AFL finals teams, tips: Nick Daicos returns, four Blues dropped for prelim against Lions

The Blues have axed four starters from their win over Melbourne for their trip to Brisbane, as a big name returns to the Pies’ line-up. See the full teams and our expert tips for this weekend.

Collingwood star Nick Daicos is back for the Magpies’ Friday night preliminary final against GWS, while Carlton have regained two important forwards for its daunting trip to the Gabba to take on Brisbane.

As expected Daicos will return for the Pies’ clash against the Giants at the MCG after last playing in Round 21, when he suffered a knee injury.

The Brownlow Medal contender has been training strongly in recent weeks as he pushes for a return to help the Pies make the grand final.

He returns to the Collingwood side in place of veteran Taylor Adams, as forecasted by Pies coach Craig McRae on Wednesday.

The Giants will go into the clash unchanged.

Nick Daicos is finally back. Photo by Michael Klein.

The Blues will welcome back some arsenal in their forward line with Harry McKay and Jack Martin returning for Carlton’s clash against the Lions at the Gabba.

Defender Jordan Boyd has also been included in the Blues side as Michael Voss looks to keep their stunning run going.

Young gun Ollie Hollands has been elevated to the Blues’ 22 after his impressive cameo as the sub in the thrilling semi-final win over Melbourne.

Brodie Kemp, Matthew Owies, Matt Kennedy and David Cuningham have been dropped by the Blues.

Lion Jack Payne has been ruled out after failing to overcome swelling in his ankle.

Brisbane’s tried and true answer to Blues spearhead Charlie Curnow was given every opportunity to prove his fitness ahead of the clash at the Gabba.

But it was apparent after a closed-doors session on Thursday morning that the key defender was still hobbled by the injury and the Lions have erred on the side of caution by leaving Payne on the sidelines.

Darcy Gardiner has been called in to take his place in the back six for just his third game of the season.

Defender Brodie Kemp is one of four axed Blues. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The 27-year-old comes into a back six that has been otherwise settled for much of the 2023 season but must now recalibrate on short notice ahead of perhaps its most difficult test of the campaign – containing Coleman Medallist Curnow and his partner in crime, Harry McKay.

Payne held Curnow to one goal and 10 disposals when the two sides met in round eight, but that magnet has now been removed from Fagan’s board.

Triple-premiership winner Jack Gunston was overlooked for selection despite proving his fitness at training this week.

COLLINGWOOD v GWS GIANTS

Friday September 22, 7.50pm at the MCG

PIES

B: Murphy, Moore, Quaynor

HB: Maynard, Pendlebury, Howe

C: Sidebottom, De Goey, J.Daicos

HF: Hill, Mihocek, Lipinski

F: Elliott, McStay, Hoskin-Elliott

FOL: Cox, McCreery, Crisp

I/C: Mitchell, Cameron, N.Daicos, Markov

EMG: Noble, Macrae, Frampton, Ginnivan

IN: N.Daicos

OUT: Adams (Injured), Ginnivan (Sub)

GIANTS

B: Buckley, Taylor, Idun

HB: Ash, Himmelberg, Whitfield

C: Callaghan, Green, Kelly

HF: Bedford, Riccardi, Daniels

F: Lloyd, Hogan, Greene

FOL: Briggs, Ward, Coniglio

I/C: Cumming, Perryman, Keeffe, Brown

EMG: Haynes, Angwin, O’Halloran, Preuss

IN: None

OUT: O’Halloran (Sub)

BRISBANE LIONS v CARLTON

Saturday September 23, 5.15pm at the Gabba

LIONS

B: Starcevich, Andrews, Gardiner

HB: McKenna, Lester, Coleman

C: McCluggage, Dunkley, Zorko

HF: Cameron, Hipwood, Bailey

F: Rayner, Daniher, Ah Chee

FOL: McInerney, Neale, Berry

I/C: Robertson, McCarthy, Fletcher, Wilmot

EMG: Lyons, Tunstill, Fort, Joyce

IN: Gardiner

OUT: Payne (Injured), Lyons (Sub)

BLUES

B: Cincotta, Weitering, Saad

HB: Marchbank, McGovern, Newman

C: Acres, Cripps, Hollands

HF: De Koning, McKay, Docherty

F: Fogarty, C.Curnow, Motlop

FOL: Pittonet, Cerra, Walsh

I/C: Boyd, Hewett, Cottrell, Martin

EMG: Cuningham, Kemp, Kennedy, Owies

IN: McKay, Boyd, Martin

OUT: Kemp, Owies, Kennedy, Cuningham (all omitted)

Originally published as AFL finals teams, tips: Nick Daicos returns, four Blues dropped for prelim against Lions