2019 AFL Grand Final teams: Giants bring in two massive inclusions, Pickett to debut

There is always hard luck stories in Grand Finals, and the axe has fallen on two Giants as two key inclusions return. Plus, the Tigers make history bringing in a mature-age debutant.

These two will return for the Giants in the AFL Grand Final.

GWS has recalled two of its brightest stars for its Grand Final showdown with Richmond, with Lachie Whitfield and Toby Greene making way for two unlucky Giants.

Utility Lachie Keeffe and youngster Ian Hill are the hard luck stories for the Giants with both omitted ahead of Saturday’s game.

The pair replaced the injured Whitfield (appendicitis) and suspended Greene ahead of their preliminary final clash with the Pies. Keeffe is perhaps the stiffest of the pair after shutting down Collingwood forward Brody Mihocek, keeping him to just two disposals.

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Marlion Pickett will make his debut in an AFL Grand Final.

Hill had some shaky moments in the Giants’ nailbiting win, finishing with seven disposals in his seventh game of senior football.

Both of the axed Giants have been named as emergencies.

Meanwhile, the Tigers announced earlier today that mid-season draftee Marlion Pickett would replace the injured Jack Graham, making his AFL debut on the biggest stage of all.

It means youngster Jack Ross has missed out on selection despite being a late withdrawal from the Tigers’ VFL Grand Final triumph last weekend.

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It was the same game where Pickett staked his claim for an unlikely debut. The 27-year-old won the Norm Goss medal as the best player on the ground, and will play in the AFL Grand Final just six days later. He becomes the first player to debut in a Grand Final in 67 years.

Pickett is one of the feel-good stories of the season, selected with the 13th selection in this year’s mid-season draft after banging down the door for WAFL club South Fremantle.

Nathan Broad will face GWS but Jack Graham (rear) is out. Pic: AAP

Tiger defender Nathan Broad will face the Giants despite suffering concussion against the Cats last week.

Richmond assistant coach Justin Leppitsch said Nathan Broad’s recovery would give the Tigers one less selection dilemma.

“Broady’s fine. He has passed all his tests and he is right to go,” Leppitsch said at Punt Rd before training today.

Jack Ross has been left out of the Tiger side Pic: Michael Klein

AFL GRAND FINAL

Saturday 28 September, 2.30pm at the MCG

TIGERS

B: D. Astbury, N. Broad, D. Grimes

HB: B. Houli, N. Vlastuin, J. Short

C: B. Ellis, D. Prestia, J. Caddy

HF: D. Rioli, T. Cotchin, K. Lambert

F: J. Castagna, T. Lynch, J. Riewoldt

FOLL: T. Nankervis, S. Edwards, D. Martin

I/C: I. Soldo, L. Baker, M. Pickett, S. Bolton

EMG: J. Ross, S. Stack, R. Garthwaite, K. McIntosh

IN: M. Pickett

OUT: J. Graham (shoulder)

GIANTS

B: N. Haynes, P. Davis, A. Corr

HB: A. Kennedy, S. Taylor, H. Shaw

C: Z. Williams, J. Kelly, L. Whitfield

HF: S. Reid, J. Cameron, H. Perryman

F: H. Himmelberg, J. Finlayson, B. Daniels

FOLL: S. Mumford, T. Taranto, M. de Boer

I/C: J. Hopper, D. Lloyd, T. Greene, A. Tomlinson

EMG: I. Cumming, Z. Langdon, L. Keefe, I. Hill

IN: L. Whitfield, T. Greene

OUT: L. Keefe (omitted), I. Hill (omitted)

Originally published as 2019 AFL Grand Final teams: Giants bring in two massive inclusions, Pickett to debut