THE FIRST final between Geelong and the Sydney Swans since 2005 could swing on how well each team's superstar player can be contained by the opposition. The Swans have Lance Franklin in attack, and Brownlow Medal favourite Patrick Dangerfield is the Cats' dangerman in the midfield. AFL.com.au spoke to a number of assistant coaches, including midfield and backline specialists, to shed light on each team's plans for that pair and how the game will be won. 

1. Geelong needs to cope with the heat in tight
The Sydney Swans' ability in the pressure aspects of the game is regarded by opposition coaches as the best in the League, and it was at its fiercest against Adelaide. There are two aspects to this, their ability to pressure the opposition when they don't have the ball, and their knack for handballing out of traffic when they do have it. "Everyone talks about the Bulldogs' ability in close, Sydney is the best in the League," an opposition assistant coach said. "Geelong is reasonable in the hands and pressure aspect of the contest, but not great." The Swans' key stat to watch on Friday night will be its tackle numbers as an indicator of the heat they are putting on Geelong. "If the Cats can cope with the Swans pressure, their superior ball use will wear them down."  

Mega-preview: Cats v Swans

2. Playing Buddy close to goal is the best option for the Swans
Superstar Lance Franklin was sent into the midfield against Greater Western Sydney in the qualifying final, but it didn't work according to one assistant coach. "He can be impactful when he comes up but they're a better scoring outfit when he plays legitimate forward," the stoppage coach said. The danger man to push into the midfield and then burst forward when the Swans win the ball would be Isaac Heeney. "He gets a lot of good overlap ball around half-forward and he delivers well," the assistant said. "He looks like he's got the tank that will allow him to get up and back and that's what a modern half-forward needs to do. He looked deadly around goals last week." 

Lance Franklin and Isaac Heeney will be danger men for the Cats. Picture: AFL Photos

3. Setting up 'traps' for Dangerfield is not the Swans' way
While Hawthorn was happy to concede to Patrick Dangerfield on the inside and then close on him at stoppages last week, the Swans will do things their way on Friday night and likely send Tom Mitchell to go head-to-head with the superstar midfielder. "Mitchell on the gun is their standard structure and he'll be positioned on Danger's right leg trying to force him left," an assistant said. "They'll use their wings to be aware of where Dangerfield runs but they won't change their way too much to take care of him." The Hawks' way last Friday night was to "set up a couple of trap doors" around Dangerfield and limit his ability to burst free when he won the ball, forcing quick kicks. "That's not Sydney's modus operandi, they prefer to get in and play man on man. It's an interesting tactical battle from that point of view." 

4. Geelong's defenders won't worry about forwards who become "irrelevant"
Geelong talks about being a fold back team. "They essentially just roll back and try and win the ball in their back half," an assistant said. Their back six is one of the most experienced and stable in the AFL, however, and when the field is spread they can do enough to support each other without needing a spare man. "They reference off opposition forwards who become irrelevant and play inside in the dangerous space," a senior assistant said. "You might get Lachie Henderson and Harry Taylor trying to reference off their players to help Tom Lonergan, assuming he goes to Franklin. That allows them to 'north-south' him and cover the dangerous space, which for 'Bud' is generally in front or behind him." Being able to roll off their man and help create contests with Franklin will be vital. "The Cats' defenders just work it out really well between themselves to cover dangerous positions and they do it quickly. Contact on Franklin is important, because contested marking is not his one wood." 

Harry Taylor will look to help Tom Lonergan at most contests. Picture: AFL Photos

5. The Swans need to match Geelong at centre bounces
While the Swans are masters at around the ground stoppages, they are up against the best in the business at the start of quarters and when play restarts after a goal. "Centre bounce is critical, it's the most important stoppage and Geelong are the best in the League so they'll want to get that done," the stoppage coach said. "Sydney is a reasonable centre bounce team." Both teams favour a standard structure of six midfielders, six defenders and six forwards and rarely send a defender up to run through the centre square. "Sydney may send a forward up, but I doubt it. Both teams will want to keep defenders accountable." Geelong would be the most likely team to send a player behind the ball to stem the bleeding, while the Swans could choose to bring a forward up to stoppages if the midfield needs support.