AFL week one finals: Teams, selection news and expert tips
The calvary has returned for the first week of finals with a host of big names recalled. See the full week one teams and who our experts are tipping.
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Premiership player Toby McLean has been recalled to play his first full game since round 16 last year, while the Western Bulldogs have dropped veteran forward Josh Bruce for their cut-throat final against Fremantle.
After losing midfield star Tom Liberatore to a hamstring injury during the week, the Bulldogs have named McLean, defender Alex Keath and Norm Smith medallist Jason Johannisen for Saturday’s sudden death elimination final in Perth.
Bruce, who returned to the Bulldogs’ side in round 18 after recovering from an ACL injury, makes way for the returning trio alongside Taylor Duryea (personal reasons) and the injured Liberatore. Robbie McComb has been named as the Bulldogs’ medi-sub.
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE FULL TEAMS FOR WEEK ONE OF THE FINALS
McLean, a member of the Bulldogs’ 2016 premiership team, was named as a medi-sub in round 21 but has not played a full match since last year after overcoming serious knee injury this year.
Fremantle has named key talls Rory Lobb and Griffin Logue, but has left out spearhead Matt Taberner.
Lobb and Logue come into the Dockers’ line-up with Jye Amiss, while Lloyd Meek (omitted), Bailey Banfield (omitted) and Nat Fyfe (injured) are the outs. Darcy Tucker has been named as the medi-sub.
Geelong has named spearhead Jeremy Cameron to return from a hamstring injury for Saturday’s qualifying final against Collingwood at the MCG alongside midfielder Mitch Duncan, and ruckman Rhys Stanley.
The Cats have omitted Jon Ceglar, Mark O’Connor, Esava Ratugolea and Brandon Parfitt, not yet confirming who will wear the sub vest.
Collingwood has regained vice-captain Taylor Adams, omitting Finn Macrae. Oliver Henry has been named as the medi-sub.
Melbourne has regained half-back Christian Salem for its qualifying final against Sydney at the MCG.
Salem was a late withdrawal from the Demons’ round 23 clash with a groin issue, but comes into the side for Jake Bowey, who has been omitted. James Jordan has been named as the medi-sub.
The Swans have named an unchanged line-up for the final with Sam Wicks listed as the sub.
DEMONS’ GASTRO SCARE SPREADS
Lauren Wood and Tarquin Oakley
Melbourne’s gastro outbreak has spread with defender Michael Hibberd absent from training on Thursday morning ahead of its clash with Sydney tomorrow night.
The club said its confident Hibberd will take the field on Friday night, and that he completed a seperate session away from the main group this morning.
It comes after coach Simon Goodwin also missed this morning’s press conference with gastro symptoms.
Assistant coach Troy Chaplin stepped in to fill the press void.
“He’ll be back on deck tomorrow, so I won’t have to worry about (coaching),” Chaplin said.
“I’ll just continue on in my usual role and that’s just looking after the backs.
“We spoke to him before and yesterday ... he wasn’t much chop, he said. But he’ll be fine for tomorrow. We’re sort of fortunate .. it’s an important day in terms of it’s our last key messages, but (Adam) Yze will take the reins in that regard and look after it today and Goody will be ready to go tomorrow night.”
Chaplin joked that history was repeating after Goodwin was hit with food poisoning thanks to a “dodgy linguine” in the lead-up to last year’s Grand Final.
He said the belief was that the team had not been exposed to any potential illness risk given Wednesday was a day off.
“Main training we had on Tuesday, he was there for that and had no issues there - it got him around lunchtime (on Wednesday),” he said.
“We’re fortunate that he hasn’t had any contact with anyone, so we’re just keeping away from the group to make sure no players go down.”
Chaplin said Christian Petracca, Christian Salem and Luke Jackson were all fully fit to face the Swans, but forward Tom McDonald - who returned to VFL action last weekend after foot surgery - would not be in contention to play.
“What Tommy’s been able to do is get himself back ... we just need to get some games into him,” he said.
“He’s given himself every opportunity, but missing that much footy with the injury he’s had, it’s just too much of a risk for him.”
Tigers’ double shock as Lions unleash debutant
- Dan Batten
Dustin Martin is back, but Richmond has dropped a double selection surprise, dropping veteran Shane Edwards and naming Jack Graham as an emergency for its cutthroat elimination final against Brisbane.
