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FINALS WEEK 1 \u2014 QUALIFYING AND ELIMINATION FINALS (All times AEST)<\/p>\n
First Qualifying Final, Thursday September 4<\/p>\n
[1st] Adelaide Crows vs [4th] Collingwood (7.40pm) at Adelaide Oval<\/p>\n
Crows\u2019 Round 24 team:<\/p>\n
B: J.Worrell, M.Keane, H.Bond<\/p>\n
HB: W.Milera, N.Murray, R.Laird<\/p>\n
C: I.Cumming, J.Dawson (c), D.Curtin<\/p>\n
HF: B.Keays, R.Thilthorpe, A.Neal-Bullen<\/p>\n
F: S.Draper, T.Walker, D.Fogarty<\/p>\n
FOLL: R.O\u2019Brien, S.Berry, J.Soligo<\/p>\n
I\/C: J.Peatling, Z.Taylor, M.Hinge, B.Dowling, B.Smith (sub)<\/p>\n
EMG: C.Burgess, L.Murphy, L.Nankervis<\/p>\n
Team Tips: Utility Brayden Cook has staked his claim for a qualifying final recall to play Collingwood, dominating in the SANFL side\u2019s narrow finals loss at the weekend. Cook booted six goals \u2014 including a couple of absolute pearlers \u2014 from 23 possessions and six marks. The 23-year-old has played three senior matches this year, the most recent of which came in Round 21 against Hawthorn. A call-up could come at the expense of Billy Dowling or Sid Draper. Teammate Harry Schoenberg kicked a major from 29 disposals and had six clearances. The Crows last week confirmed that defender Max Michalanney (hamstring) and forward Luke Pedlar (hamstring) would be fit to reclaim their place and play against Collingwood, with the former a walk-up starter. In that case, Hugh Bond \u2014 while he\u2019s barely put a foot wrong \u2014 appears most vulnerable as a like-for-like swap. Adelaide has ruled out any Josh Rachele comeback this Thursday night, but the livewire will return for their next finals clash \u2014 whether it be next week or in a fortnight\u2019s time. Should he make an unlikely comeback against Collingwood, though, Draper could be in danger at selection. Veteran flanker Brodie Smith played well enough to end the home-and-away campaign to keep his role as the sub, while Dowling did his chances of keeping his place in the side no harm against the Kangaroos in Round 24. Lockdown defender Jordon Butts remains on the outer and played in the SANFL final on Sunday. <\/p>\n
Magpies\u2019 Round 24 team:<\/p>\n
B: B.Maynard, D.Moore (c), J.Howe<\/p>\n
HB: H.Perryman, J.Daicos, I.Quaynor<\/p>\n
C: S.Sidebottom, J.Crisp, P.Lipinski<\/p>\n
HF: J.De Goey, T.Membrey, L.Schultz<\/p>\n
F: J.Elliott, D.McStay, B.McCreery<\/p>\n
FOLL: D.Cameron, N.Long, N.Daicos<\/p>\n
I\/C: D.Houston, S.Pendlebury, B.Frampton, B.Mihocek, R.Steele (sub)<\/p>\n
EMG: W.Parker, E.Allan, M.Cox<\/p>\n
Team Tips: A scare was sent through Collingwood training on Tuesday after star Jordan De Goey was left sore from an awkward tackle. De Goey, who\u2019s played just nine games this year amid Achilles issues, picked up a lower leg injury concern before making his way to the boundary line. Fox Sports cameras captured the moment at Olympic Park, as De Goey went to ground awkwardly in an Isaac Quaynor tackle \u2014 grabbing at his lower left leg and grimacing. \u201cDe Goey went down halfway through training today; he suffered an injury to his left leg \u2026 (it\u2019s) one to watch,\u201d Fox Sports News\u2019 Steph Clarkson reported from Collingwood headquarters. Speedy front-half weapon Beau McCreery will play against the Crows, McRae confirmed on Tuesday, overcoming the foot issue he sustained against Melbourne in Round 24. Meanwhile, Seven\u2019s Xander McGuire reported the Pies are set to make a surprise call and include Mason Cox for Thursday night\u2019s blockbuster, with Daniel McStay expected to come out of the side. Cox, who\u2019s played twice at senior level since Round 11, would be a left-field inclusion to add some height and combat Adelaide\u2019s stout pairing of Josh Worrell and Mark Keane. <\/p>\n
