Jack Payne available for selection for Lions in elimination final against Carlton

Brisbane will be able to call on the services of a key defender in Saturday’s elimination final against Carlton.

Lions strongman Jack Payne is poised to make his AFL return from a foot injury in Saturday night’s elimination final against Carlton at the Gabba.

Key defender Payne hasn’t made a top-flight appearance since Brisbane’s 11-point home win over Adelaide on July 7.

However, he has put his hand up for selection this weekend after returning to action for Brisbane’s VFL team in a four-point loss to the Footscray Bulldogs on Saturday.

The Lions side also included midfielder Bruce Reville, who also made his return from a leg injury in the hope of forcing his way back into AFL calculations.

“We’ve got ‘Payney’ coming back and `Brucey’ is up for selection as well,” Lions forward Callum Ah Chee said on Monday.

“Boys are putting their hands up, and other blokes have come in and filled their position really well.

“That’s the great thing coming into finals, to have some blokes to choose from.”

HT | We're right in this one! pic.twitter.com/ip1padpjx8

— Brisbane Lions VFL (@lions_vfl) August 31, 2024

If Payne is recalled, it could be at the expense of Irishman Darragh Joyce.

“In the last couple of weeks he’s been playing some great football for us. I love `Joycey’ and the way he goes about it, so we’ll see what happens this week,” Ah Chee said.

The Lions are striving to become just the second team, and the first since the Western Bulldogs in 2016, to win the premiership from the bottom half of the top eight.

“We feel like our best football can beat any team in the comp,” Ah Chee said.

“If you look at this year and the way it’s gone, I feel like anyone can win it.

“The belief is huge with us. We’ve been there (the grand final) before and we want to get there again, and that starts this week.

“The boys are confident, and we’re looking forward to it. Everyone gets really excited for finals and we can’t wait.

“We’re in a great position coming into this (finals) series.”

The Lions have struggled with their accuracy in recent weeks, with losses last month to the GWS Giants and Collingwood costing them a top-four spot.

“We’ve definitely spoken about it but we’re getting some really good looks inside the 50 (metre zone), getting a lot of chances and getting it into our forwards, so we’ve just got to make the most of our opportunities,” Ah Chee said.

“The boys will do that. Everyone’s gone to work with their goalkicking, and it’s up to individuals now to make the most of those opportunities.

“We all know we can kick goals, it just that we’ve had some patches where we haven’t.”

Originally published as Jack Payne available for selection for Lions in elimination final against Carlton