FANS are nervous and neutrals are hoping for an AFL grand final for the ages.
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Will Melbourne break a 57-year drought or can the Western Bulldogs come from outside the top-four for the second time in six seasons to win the flag?
The Standard's sports reporters Justine McCullagh-Beasy, Brian Allen and Sean Hardeman have their say.
You can also read all AFL-related stories from across the south-west this week by clicking on the links below.
Justine's tip:
This is the people's grand final. It pits two clubs with one premiership between them in the past 57 years against each other. They split their home-and-away matches, both produced electric preliminary final performances and boast game-changing midfielders. What will be the deciding factor? The input of creative small forwards - Kysaiah Pickett (Melbourne) and Cody Weightman (Western Bulldogs) - will be crucial. Demons by 10.
Brian's tip:
All season, I've wondered whether the Demons had the fire power up forward. And Ben Brown has stood up when it matted with 2.2 in the preliminary final and providing a presence up forward. If Max Gawn can hit the scoreboard again that will go a long way to winning. The Dogs' big men will be crucial. If Stefan Martin and Josh Schache play well, they probably win. I'm a sucker for the drought-breaking story. Demons by 7.
Sean's tip:
Luke Beveridge's Bulldogs and Simon Goodwin's Demons have been the top two teams all season so it is only fitting they face off in the big dance. Hard to split the two of them but feel the momentum the Dogs have is hard to ignore. Dogs by 10.
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