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Millions expected to watch close Australian Rules final

The Australian Football League (AFL) grand final today between the Sydney Swans and the West Coast Eagles should be a close affair. You could almost bet on it, and thousands of Australians will.

In a rematch of last year's Australian Rules football final, the Swans meet the Eagles in today's championship match before an expected crowd of 100,000 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

League officials say up to 45 million people are expected to watch on television around the world, while betting agencies say the Eagles are slight favorites after some late splurges on the Western Australian team.

Preparations for the match continued as Australian Prime Minister John Howard said he had concerns that the AFL final and the National Rugby League championship match tomorrow could be targets of terrorist attacks, although there was no evidence to suggest that any were planned.

"Like everybody else I worry about the potential, and I hope and pray nothing happens," Howard told Southern Cross Radio in Melbourne yesterday.

"I don't believe it will. I know all precautions are taken, but you ask me the question. Of course [I am concerned]," he said.

"There is absolutely no advice, no suggestion, no intelligence warnings indicating that this won't be anything other than a fantastic weekend," Howard said.

Sydney leads the West Coast 3-1 in playoff matches, but three of them were decided by four points or less. That's a small margin considering Australian Rules teams -- where kicked goals are worth six points -- often exceed the 100-point mark.

The last time they met, three weeks ago in Perth, Sydney beat West Coast by one point -- 13.7 (85) to 12.12 (84).

The Swans have picked the identical squad throughout the three-week playoff period, playing with the same 22 players. West Coast defender Jaymie Graham was the only player dropped from either team ahead of today's match.

Graham, who had played 24 of the Eagles' 25 previous games this season, was omitted to make room for returning defender David Wirrpanda.

Eagles coach John Worsfold said the team had to go with its best players.

"That is just what has got to happen -- you can't play 23," said Worsfold. "We just get on with the job."

Daniel Kerr, Andrew Embley and Ashley Hansen have returned from injury for the Eagles, while backup ruckman Mark Seaby has also come back into the side.

Sydney flew to Melbourne on Thursday without ruckman Darren Jolly, who stayed behind to be with his wife for the birth of their first child, a daughter born early yesterday.

Jolly flew to Melbourne in time for yesterday's grand final parade through the streets of downtown Melbourne.
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