There’s a huge watch on Lachie Neale as Brisbane fights to overturn the star’s ban. Plus the selection dilemma at Fremantle.

Stay across all the latest selection news and updates on the grand final in AFL Team Tips!

Watch every match of the 2026 Toyota AFL Finals Series before the Grand Final LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.

WHAT’S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.

2026 AFL GRAND FINAL (all times AEST)

FREMANTLE DOCKERS v BRISBANE LIONS

Saturday September 26, 2:30pm at the MCG

Dockers’ preliminary final side

B: J.Clark, A.Pearce – C, O.McDonald

HB: K.Worner, L.Ryan, H.Chapman

C: M.Johnson, A.Brayshaw, N.Erasmus

HF: M.Frederick, M.Reid, S.Switkowski

F: J.Amiss, J.Treacy, P.Voss

FOLL: L.Jackson, C.Serong, S.Bolton

I/C: J.McVee, C.Wagner, H.Young, I.Dudley, M.Cox

EMG: B.Cox, C.Scerri, J.O’Meara

Team Tips: After Justin Longmuir’s side went in unchanged last week, the big selection dilemma at Fremantle is a potential Brennan Cox recall. The defender was pulled from the WAFL grand final following Fremantle’s preliminary final win and will now push to return after a calf injury has sidelined him for the club’s finals campaign. Cox has been a stalwart in Longmuir’s defence but Oscar McDonald has now essentially taken his spot in the Dockers back six and made that spot his — having played every game since Round 20 including each of the club’s three finals. If they went with Cox, McDonald is probably the unlucky one to make way. If not, the positions of Judd McVee and Corey Wagner are probably the next two up for discussion. But you sense Freo’s preference would be to maintain its current structure and not go any taller against Brisbane’s dynamic forward line and glut of small/medium forwards. From that perspective, Brandon Walker is sitting there as an option to come in. Jeremy Sharp (27 disposals) was named Simpson Medallist as best on ground in Peel Thunder’s premiership win, but it’s hard to see the midfielder getting recalled. The same goes for Sean Darcy and his chances of replacing Mason Cox, who’s made that backup ruck spot his. Chris Scerri and Jaeger O’Meara were Freo’s other emergencies with Cox for the prelim.

Freo fire back at home in finals charge | 02:58

Lions’ preliminary final side

B: T.Gallop, H.Andrews – C, R.Lester

HB: D.Wilmot, D.Gardiner, D.Zorko

C: J.Berry, W.Ashcroft, Z.Bailey

HF: C.Cameron, L.Morris, O.Allen

F: E.Hipwood, C.Rayner, K.Lohmann

FOLL: D.Fort, J.Dunkley, L.Neale

I/C: S.Draper, J.Fletcher, H.McCluggage, L.Ashcroft, C.McKenna

EMG: L.McCarthy, C.Curtin, B.Reville

Team Tips: A huge watch on Lachie Neale as Brisbane fights to overturn the dual Brownlow medallist’s suspension at the tribunal to free him to play in Saturday’s decider. If the Lions are successful and Neale gets off, it’d be hard to see Chris Fagan making any changes to his unchanged preliminary final side that narrowly outlasted Hawthorn. If not, there’s a few directions Brisbane could go. Perhaps the most obvious is recalling Noah Answerth if the defender has overcome an ankle injury that sidelined him for the prelim. It would require a structural reshuffle but Fagan might want the extra lockdown defender against Fremantle’s high-powered forward line, plus Brisbane has plenty of midfield coverage. By the same token, Bruce Reville could come in and play any role required. If they wanted more firepower, Lincoln McCarthy, named an emergency in the prelim, is sitting there and might for a more seamless restructure, given how much flexibility Brisbane has with its forwards/midfielders. The reality is that Neale isn’t a player you can simply replace and there’s no like-for-like.