As for fellow livewire forward Bobby Hill, who\u2019s played just one senior match since Round 15 and was absent from training on Tuesday, Ralph confirmed he wouldn\u2019t play against Adelaide. \u201cHe\u2019s still some way from senior football, even though he has been sparking at training in the last 10 days,\u201d he told Fox Footy on Monday night. \u201cThere has been some progress. Some senior Indigenous figures across the AFL have been speaking to him recently, they\u2019ve reported that there are some encouraging signs … but let\u2019s face it, he\u2019s only banked a couple of sessions in a row, he would probably need a couple of weeks of full training before the fitness staff tell Craig McRae he\u2019s ready to go.\u201d Meanwhile, crucial intercept defender Jeremy Howe is two-to-three weeks away with his groin injury, leaving preliminary final weekend as the earliest potential return. Fringe midfielder Ed Allan, who was dropped for the Melbourne game, had 24 disposals and a goal in the VFL Pies\u2019 wildcard round loss to Williamstown a week ago. Wil Parker, who was also omitted for Round 24, was an emergency alongside Allan and veteran tall Mason Cox. Tom Mitchell and Will Hoskin-Elliott also remain on the outer, but Roan Steele\u2019s senior spot certainly isn\u2019t set in stone after he was named the sub against Melbourne in Round 24. <\/p>\n
Garner injured in Record-Breaking win | 01:23<\/p>\n
Second Qualifying Final, Friday September 5<\/p>\n
[2nd] Geelong vs [3rd] Brisbane Lions (7.40pm) at the MCG<\/p>\n
Cats\u2019 Round 24 team:<\/p>\n
B: J.Henry, S.De Koning, C.O\u2019Sullivan<\/p>\n
HB: Z.Guthrie, T.Stewart, L.Humphries<\/p>\n
C: M.Blicavs, M.Holmes, O.Dempsey<\/p>\n
HF: B.Close, S.Mannagh, G.Miers<\/p>\n
F: P.Dangerfield (c), J.Cameron, T.Stengle<\/p>\n
FOLL: R.Stanley, T.Atkins, B.Smith<\/p>\n
I\/C: J.Bews, J.Martin, O.Mullin, J.Bowes, M.Knevitt (sub)<\/p>\n
EMG: J.Clark, T.Clohesy<\/p>\n
Team Tips: Geelong has maintained a clean bill of health for the entirety of the season \u2014 with just young ruckman Toby Conway currently on the injury list \u2014 thus it goes into a qualifying final blockbuster against recent finals rival Brisbane in a very strong position. Utility Mark O\u2019Connor was a late withdrawal from the Round 24 win over Richmond due to a leg concern and could return in favour of Jed Bews if he\u2019s deemed fit. With a gruelling September campaign on the horizon, there\u2019s plenty of experience Chris Scott can call on if he desires, with Mitch Duncan, Jake Kolodjashnij and Cam Guthrie all waiting in the wings, while mercurial forward Ollie Henry booted two goals from six scoring shots in the Cats\u2019 last VFL contest. Key forward Shannon Neale will return after his one-match suspension, potentially at Mitch Knevitt\u2019s expense, but otherwise, there shouldn\u2019t be many changes coming at selection. <\/p>\n
Lions\u2019 Round 24 team:<\/p>\n
B: D.Zorko, D.Gardiner, R.Lester<\/p>\n
HB: D.Wilmot, H.Andrews (c), B.Starcevich<\/p>\n
C: J.Fletcher, H.McCluggage, B.Reville<\/p>\n
HF: C.Cameron, S.Day, Z.Bailey<\/p>\n
F: C.Rayner, L.Morris, C.Ah Chee<\/p>\n
FOLL: D.Fort, J.Dunkley, W.Ashcroft<\/p>\n
I\/C: K.Lohmann, L.Ashcroft, S.Marshall, T.Gallop, J.Tunstill (sub)<\/p>\n
EMG: L.Beecken, D.Joyce, O.McInerney<\/p>\n
