AFL Finals Team Tips: Pies’ major selection dilemma amid injury worries; Hawks trio racing against clock

All eyes at selection will be on Collingwood this week, as a veteran duo and their Norm Smith Medalist teammate all look to prove themselves amid fitness concerns.

At Hawthorn, three (!) forwards are racing against the clock to overcome soft tissue injuries ahead of a blockbuster Friday night clash.

And as for Geelong and Brisbane, their mastermind coaches will be contemplating whether or not change is necessary ahead of a possible grand final berth. AFL Team Tips!

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FINALS WEEK 3 — PRELIMINARY FINALS (All times AEST)

First Preliminary Final, Friday September 19

[2nd] Geelong Cats vs [8th] Hawthorn (7.40pm) at the MCG

Cats’ Qualifying Final team:

B: Z.Guthrie, J.Henry, C.O’Sullivan

HB: L.Humphries, T.Stewart, O.Mullin

C: M.Blicavs, M.Holmes, O.Dempsey

HF: B.Close, S.Mannagh, T.Stengle

F: S.Neale, J.Cameron, P.Dangerfield (c)

FOLL: S.De Koning, B.Smith, T.Atkins

I/C: M.O’Connor, G.Miers, J.Bowes, J.Martin, J.Clark (sub)

EMG: J.Bews, M.Knevitt, O.Henry

Team Tips: It’s hard to see many, if any changes to Chris Scott’s side ahead of Friday night’s juggernaut clash with Hawthorn. Ruckman Rhys Stanley is the only player who could return, but truth be told, it would be a shock recall given his hamstring injury came only a fortnight ago. It would mean that Mark Blicavs and Sam De Koning will share the tapping duties once more. Emergencies Mitch Knevitt and Jed Bews wait on the outskirts for an unlikely recall, as well as the out-of-favour Ollie Henry who hasn’t played senior football since Round 18 against GWS. Substitute Jhye Clark clocked up just two per cent game time against the Lions in the qualifying final, but there isn’t any reason to suggest he won’t be picked as the 23rd man again.

Hawks’ Semi Final team:

B: J.Battle, T.Barrass, B.Hardwick

HB: J.Impey, J.Sicily (c), M.D’Ambrosio

C: K.Amon, J.Ward, D.Moore

HF: C.Macdonald, M.Chol, N.Watson

F: J.Gunston, M.Lewis, J.Ginnivan

FOLL: L.Meek, J.Newcombe, C.Nash

I/C: J.Scrimshaw, J.Worpel, S.Butler, J.Weddle, C.Jiath (sub)

EMG: L.Breust, C.Mackenzie, N.Reeves

Team Tips: On the surface, things looks great at Waverley Park — but a couple of crucial cogs may still need to prove their fitness on the training track this week. Star veteran Jack Gunston was sighted spending most of the final quarter against Adelaide last Friday on the bench, alongside Jack Ginnivan who reportedly went into the clash with low-level hamstring tightness. The Hawks remain optimistic the duo will face up against Geelong, however should one of them be deemed unfit, it tragically won’t be Luke Breust who replaces them. The retiring club great seriously injured both his ACL and MCL in Box Hill’s preliminary final loss to Footscray last Sunday in a sad end to his 17-year stint as an AFL-listed player. Hawthorn are also yet to put a definitive timeline on the fitness of Calsher Dear, who tweaked his hamstring against GWS in their elimination final. As hopeful as the club will be of his availability, a return just 13 days after the strain seems rather unlikely. In the case that two of Dear, Gunston and Ginnivan don’t play, who Sam Mitchell selects will be fascinating. Emergency Cam Mackenzie seems the likeliest recall, but if they wanted to pick a genuine forward, would they consider Max Ramsden? A left-field option would also be Jai Serong, who hasn’t played a senior game all season despite a scintillating season at VFL level. Tall forward Mitch Lewis was kept quiet all night against the Crows, but given the number of injury clouds hanging over his teammates in a similar role, looks likely to hold his spot.

Second Preliminary Final, Saturday September 19

[4th] Collingwood vs [5th] Brisbane (5.15pm) at the MCG

Magpies’ Qualifying Final team:

B: B.Frampton, D.Moore (c), B.Maynard

HB: H.Perryman, J.Daicos, W.Parker

C: J.Crisp, N.Long, S.Sidebottom

HF: J.De Goey, T.Membrey, B.McCreery

F: J.Elliott, B.Mihocek, L.Schultz

FOLL: D.Cameron, S.Pendlebury, N.Daicos

I/C: P.Lipinski, I.Quaynor, D.Houston, M.Cox, R.Steele (sub)

EMG: T.Mitchell, D.McStay, E.Allan

Team Tips: Of all four teams playing this weekend, the most eyes will be on Collingwood and what they do at selection. On an injury front, it’s all about the fitness of Jeremy Howe and his recovery from an adductor injury sustained in the last home-and-away match before finals. As of last Tuesday, the club revealed that he was “progressing well” from the setback and was listed as one week away from a return. Should he be deemed fit, Category B rookie Wil Parker looks the likeliest to make way for Howe in the defensive half, or at the very least demoted to a substitute role which would omit mid-season draftee Roan Steele. Key forward Brody Mihocek rolled his ankle in their qualifying final win over Adelaide, and briefly sported a moon boot in the days after the affair. The 32-year-old also left training early last Friday, and may also need to prove his fitness for the clash. If he isn’t up for the affair, expect dropped utility Dan McStay to slot straight back into the Pies’ forward line as his replacement. Also up forward, it would be a shock to see Mason Cox dropped after a commendable performance two rounds ago. Then, there’s the dilemma that revolves around Bobby Hill. The 2023 Norm Smith Medalist has played one AFL match since Round 15 — and it was as the sub against Brisbane. On the surface, the 25-year-old looks to be in the best shape he has been for quite some time, and will be raring to go if called upon. If Hill was to be picked, it would almost certainly see both Parker and Steele out of the side. Should one of the club’s remaining emergencies be called upon with a shock injury, veteran Tom Mitchell looks to be first in line ahead of Ed Allan.

Lions’ Semi Final team:

B: D.Zorko, D.Gardiner, R.Lester

HB: D.Wilmot, H.Andrews (c), B.Starcevich

C: H.McCluggage, L.Ashcroft, J.Berry

HF: C.Cameron, T.Gallop, Z.Bailey

F: C.Rayner, L.Morris, C.Ah Chee

FOLL: D.Fort, J.Dunkley, W.Ashcroft

I/C: K.Lohmann, J.Fletcher, S.Marshall, O.McInerney, B.Reville (sub)

EMG: S.Day, J.Tunstill, D.Joyce

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