Graham, who was sidelined for the Tigers’ win against Essendon in round 23, had been mooted as a possible inclusion from a foot injury alongside superstar Martin, but still could be named as the medical substitute.
Edwards, 33, has missed just one game this season and has been axed despite a strong last outing, slotting three goals from 12 disposals.
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The Lions have called on debutant Darcy Wilmot to replace suspended defender Noah Answerth, while important midfielder Jarryd Lyons is another significant out with a groin injury.
The 2021 first-round draft selection, a line-breaking defender with speed and pinpoint footskills, has shown promise this season at VFL level, where he has averaged 17.8 disposals, 6.6 intercepts and 83 points.
FINALS TEAMS
THURSDAY NIGHT
BRISBANE vs RICHMOND, 7.20pm
RICHMOND
B: N. Broad 35 N.Balta 21 R.Tarrant 6
HB: L.Baker 7 N.Vlastuin 1 D.Rioli 17
C: M.Pickett 50 T.Cotchin 9 K.McIntosh 33
HF: M.Rioli J.Short 15 S.Bolton 29
F: J.Riewoldt 8 D.Martin 4 T.Lynch 19
FOLL: T.Nankervis - C 25, D.Prestia 3, T.Sonsie 40
I/C: J.Gibcus, B.Miller, J.Ross, N.Cumberland 38
EMERG: J.Graham, I.Soldo, R.Mansell, S.Edwards
IN: D. Martin
OUT: S.Edwards (omitted), J.Castagna (sub)
BRISBANE LIONS
B: D.Gardiner 27 D.McStay 25 D.Rich 10
HB: B.Starcevich 37 H.Andrews 31 K.Coleman 18
C: Z.Bailey 33 J.Berry 7 H.McCluggage 6
HF: D.Zorko - C 15 E.Hipwood 30 L.McCarthy 11
F: J.Payne 40 J.Daniher 3 C.Cameron 23
FOLL: O.McInerney 46 L.Neale 9 M.Robinson 5
INT: D.Robertson 2 J.Prior 20 R.Mathieson 36 D.Wilmot 44
EMERG: K.Lohmann 1 C.Ah Chee 4 D.Fort 32 R.Lester 35
IN: D.Robertson, D.Wilmot
OUT: N. Answerth (suspended), C. Rayner (suspended), J.Lyons (injured)
Debut: D.Wilmot
MELBOURNE v SYDNEY SWANS, 7.50pm
DEMONS
B: T.Rivers, H.Petty, S.May
HB: A.Brayshaw, J.Lever, M.Hibberd
C: J.Hunt, C.Oliver, J.Melksham
HF: C.Spargo, L.Jackson, E.Langdon
F: K.Pickett, B.Brown, A.Neal-Bullen
FOLL: M.Gawn, J.Viney, C.Petracca
I/C: C.Salem, J.Harmes, B.Fritsch, T.Sparrow
EMG: T.Bedford, J.Bowey, J.van Rooyen, J.Smith
IN: C.Salem
OUT: J.Bowey (omitted), J.Jordon (sub)
SWANS
B: D.Rampe, T.McCartin, N.Blakey
HB: J.Lloyd, P.McCartin, J.McInerney
C: E.Gulden, C.Warner, C.Mills
HF: I.Heeney, S.Reid, W.Hayward
F: T.Papley, L.Franklin, R.Clarke
FOLL: T.Hickey, L.Parker, J.Rowbotto
I/C: R.Fox, O.FLorent, L.McDonald, D.Stephens
EMG: C.Sinclair, H.Cunningham, H.McLean, B.Campbell
IN: Nil
OUT: S.Wicks (sub)
GEELONG CATS v COLLINGWOOD, 4.35pm
CATS
B: Z.Tuohy, S.De Koning, J.Bews
HB: M.Duncan, J.Henry, T.Stewart
C: I.Smith, J.Selwood, M.Holmes
HF: B.Close, J.Cameron, G.Miers
F: T.Stengle, T.Hawkins, G.Rohan
FOLL: R.Stanley, M.Blicavs, P.Dangerfield
I/C: Z.Guthrie, J.Kolodjashnij, C.Guthrie, T.Atkins
EMG: S.Menegola, M.O’Connor, B.Parfitt, J.Ceglar
IN: M.Duncan, J.Cameron, R.Stanley
OUT: M.O’Connor, E.Ratugolea, J.Ceglar, B.Parfitt (omitted)
MAGPIES
B: B.Maynard, D.Moore, J.Howe
HB: J.Crisp, N.Murphy, S.Pendlebury
C: J.Noble, T.Adams, I.Quaynor
HF: J.Elliott, D.Cameron, B.McCreery
F: N.Daicos, B.Mihocek, J.Daicos
FOLL: M.Cox, J.De Goey, S.Sidebottom
I/C: P.Lipinski, W.Hoskin-Elliott, J.Ginnivan, A.Johnson
EMG: T.Bianco, N.Kreuger, C.Brown, F.Macrae
IN: T.Adams
OUT: O.Henry (sub), F.Macrae (omitted)
