternoon and I say bring it on.

James Bartel has fast become a favourite for this years Norm Smith which has almost had more bets on it than the actual result

2011 Grand Final Geelong vs. Collingwood
Geelong 1-39 points @$2.40

Who would have thought that the Cats would go into this year’s Grand Final as favourites. Well that’s exactly what’s happened and in my opinion its justified. The Cats are in a lot better form than the reigning premier after a great win against Hawthorn in the qualifying final and then having a week off easily beat a rundown West Coast outfit to make it into their 4^th Grand Final in 5 years.

While Collingwood just did enough in their respective qualifying final against West Coast which earned them a week off also then in the Prelim against Hawthorn the pies were dead and buried until they last quarter when the Hawks ran out of legs and the Pies due to a Luke Ball goal landed in their 3^rd Grand Final in 2 years, but at what cost? The Pies Hawks clash was a tough and brutal affair which left the Pies wounded. While the Cats with all due respect to West Coast had a training drill in their Prelim final. But in all honesty in a Grand Final anything can happen which was proven last year when we had a draw.

I think the Cats will win because of their lead up into the Grand Final. Geelong has looked awesome in their finals campaign so far and knows what it takes to win it all and that’s what they will do. Chris Scott has handled the pressure beautify and will make a bit of history on Saturday winning a flag in his rookie year as coach. While Mick Malthouse won’t get the ending he deserves but he will still go down as one of the best coaches our game has ever seen. Cats in a close one.

Jimmy Bartel to win the Norm Smith Medal @$9.00

It was a little hard to pick against the current Brownlow Medallist Dane Swan but as I think Geelong will win I thought I would go for their Brownlow Medallist in Jimmy Bartel. We all know that Bartel is a class act and can perform in big games so he seems like a pretty good choice. I must admit that picking the Norm Smith Medallist can be pretty hard and that sometime my pick and the umpires pick has been a little different but hey anything can happen.

If the big J Pod kicks a bag he’s a chance of winning as is Cloke if he does the same.  With rain forecast for the match this swings the hammer in Bartels favour.  Jimmy is just as good in the wet as he is when it’s dry. If I was to choose a roughie it would have to be Andrew Krakouer who is an amazing $41 to win the medal. Krakouer is an amazing talent who with his silky skills can turn it on in the wet and is more than capable of kicking multiple goals.

I hope everyone out there in football land enjoys the game and that you back a winner. Also I would like to thank everyone who has read these articles throughout the year, thanks for your support and feedback.

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