They also have to weigh up the risk/reward of playing Jarrod Berry, who dislocated his left shoulder again in a tackle attempt on Nick Daicos early in the second term on Saturday night. On the Cats’ side, coach Chris Scott remains adamant that ruckman Rhys Stanley (hamstring) will play if he is fit, but he was famously conservative in overlooking Max Holmes three years ago. We know they will be without Tom Stewart (concussion), so recalling Stanley would enable Mark Blicavs to remain in defence.
Will Lachie Neale’s calf injury recover in time to play in the grand final?Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
X-factor: Joe Daniher was superb in last year’s grand final, which doubled as his last game in the AFL, but Logan Morris has stepped up magnificently to be Brisbane’s No.1 target in attack. Morris has graduated from X-factor status, but his new sidekick, Ty Gallop, fits that tag well. Gallop was the Lions’ unlikely leading goalkicker against the Pies with three, and another strong aerial performance would be crucial. Geelong’s Ollie Dempsey was quiet on Friday night, but best afield when these clubs last met with 25 touches and three goals. His running capacity and skill make him a dangerous weapon for the Cats on the wing and up forward.
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Key stats: Geelong have scored heavily from turnovers and stoppages this season – the blueprint for success – and look after the ball as well as almost anyone, which could blunt Brisbane’s turnover game. Both clubs prefer to kick than handball, but the Lions chip the Sherrin around more in a bid to control possession and rack up marks. That said, they also love attacking through the corridor to generate scoring opportunities. Brisbane know from the teams’ previous clash that the Cats are the AFL’s best at taking marks inside 50, so pressuring their ball movement must be a priority.