Team Tips: Superstar Lachie Neale has recovered from his quad injury and will be recalled to play Geelong at the MCG. Similarly, midfield teammate Jarrod Berry will also come back in to play the Cats after being given more time to recover from his shoulder issue. Key forward Eric Hipwood is another big name to potentially return in September but is likely still one or two weeks away with his calf injury. Young key forward Ty Gallop looks likely to keep his spot in the meantime, despite beingsubbed out tactically against the Hawks in Round 24. James Tunstill, who was the sub against Hawthorn last Sunday, likely makes way for Berry \u2014 having suited up to play in Saturday\u2019s VFL elimination final \u2014 while youngster Sam Marshall seems likely to be the unlucky man to make way for Neale. Veteran ruck Oscar McInerney did his chances of a finals recall no harm in the VFL win over Richmond \u2014 totalling 26 disposals, 11 clearances and a goal to go with 14 hitouts \u2014 but he still seems an outside chance of ousting first-choice counterpart Darcy Fort. Fellow fringe Lion Conor McKenna was impactful as a forward-half weapon, booting four goals from 16 disposals. <\/p>\n
Neale & Berry firming in bid to return | 01:04<\/p>\n
First Elimination Final, Saturday September 6<\/p>\n
[5th] GWS Giants vs [8th] Hawthorn (3.15pm) at ENGIE Stadium<\/p>\n
Giants\u2019 Round 24 team:<\/p>\n
B: C.Idun, S.Taylor, H.Himmelberg<\/p>\n
HB: L.Whitfield, L.Aleer, L.Ash<\/p>\n
C: X.O\u2019Halloran, S.Coniglio, R.Angwin<\/p>\n
HF: T.Bedford, A.Cadman, D.Jones<\/p>\n
F: T.Greene (c), J.Riccardi, C.Brown<\/p>\n
FOLL: K.Briggs, F.Callaghan, T.Green<\/p>\n
I\/C: H.Thomas, M.Gruzewski, J.Fonti, H.Rowston, J.Wehr (sub)<\/p>\n
EMG: N.Madden, B.Daniels, J.Leake<\/p>\n
Team Tips: There\u2019s a bit to unpack here, with the Giants potentially set to welcome back as many as six senior players for their huge clash with the Hawks. GWS didn\u2019t risk star defender Jack Buckley against the Saints in Round 24, and perhaps somewhat concerningly, didn\u2019t take part in training on Tuesday \u2014 instead given until Thursday to prove his fitness and calf injury. If Buckley\u2019s fit, Leek Aleer shapes as the corresponding omission. At the other end of the ground, Coleman medallist Jesse Hogan is readying himself to be available as he navigates a foot issue that\u2019s kept him out of the past three games. Meanwhile, forward-half X-factor Jake Stringer will hope to be available after being impacted once again by a hamstring issue. Former skipper Stephen Coniglio is expected to graduate through concussion protocols in time to play this Saturday if preferred. Interestingly, Brent Daniels, who\u2019s 2025 campaign has constantly been hindered by injury, was named an emergency for the St Kilda game. The centre-forward livewire put his best foot forward in the VFL Giants\u2019 wildcard round loss to Richmond a week ago, collecting 29 disposals and winning nine clearances \u2014 a game-high. In another curveball though, 10 News\u2019 Daniel Garb reported that while Daniels failed to get through Tuesday\u2019s training, the club still considers him a \u201cdecent\u201d chance of playing. And Josh Kelly, too, shapes to be available for selection after recovering from a calf injury. In terms of unlucky corresponding omissions, the likes of Harvey Thomas, Max Gruzewski, Jacob Wehr, Ryan Angwin and Harry Rowston could be in danger at selection. <\/p>\n
Hogan ‘good to go’ vs. Hawks | 00:52<\/p>\n
Hawks\u2019 Round 24 team:<\/p>\n
B: J.Battle, T.Barrass, B.Hardwick<\/p>\n
HB: J.Impey, J.Sicily (c), J.Scrimshaw<\/p>\n
C: K.Amon, J.Worpel, D.Moore<\/p>\n
HF: M.D\u2019Ambrosio, M.Chol, N.Watson<\/p>\n
