Defining match-ups, Norm Smith predictions and more

You’ve likely locked in your AFL Grand Final plans for this Saturday, but it’s time to take your social game to the next level with some footy insight for those inevitable sweeps or reckless punts on the day.

In case you’ve been living under a rock, Collingwood will take on the Brisbane Lions in Saturday’s ‘Big Dance’ from 12.30pm WST at the MCG. Both teams finished in the top two after the home-and-away season, so this Grand Final match-up feels quite fitting.

The bookies have the Magpies as the early favourites. In saying that, there’s an argument to be made for both clubs. Brisbane have won the past six encounters with Collingwood. Only a month ago, Brisbane beat the Pies by 24 points when they met in Melbourne, but that game was at Marvel Stadium, not the MCG where Saturday’s GF is played and where the Lions have a pretty horrible recent record, losing 14 of their…