Who will win and why? The tips and predictions for AFL Semi-Finals

We're into week two of the 2024 finals series and two huge Semi-Finals await.

We kick things off on Friday night with the Power hosting the Hawks at the Adelaide Oval, while Saturday plays host to GWS and Brisbane in Western Sydney.

Which two sides will progress to play Sydney and Geelong respectively in this year's Preliminary Finals?

See our tips for both games below.

Port Adelaide v Hawthorn    

Friday - 7:40pm AEST – Adelaide Oval

Two teams on opposite ends of the spectrum get set to fight it out for a place in the Prelim as the Power host Hawthorn at the Adelaide Oval.

Kicking off with the home side, Port Adelaide have so much more than just their season on the line come this Friday night.

Having failed to win a September contest since 2021, Ken Hinkley may be battling it out to save his job as time continues to run thin on his 12-year career as head coach of the Power.

Last week’s 84-point demolition at the hands of Geelong came as a shock to most, with the side entering the home battle as a tight favourite, however it doesn’t come as too much of a surprise given their unwanted September record, now losing their last four finals by an average margin of more than 56 points.

It was a quiet afternoon for their stars last week, as Zak Butters was subbed out of the game at half time due to rib soreness, while calls to shift Connor Rozee’s role out of the midfield have come hard and fast following just 16 disposals in a midfield thrashing.

Questions will surround Charlie Dixon’s involvement after he managed just three touches last Thursday, but with the absence of Sam Frost in the Hawks backline, could King Charlie get to work against the young Jai Serong?

The Hawks enter this contest as the favourites following an extremely impressive performance against the Bulldogs in their Elimination contest last week.

Jai Newcombe, Massimo D’Ambrosio, Calsher Dear and Nick Watson all put on a clinic in their first career finals appearances en route to a healthy 37-point victory, and that is just to name a few.

Sam Mitchell’s game style clearly held up under the September lights, but can they carry it through in the absence of a vital key back?

Last time these two sides faced off, Port Adelaide won it at the death, and despite what the media seems to suggest, this game will be a lot closer than most expect.

Tip Hawthorn by 13 points.

Jaiden Sciberras

GWS v Brisbane                 

Saturday - 7:30pm AEST – ENGIE Stadium

Usually, the team coming off a Qualifying Final loss isn’t rated heading into a Semi-Final, but GWS didn’t lose any admirers after their tight finals week one defeat to Sydney.

On the other hand, Brisbane proved that their destructive best can tear apart sides after comfortably taking care of Carlton in an Elimination Final.

With two teams facing each other in some strong form, this game could be an absolute thriller, and no one would be all that surprised if either the Giants or Lions went all the way in 2024.

In the two times they’ve met this season, GWS have taken the chocolates both at home and away.

The last time they faced off was at the Gabba with GWS winning 64-82 after kicking six goals to one in a fast-finishing final term.

In that clash, Tom Green helped himself to 28 disposals and as he also had 37 and a goal when the teams met in Round 7, surely the Lions put some time into him.

On the other hand, GWS will hope that Toby Bedford gets up to play on Lachie Neale. If he’s still unavailable, it could be a big job for James Peatling on the two-time Brownlow winner.

With the teams incredibly even on paper, if one side gets on top in the battles at either end of the ground, it’ll go a long way to winning with GWS’ Sam Taylor and Jesse Hogan matched up on Brisbane’s Joe Daniher and Harris Andrews.

As the matchup is so hard to pick, the nod goes to GWS given their previous form against the Lions and the fact the game is at ENGIE Stadium.

Tip: GWS by 9 points.

Lachlan Geleit