F: J.Gunston, M.Lewis, C.Macdonald<\/p>\n
FOLL: L.Meek, J.Newcombe, J.Ward<\/p>\n
I\/C: C.Jiath, C.Nash, J.Ginnivan, C.Dear, L.Breust (sub)<\/p>\n
EMG: C.Mackenzie, J.Serong, N.Reeves<\/p>\n
Team Tips: Speedy rebounder Josh Weddle made another promising stride in his bid to return for next Saturday\u2019s elimination final against the Giants following his back stress fracture by getting through Box Hill\u2019s qualifying final unscathed on Saturday. Weddle recorded 12 disposals, four marks and two tackles in his limited time on ground. The 21-year-old hasn\u2019t played since Round 16, and if he does return \u2014 which is the way things appear to be trending \u2014 it could well come at the expense of Changkuoth Jiath. Fringe midfielder Cam Mackenzie, who was a part of Hawthorn\u2019s extended Round 24 squad, totalled 20 possessions and nine clearances. Elsewhere, Harry Morrison should be available to return after missing Rounds 22 and 23 with a quad strain. <\/p>\n
Dons make it three-on-the-trot | 01:43<\/p>\n
Second Elimination Final, Saturday September 6<\/p>\n
[6th] Fremantle vs [7th] Hawthorn (7.35pm) at Optus Stadium<\/p>\n
Dockers\u2019 Round 24 team:<\/p>\n
B: L.Ryan, B.Cox, A.Pearce (c)<\/p>\n
HB: H.Chapman, K.Worner, J.Clark<\/p>\n
C: J.O\u2019Meara, H.Young, C.Wagner<\/p>\n
HF: S.Switkowski, P.Voss, S.Bolton<\/p>\n
F: L.Jackson, J.Treacy, M.Frederick<\/p>\n
FOLL: S.Darcy, C.Serong, A.Brayshaw<\/p>\n
I\/C: M.Reid, J.Amiss, N.Erasmus, B.Banfield, N.Fyfe (sub)<\/p>\n
EMG: N.O\u2019Driscoll, O.McDonald, B.Walker<\/p>\n
Team Tips: Crucially, star midfielder Hayden Young got through the Round 24 win over the Bulldogs unscathed after recovering from his groin complaint. Corey Wagner\u2019s season is over after a pectoral tear, while livewire Sam Switkowski will be a test after copping a knock to his knee. Otherwise, Fremantle appears unlikely to make unforced changes going into their home elimination final clash with Gold Coast. Nathan O\u2019Driscoll was the unlucky omission to make way for Young in Round 24, while there\u2019s no reason why Nat Fyfe won\u2019t continue in his sub role \u2014 unless Justin Longmuir opts for more experience come finals time. O\u2019Driscoll, Matthew Johnson and Jeremy Sharp figure to be among the names in selection calculations to replace Wagner, while Brandon Walker was an emergency for the Bulldogs clash. <\/p>\n
Suns\u2019 Round 24 team:<\/p>\n
B: W.Powell, B.Uwland, S.Collins<\/p>\n
HB: J.Noble, M.Andrew, D.Rioli<\/p>\n
C: L.Weller, M.Rowell, B.Fiorini<\/p>\n
HF: T.Miller, B.Ainsworth, B.Humphrey<\/p>\n
F: B.Long, E.Read, B.King<\/p>\n
FOLL: J.Witts, A.Davies, N.Anderson (c)<\/p>\n
I\/C: S.Flanders, C.Budarick, J.Jeffrey, J.Farrar, J.Rogers (sub)<\/p>\n
EMG: N.Moyle, L.Gulbin, O.Adams<\/p>\n
Team Tips: Dashing rebounder Daniel Rioli crucially got through against Essendon in Round 24 after returning from his leg fracture. Exciting hybrid Bailey Humphrey and young forward Jake Rogers also returned against the Bombers, while Will Graham (shoulder) could be available for selection for the first week of finals. Developing key forward Jed Walter remains on the outside looking in. Ned Moyle, Lachie Gulbin and Oscar Adams were the emergencies against the Bombers after Gulbin, Adams and Alex Sexton were all omitted after the Port Adelaide loss in Round 23. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Another curveball has been thrown the way of GWS\u2019 selection panel, as a key cog failed to finish…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":112560,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[9126,14415,2095,63,689,71123,14349,27716,49800,3237,14452,5340,12923,80398,10133,8001,49785,80382,14390,71139,32121,71131,48051,37348,80396,75285,28957,38427,80392,80399,2485,80383,27761,39236,45129,80388,14434,43,71115,5088,14373,30394,2524,3231,49807,1120,44387,54621,78973,14417,10132,12181,14416,45746,51310,10400,80389,14397,44389,13126,26876,80391,80395,39237,44188,39225,44,2041,2067,677,71125,14449,3233,6082,14446,71122,1079,71128,64903,80394,701,6858,672,80387,3537,71141,25838,39229,77492,17989,80385,67616,80390,80386,1124,50708,39214,14445,11740,11737,61648,14355,41,39,42,40,71127,2614,80393,80397,13669,4899,56650,71138,14457,80384],"class_list":["post-112559","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-headlines","tag-adelaide-crows","tag-alex-sexton","tag-america","tag-australia","tag-australia-and-new-zealand","tag-back-stress-fracture","tag-bobby-hill","tag-box-hill","tag-brandon-walker","tag-brisbane-lions","tag-brodie-smith","tag-calf-injury","tag-chris-scott","tag-coleman","tag-collingwood-magpies","tag-concussion-protocols","tag-corey-wagner","tag-craig-kelly","tag-daniel-rioli","tag-ed-allan","tag-elimination-final","tag-elimination-final-clash","tag-elimination-finals","tag-eric-hipwood","tag-finals-loss","tag-finals-recall","tag-finals-team","tag-finals-time","tag-first-choice-counterpart","tag-fringe-midfielder","tag-gold-coast","tag-grace-campbell","tag-groin-complaint","tag-groin-injury","tag-hamstring-issue","tag-harry-schoenberg","tag-harvey-thomas","tag-headlines","tag-home-elimination-final","tag-injury-list","tag-injury-news","tag-intercept-defender","tag-jack-buckley","tag-jack-jovanovski","tag-jake-rogers","tag-jake-stringer","tag-james-tunstill","tag-jarrod-berry","tag-jas-garner","tag-jed-bews","tag-jeremy-howe","tag-jesse-hogan","tag-josh-kelley","tag-josh-rachele","tag-josh-weddle","tag-justin-longmuir","tag-leg-concern","tag-leg-fracture","tag-mark-oconnor","tag-mason-cox","tag-match-winning-goal","tag-matthew-johnson","tag-midfield-teammate","tag-mitch-duncan","tag-mitch-knevitt","tag-nat-fyfe","tag-news","tag-north-america","tag-northern-america","tag-oceania","tag-ollie-henry","tag-oscar-adams","tag-oscar-mcinerney","tag-port-adelaide","tag-predicted-sides","tag-preliminary-final-weekend","tag-quad-injury","tag-quad-strain","tag-qualifying-final","tag-qualifying-final-blockbuster","tag-queensland","tag-richmond","tag-richmond-tigers","tag-ryan-angwin","tag-sam-marshall","tag-sam-switkowski","tag-scoring-shots","tag-selection-calculations","tag-senior-matches","tag-senior-players","tag-shock-selection-statement","tag-shoulder-issue","tag-six-goal-haul","tag-smile-back","tag-south-australia","tag-stephen-coniglio","tag-sub-role","tag-team-changes","tag-team-news","tag-team-tips","tag-toby-conway","tag-tom-mitchell","tag-top-news","tag-top-stories","tag-topnews","tag-topstories","tag-ty-gallop","tag-united-states-of-america","tag-utility-brayden-cook","tag-veteran-flanker","tag-veteran-ruck","tag-virginia","tag-wil-parker","tag-wildcard-round-loss","tag-will-hoskin-elliott","tag-young-ruckman"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/112559","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=112559"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/112559\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/112560"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=112559"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=112559"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=112559"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}