AFL finals fixture a blessing for Lions, Blues as injured stars eye returns

Brisbane and Carlton were initially preparing for a Friday night finals showdown — but a new timeslot could prove a blessing for both sides.

Brisbane and Carlton have been handed an extra day’s reprieve to begin their premiership assaults ahead of a blockbuster Gabba elimination final on September 7.

The Lions were initially preparing for a Friday night timeslot but will instead host Carlton on the Saturday evening after the AFL confirmed the full slate of Week 1 fixtures on Monday.

And that extra day could prove a blessing for both sides, which are planning to welcome back key reinforcements in a fortnight’s time.

Brisbane is hopeful Jack Payne (foot), Brandon Starcevich (hamstring) and Bruce Reville (fibula) will all be available for selection in time to face the Blues.

Key defender Payne, 24, has not played since round 17 having battled a stress-related bone injury in his right foot.

His absence has been sorely felt in the heart of the Lions’ defence, who have had to turn to 23-gamer Darragh Joyce to fill the void alongside Harris Andrews.

Brisbane defender Jack Payne is pushing for a return from injury. Picture: Getty Images

Payne and Reville are expected to suit up this Saturday in the Lions’ VFL qualifying final against Footscray in Melbourne and all going well, will be available for AFL selection the following week.

With Carlton set to welcome back Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay among a slew of starters, Payne’s availability will be one of the major talking points in the build-up.

The Brisbane defender famously missed last year’s preliminary final between the two teams with an ankle injury that also ruled him out of the grand final.

Carlton is set to welcome back Charlie Curnow. Picture: Getty Images

Darcy Gardiner deputised against the Blues on that occasion but he has been ruled out for the season with an ACL injury – as has fellow key defender Tom Doedee.

Given Payne has not played since the start of July, and has a history of recovering slowly from matches, the extra day’s rest could make all the difference to his availability.

Starcevich was a mid-week scratching with hamstring tightness ahead of Saturday’s win over Essendon which secured the Lions’ home final.

Brisbane was understandably cautious with the reliable medium defender given he had already missed a chunk of time earlier this season with a calf injury.

Meanwhile the injury-ravaged Blues are breathing a sigh of relief after scraping into September despite losing their final game of the season to St Kilda in dramatic circumstances.

Carlton has not beaten a team outside the bottom four since June, but now has 11 days to restock and reload before the Gabba blockbuster.

As many as nine players could return for the first final: Curnow, McKay, Mitch McGovern, Tom de Koning, Adam Cerra, Caleb Marchbank, Jack Martin, Jordan Boyd and – possibly – Sam Docherty.

Tom De Koning is also in the mix to return for the Blues. Picture: Mark Stewart

But how many of those can the Blues risk bringing back in all at once?

Curnow and McGovern were late outs for Sunday’s loss to St Kilda and will almost certainly return to face Brisbane, while key posts McKay and de Koning appear on track to suit up.

Adam Cerra (hamstring) and Jordan Boyd (adductor) have been senior stables this season and will be given every opportunity to prove their fitness.

Marchbank and Martin have played just six games between them this season, while a finals return for Docherty – who tore his ACL in Opening Round against Brisbane on March 8 – would be a fairytale story on paper but in practice could be a bridge too far.

Originally published as AFL finals fixture a blessing for Lions, Blues as injured stars eye returns