The Vipers return to the finals for the first time since 2016, and find themselves facing a familiar foe…
 |  | |
| 1760.41 | Season Average | 1807.64 |
| 1737 | Average since byes | 1816.33 |
| 4 wins, 2 losses | Form since bye | 5 wins, 1 loss |
| 1 win | Season head-to-head | 1 win |
| 3 wins | All time head-to-head | 10 wins |
| Mitch Duncan Nat Fyfe Jye Caldwell | Missing from presumptive best-22 | Scott Pendlebury James Rowbottom Jeremy Cameron |
Predicted line-up
Both teams have clear advantages in certain lines. Which lines maintain those advantages will dictate the victor.
The Vipers have a clear edge at the top of the midfield. Three of the top four midfielders wear green and black, and the lone Roughneck is terribly out of form. Miller is averaging an astonishing 133.6 in the last 5 – with Brayshaw not far behind with 121.6 during that span. The best Roughneck is Parker, with 103.4.
Treloar being back is a big, and unexpected, boon for the Roughnecks. But what sort of score can he deliver after his layoff? Will it be enough to bridge the gap between the midfields?
The Roughnecks have an advantage down back and up forward. Several Viper defenders are out of form, and their forward line largely is boom or bust. Bulldogs pair Hunter and English are head-and-shoulders above most of their counterparts, and Schoenberg is is great form. Most because Tarryn Thomas is back, and he is in ‘best forward in the league’ form over his last 5.
For the Roughnecks to win, they need their midfield to keep within 80 points of the Vipers, and hope their backs and forwards can make up the difference.
For the Vipers, a continuation of Miller and Brayshaw’s recent form and a big bag from one of their key forwards will make it tricky for the Roughnecks to overcome their ceiling.
Finals History
These teams have met in the finals once before, way back in our inaugural 2016 campaign. The Vipers had finished 3rd with 12 wins, narrowly missing out on an automatic Preliminary Final place on percentage. They faced 6th placed Roughnecks, who had won 7 games.
But it was the Roughnecks who emerged triumphant in a high scoring affair.
The Roughnecks were lead by a supreme midfield performance. Isaac Smith top scored with 146, Luke Parker had 144, while both Dan Hannebery and Adam Treloar contributed 128.
How did the Vipers keep it close? They had 8 players in triple figures – including a figure who looms large in this Elimination Final. Touk Miller lead all Vipers with 139. He was joined by a host of now retired Vipers – Sam Mitchell, Nick Riewdolt, Joel Selwood, and Matthew Stokes.