AFL finals week one: All the team news and expert tips

Melbourne has axed a midfielder who has played 35 consecutive games in one of the shocks of the first week of AFLW finals. See the full teams and tips here.

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 18: Najwa Allen of the Crows in action during the 2022 S7 AFLW First Preliminary Final match between the Brisbane Lions and the Adelaide Crows at Metricon Stadium on November 18, 2022 in the Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Melbourne has pulled a selection shock by dropping prolific midfielder Eliza West ahead of its qualifying final against North Melbourne.

The 26-year-old has been a mainstay in the Demons lineup since her round 1 debut in 2022 season six, playing 35 consecutive games.

West averaged 16 disposals and seven tackles over the home and away season, and had a season-high 20 possessions, 10 tackles and a goal in Melbourne’s round 9 win over Fremantle. But she struggled to produce the same impact from her 18 touches as Brisbane’s midfield ran over the top of the Demons last week, and made way from the team along with young forward Georgia Gall and injured duo Rhi Watt (concussion) and Casey Sherriff (wrist).

Eliza West has been left out by Melbourne. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Utility Maddi Gay will return to the side after two weeks out with a hamstring injury alongside Georgia Campbell, while Paxy Paxman (hamstring) and Aimee Mackin (ankle) were confirmed as starters on Thursday night.

The Kangaroos made a second change to their side with Lulu Pullar returning after a laceration to her head in round 9 required stitches and kept her out of the win over the Western Bulldogs.

Pullar will be joined by star midfielder Mia King, who was a late withdrawal from the Bulldogs game due to general soreness.

Roos pair Ruby Tripodi and Ellie Gavalas have been omitted.

Essendon will take an unchanged side to Geelong for their elimination final on Sunday afternoon, while the Cats have brought in Melissa Bragg and experienced forward Shelley Scott at the expense of Gabbi Featherston and suspended forward-ruck Kate Darby.

AFLW WEEK ONE FINALS TEAMS (ALL TIMES EDT)

SATURDAY 11 NOVEMBER

First Qualifying Final

Adelaide Crows vs Brisbane Lions, Norwood Oval, Saturday 3.05pm

CROWS

Backs Z.Prowse 4 C.Biddell 12

Half Backs N.Allen 8 S.Allan 39 J.Allan 32

Centreline S.Thompson 14 A.Hatchard 33 N.Kelly 23

Half Forwards Y.Bonner 31 D.Ponter 15 C.Randall - C 26

Forwards C.Gould 1 R.Martin 5

Followers M.McKinnon 21 E.Marinoff 10 E.Jones 2

Interchange T.Charlton 25 M.Newman 17 H.Munyard 20 K.Mueller 13 S.Goodwin 11

Emergencies D.Varnhagen 9 J.Waterhouse 19 B.Tonon 28

In: - Z.Prowse, N.Allen, S.Thompson, A.Hatchard, C.Randall, K.Mueller

Out: - L.Whiteley (Omitted), B.Tonon (Omitted), T.Levy (Omitted), K.Kustermann (Omitted), B.Smith (Omitted), D.Varnhagen (Omitted)

LIONS

Backs P.Boltz 15 S.Campbell 20

Half Backs B.Koenen - C 3 N.Grider 10 P.Monahan 11

Centreline O.O’Dwyer 9 I.Dawes 17 J.Ellenger 5

Half Forwards L.Postlethwaite 6 D.Davidson 14 S.Conway 12

Forwards T.Smith 31 C.Hodder 21

Followers T.Hickie 2 C.Svarc 25 A.Anderson 18

Interchange C.Mullins 28 E.Hampson 7 R.Svarc 29 J.Dunne 8 M.Pauga 27

Emergencies A.McKee 33 C.Wendland 4 B.Smith 16

In: - M.Pauga

Out: - D.Heslop (Suspension)

First Elimination Final

Gold Coast vs Sydney Swans, Heritage Bank Stadium, Saturday 7.15pm

SUNS

Backs W.Randell 15 V.Saad 39

Half Backs M.Girvan 25 L.Ahrens 7 T.Meyer 34

Centreline A.Drennan 33 C.Whitfort 4 E.Keaney 30

Half Forwards D.D’Arcy 20 J.Stanton 17 N.McLaughlin 11

Forwards J.Dupuy 27 T.Bohanna - C 12

Followers L.Bella 2 L.Single 13 M.Brancatisano 5

Interchange D.Davies 3 E.Barwick 6 E.Maurer 10 G.Biedenweg-Webster 16 G.Clayden 18