FREMANTLE v WESTERN BULLDOGS, 8.10pm
DOCKERS
B: J.Aish, B.Cox, J.Clark
HB: H.Young, A.Pearce, L.Ryan
C: M.Frederick, A.Brayshaw, B.Acres
HF: L.Schultz, S.Switkowski, H.Chapman
F: J.Amiss, R.Lobb, M.Walters
FOLL: S.Darcy, W.Brodie, C.Serong
I/C: G.Logue, D.Mundy, N.O’Driscoll, B.Walker
EMG: D.Tucker, B.Banfield, L.Meek, E.Hughes
IN: J.Amiss, R.Lobb, G.Logue
OUT: L.Meek, B.Banfield (both omitted), N.Fyfe (injured), D.Tucker (sub)
BULLDOGS
B: E.Richards, R.Gardner, Z.Cordy
HB: B.Williams, A.Keath, B.Dale
C: L.Hunter, J.Dunkley, J.Macrae
HF: A.Treloar, J.Ugle-Hagan, J.Johannisen
F: C.Weightman, A.Naughton, S.Darcy
FOLL: T.English, M.Bontempelli, B.Smith
I/C: L.Vandermeer, C.Daniel, T.McLean, R.Smith
EMG: S.Martin, J.Bruce, R.McComb, T.Duryea
IN: A.Keath, J.Johannisen, T.McLean
OUT: J.Bruce (omitted), T.Liberatore (injured), T.Duryea (personal reasons), R.McComb (sub)
EXPERT TIPS: TIGERS BACK TO EXTEND LIONS’ MISERY
It’s Tiger time — for this week at least.
Our top Herald Sun and Advertiser experts are predicting Richmond to squeeze into the second round with a close elimination final victory over Brisbane Lions.
Of the top-10 ranked tipsters for 2022, only Simeon Thomas-Wilson has tipped Brisbane, and by one point.
And many are expecting that match to whet the appetite for a weekend of thrillers.
Scroll down to see our predicted teams for week one of the finals, plus who every expert is picking.
Scott Gullan 152
Richmond 1
Melbourne 15
Geelong 8
Western Bulldogs 2
Last Week 8
Jane Bunn 150
Richmond 5
Melbourne 5
Geelong 10
Fremantle 5
Last Week 8
Gerard Whateley 146
Richmond 18
Melbourne 12
Geelong 6
Fremantle 1
Last Week 8
Rebecca Williams 146
Richmond 8
Melbourne 7
Geelong 5
Fremantle 6
Last Week 7
Sam Landsberger 145
Richmond 3
Sydney 9
Geelong 34
Fremantle 5
Last Week 8
Glenn McFarlane 145
Richmond 5
Melbourne 8
Geelong 1
Fremantle 6
Last Week 11
Jay Clark 144
Richmond 6
Melbourne 18
Geelong 20
Fremantle 30
Last Week 7
Lauren Wood 143
Richmond 9
Melbourne 14
Geelong 6
Fremantle 10
Last Week 8
Mark Robinson 142
Richmond 12
Melbourne 23
Geelong 8
Fremantle 12
Last Week 8
Simeon Thomas-Wilson 140
Brisbane Lions 11
Sydney 6
Geelong 9
Fremantle 10
Last Week
Chris Cavanagh 139
Richmond 12
Melbourne 10
Geelong 16
Fremantle 9
Last Week 11
Tim Watson 139
Brisbane Lions 8
Melbourne 17
Geelong 22
Western Bulldogs 5
Last Week 8
Jon Ralph 138
Richmond 12
Sydney 1
Geelong 23
Fremantle 3
Last Week 8
Liz Walsh 137
Richmond 6
Melbourne 15
Geelong 9
Fremantle 14
Last Week 7
Mick Malthouse 136
Richmond 12
Melbourne 16
Collingwood 6
Fremantle 11
Last Week 11
Sally Capp 133
Richmond 13
Sydney 12
Collingwood 11
Western Bulldogs 20
Last Week 8
Kath Loughnan 133
Richmond 12
Melbourne 16
Geelong 6
Fremantle 10
Last Week 6
Ebony Marinoff 133
Richmond
Melbourne
Collingwood
Fremantle
Last Week 6
Mick McGuane 132
Richmond 7
Melbourne 14
Geelong 22
Fremantle 17
Last Week 8
David King 132
Richmond 30
Sydney 2
Geelong 35
Western Bulldogs 8
Last Week 8
Matt Turner 130
Richmond 12
Melbourne 4
Geelong 8
Fremantle 12
Last Week 8
Dermott Brereton 129
Richmond 12
Melbourne 16
Geelong 10
Fremantle 11
Last Week 7
James Hird 128
Richmond 3
Melbourne 6
Geelong 5
Fremantle 15
Last Week 6
Sarah Jones 128
Richmond 10
Sydney 8
Geelong 19
Fremantle 6
