How do the Magpies stop Josh Kennedy?
This is one of the key questions the Magpies must address if they are to celebrate their 16th flag, for Kennedy – and his mate Jack Darling – are central to the Eagles' premiership hopes.
Tyson Goldsack is expected to get the job on Kennedy. The Magpies have faith in him but there has been public debate about his role. Essendon great Matthew Lloyd is one who fears Goldsack could struggle, with his recent form questionable. Jack Riewoldt booted five on him last weekend, while Kennedy had the better of him in the third and fourth terms in the qualifying final in Perth with six shots at goal and 10 disposals. Kennedy also booted six on Goldsack last year.
He is seen as the Eagles' barometer, and that was on show against the Demons last weekend, when he led the way in the first half with four goals, four marks and 11 disposals.
However, it should be remembered Kennedy has only a combined five goals against the Magpies this season. There were three in round 17 at the MCG, all coming in the first half when initially manned by Jeremy Howe but he was subdued after the break by Darcy Moore, playing his first game in nine weeks. Then there were two in the qualifying final when Kennedy was returning from a long absence because of a shin problem.
If the Magpies were asked now whether they would take three goals – at best – from Kennedy, it's a fair bet they would accept. For should he boot a bag, then it would be likely the Eagles had posted a big score, and there had enough defensive breakdowns through the midfield for the Eagles to also feed their other forwards, namely Darling, Mark LeCras, Willie Rioli and the unheralded Jamie Cripps, the latter a defensive stopper ranked No.1 for forward 50 tackles but also with 37 goals.
Big problem for the Pies: West Coast’s Josh Kennedy.
As is the case with curbing any major forward, the midfield must be accountable. They must pressure the Eagles' ball carriers, ensuring delivery into attacking 50 is haphazard and does not allow Kennedy to use his 196-centimetre, 102-kilogram frame one out against the 193cm, 93kg Goldsack, particularly deep in attack.
If Goldsack gets beaten on the lead, and Kennedy has to kick from 50 metres, then that's something the Magpies can live with, especially if the wind is swirling and the ball heavy on what could be a rainy afternoon.
‘‘It would be nice if our midfielders got them using the ball poorly, pressure on the ball, so mongrel kicks coming in, not giving them time and space to hit them lace out,’’ Goldsack, one of three Magpies from the 2010 premiership in the side, said.
‘‘If they’re hitting them lace out, there’s very few forwards you can stop at full tilt on a lead with the ball on a silver platter for them. I’ll be relying on the midfield to do their job and the other backs around me to continue doing their job, like they’ve done all year.’’
Don't forget Kennedy was goalless with only nine touches when the Eagles last appeared on football's greatest stage, against Hawthorn in 2015. There will be pressure on him to overcome those demons.
The Magpies have the option of having ruckman Brodie Grundy drop back into defence to help but that would negate his own strength, that being his work around the ground. Rather, it's more likely they will stick with the "team-first defence" more often than not. But that could change depending on Kennedy's start to the game.
The Eagles put 15 goals on the Magpies in their 35-point win in round 17, when the Pies were hurt by the impact of Rioli (three goals) and LeCras (two). If Kennedy's fellow forwards are quelled, then the need to stop the man himself won't be as great.
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