Emergencies J.Smith 1 C.McCrossan 14 G.Davies 22

In: - E.Barwick

Out: - J.Smith (Omitted)

SWANS

Backs B.Tarrant 20 J.O’Sullivan 24

Half Backs E.Vale 23 A.Mitchell 8 E.Heads 12

Centreline L.Steane 21 T.Kennedy 29 L.McEvoy - C 9

Half Forwards C.Hamilton 10 R.Privitelli 19 B.Lochland 1

Forwards M.Ham 18 S.Hurley 25

Followers B.Smith 11 L.Gardiner 31 C.Molloy 5

Interchange A.Whelan 22 P.McCarthy 15 A.Hamilton 30 A.Woodward 13 A.Newman 16

Emergencies B.Kennedy 2 P.Sheppard 4 S.Ford 3

In: - P.McCarthy

Out: - R.Sargent-Wilson (Omitted)

Second elimination final

Geelong Cats vs Essendon, GMHBA Stadium, Sunday 1.05pm

CATS

Backs C.Emonson 16 C.Gunjaca 26

Half Backs R.Webster 21 M.McDonald - C 11 G.Rankin 10

Centreline M.Bowen 1 G.Prespakis 41 N.Morrison 9

Half Forwards R.Garing 12 J.Parry 5 K.Surman 7

Forwards C.Scheer 14 A.Moloney 45

Followers E.Hoare 46 Am. McDonald 3 D.Moloney 4

Interchange J.Crockett-Grills 6 Z.Friswell 20 M.Bragg 44 S.Scott 15 R.Kearns 22

Emergencies Ab. McDonald 39 B.Plummer 19 G.Featherston 32

In: S.Scott, M.Bragg

Out: G.Featherston (omitted), K.Darby (suspension)

BOMBERS

Backs A.Morcom 25 B.Brown 36

Half Backs K.Jacques 7 E.Gamble 14 M.Van Dyke 19

Centreline S.Van DeHeuvel 27 J.Vogt 10 M.Busch 28

Half Forwards P.Scott 32 S.Alexander 24 G.Gee 2

Forwards B.Toogood - C 8 J.Wuetschner 21

Followers S.Wales 30 M.Prespakis 4 G.Nanscawen 5

Interchange M.Dyke 16 B.Walker 9 G.Clarke 17 A.Clarke 33 A.Radford 22

Emergencies R.Tierney 23 L.Williamson 13 A. Van Loon 26

Unchanged.

Second Qualifying Final

Melbourne vs North Melbourne, IKON Park, Sunday 3.05pm

DEMONS

Backs L.Birch 9 T.Gillard 17

Half Backs S.Goldrick 23 M.Gay 3 M.Chaplin 13

Centreline B.Mackin 31 T.Hanks 5 A.Mackin 21

Half Forwards A.Bannan 16 M.Fitzsimon 24 E.Zanker 29

Forwards T.Harris 7 K.Hore - C 10

Followers L.Pearce 15 S.Heath 3 P.Paxman 4

Interchange G.Campbell 1 L.Mithen 14 E.McNamara 22 J.Ivey 19 O.Purcell 2

Emergencies E.West 11 C.Wilson 20 S.Johnson 25

In: M.Gay, A.Mackin, P.Paxman, G.Campbell

Out: R.Watt (concussion), C.Sherriff (arm), G.Gall (omitted), E.West (omitted)

KANGAROOS

Backs E.Shannon 11 J.Ferguson 20

Half Backs E.Kearney - C 9 S.Wright 17 E.O’Shea 14

Centreline A.Smith 15 M.King 23 T.Gatt 8

Half Forwards B.Eddey 3 K.Shierlaw 33 A.O’Loughlin 6

Forwards T.Randall 16 E.King 60

Followers K.Rennie 26 J.Garner 25 A.Riddell 7

Interchange T.Craven 5 N.Bresnehan 12 J.Bruton 35 N.Martin 28 L.Pullar 24

Emergencies L.McGrath 1 R.Tripodi 19 L.Burke 29

In: M.King, L.Pullar

Out: E.Gavalas (omitted), R.Tripodi (omitted)