Last Week 7
Graham Cornes 127
Richmond 6
Melbourne 12
Geelong 16
Fremantle 10
Last Week 6
Chloe Molloy 125
Brisbane Lions
Sydney
Collingwood
Fremantle
Last Week 11
Kiss of Death 59
Brisbane Lions 13
Sydney 13
Collingwood 13
Western Bulldogs 13
Last Week 2
DOGS STAR OUT OF KNOCKOUT CLASH
Tarquin Oakley
The Western Bulldogs have been dealt a cruel blow on the eve of their finals campaign with star midfielder Tom Liberatore ruled out of the Dogs’ clash against Fremantle.
Coach Luke Beveridge confirmed the decision during his press conference on Wednesday morning after his contested ball winner failed to overcome a hamstring injury he suffered last week at training.
“He had an overstretch at training, he got through the whole session but basically we did some investigations and he won’t play this week unfortunately,” Beveridge said.“
“We get through (to the next week of finals) and he’ll be touch and go for that but he won’t be coming to WA.”
The 30-year-old has played every game this season and has been an important cog in the Dogs’ engine room. Beveridge said the side was considering a mid-forward to replace Liberatore with premiership player Toby McLean a chance to play his first full game since round 16 last year.
McLean was an unused medical substitute in the round 21 game against the Dockers.
“There’s an opportunity for someone else to come in and play a forward say wing-type role or just a permanent-forward-type role and that might really work for us,” Beveridge said
“Whether it’s Toby McLean, Jason Johannisen, Rhylee West or Riley Garcia there’s an opening there so we’ll see the positives in it, but when we played against Fremantle a few weeks ago Tom was high on clearance and he’s had a really consistent year so he will be hard to cover at the coalface.”
Liberatore completed some resistance training and ran laps at about 60% pace.
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE ALL THE PREDICTED TEAMS FOR WEEK ONE OF THE FINALS
Bailey Smith is set to take the field in Perth on Saturday barring any hiccups before then, with Beveridge confident in his star’s fitness.
“He’ll train this morning and we expect him to be available, he’s doing everything out here today,” he said.
“He’s just got this legacy load that we manage here and there.”
Beveridge couldn’t confirm whether key forward Josh Bruce would be selected, with the emergence of Sam Darcy placing his spot in the side in doubt.
He said there will be “a change or two” going into Saturday night, with a decision to be made in the coming days.
“(Bruce is) working really hard for the team and it’s not necessarily falling into place for him, and obviously with Sam swinging (forward) in Launceston and having such an effect on the game last week you know we’re pretty sure we’re not going to be able to go in there with all those talls,” he said.
“But Tim will need support in the ruck so that is one of the challenges to find that right blend and Josh’s position in the team will come down to what that right mix will be.”
Darcy played in some light match simulation as a forward alongside Aaron Naughton.
Beveridge said he’s been pleased with the growth of Darcy over the last few weeks but was keeping a lid on what he could achieve in the upcoming finals series.
He said that the Bulldogs aren’t placing high expectations on the 207.5cm utility.
“We’re excited as much as you all are with the prospect of what he might become in the future, but he’s a young man that hasn’t done a pre-season, he’s had about 10 weeks of footy … there will be some vulnerabilities in that 120 minutes of finals footy is gonna be a big challenge for him” he said.
“Expectations internally may not be as high as they are externally because of the lack of footy he’s played even at senior level playing against men. But he’s long, he’s courageous, he’s proud and I think whichever end of the ground we play him at he should be able to affect the game.”
Fremantle captain Nat Fyfe has already been ruled out of Saturday night’s knockout final against the Western Bulldogs as three key teammates prepare for fitness tests on Wednesday.
The Dockers are confident Rory Lobb (chest) and Griffin Logue (adductor) will get through full contact training to prove their fitness for the sold-out blockbuster at Optus Stadium.
But goalkicker Matt Taberner (calf) remains in doubt and is likely to join Fyfe on the sidelines for the club’s first final in seven years.
Fyfe ruled out of knockout final
Fremantle captain Nat Fyfe has been ruled out of Saturday night’s knockout final against the Western Bulldogs as three key teammates prepare for fitness tests on Wednesday.
The Dockers are confident Rory Lobb (chest) and Griffin Logue (adductor) will get through full contact training to prove their fitness for the sold-out blockbuster at Optus Stadium.
But goalkicker Matt Taberner (calf) remains in doubt and is likely to join Fyfe on the sidelines for the club’s first final in seven years.
The Fyfe bombshell rocked the Dockers on Tuesday night as it emerged the dual Brownlow Medallist has probably played his last game for 2022.
Fyfe, who turns 31 in September, tweaked his ‘good’ hamstring at training on Monday.
Scans that evening confirming the injury to his right leg.
The Dockers are 11-4 without Fyfe this season and had stormed into the top four before he played his first game in round 13.
But Fyfe loomed as the club’s finals wildcard as a matchwinner starting out of the goalsquare who could also support young midfielders Andrew Brayshaw and Caleb Serong.
Should the Dockers beat the Dogs, it’s understood Fyfe would almost certainly miss next week’s semi-final against Geelong or Collingwood at the MCG.
He would also remain in extreme doubt for preliminary final weekend if the Dockers progressed that far.
The blow means Fyfe and retiring champion David Mundy are unlikely to ever play together again.
Fremantle football boss Peter Bell refused to place a timeline on Fyfe’s return.
“These hamstring strain injuries are very much a case-by-case basis for each individual,” Bell said on Tuesday night.
“We won’t have a timeline just yet on Nathan’s return, but we are hopeful that we will see him feature at some point in the upcoming finals series.”
Fyfe had been expected to play his first final as a Brownlow Medallist this week.
The 2015 and 2019 champion has not lined up in September since 2015, with Fremantle bowing out three nights before the vote count.
The Dockers considered playing Fyfe for Peel Thunder in the WAFL on Saturday but opted to stick to training.
Fyfe missed three matches when he injured his left hamstring in round 19 before returning for the final home-and-away match.
“He’s the one that got us going a little bit in the second quarter,” coach Justin Longmuir said after that win against GWS.
“We planned to mainly play him forward, his whole rehab he’s been training as a forward, but we just needed something around the ball.
“He was important without getting a lot of touches because he just brings a bit of physicality with his body size.
“He likes hitting bodies and he makes the opposition be a bit reactive as well.
“It was probably a nearly game for him I reckon, he showed a lot but just didn’t finish his work off.”
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge suspected the Dockers would consider dropping ruckman Lloyd Meek for the clash.
“We’d been assuming it would probably be three of Fyfe, Logue and Lobb or Fyfe, Lobb and (Lloyd) Meek,” Dogs coach Luke Beveridge said on AFL360.
“With (Fyfe) out, and it’s going to be a bit wet in Perth apparently, so they’ve got a decision to make on whether they take the two rucks in.
“You wouldn’t imagine Taberner plays, but that would be something that might happen as a surprise.”
The forecast is for 20C and showers late in the day.
Fyfe’s record against the Bulldogs is brilliant.
He has polled 16 Brownlow Medal votes from his past 10 games against them, including a career-best 43 disposals and one goal in 2018.
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