AFLW Finals 2023: All the preliminary final teams and news

Geelong has named star forward Chloe Scheer just two weeks after she fractured her collarbone – but that’s not the only surprise. See all the preliminary final teams.

Geelong has named star forward Chloe Scheer for its preliminary final against Brisbane.

And the Cats have pulled a selection surprise, handing a debut to Irish import Anna-Rose Kennedy.

Scheer looked all but likely to miss the rest of the season after suffering a hairline fracture to her collarbone in the elimination final against Essendon.

But despite still being in a sling earlier in the week, the Cats recalled the 24-year-old and named her in attack.

Kennedy, a Gaelic footballer for Tipperary, joined Geelong before this season.

They replace Zali Friswell (injured) and Gabbi Featherston (omitted).

The Lions are unchanged.

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Anna-Rose Kennedy, left, will make her debut in this weekend’s preliminary final.

“It’s just one of those injuries where you can’t do much apart from tolerating the pain,” Geelong coach Dan Lowther said.

“Once it’s had a chance to settle, she’s now exploring how she feels with it.

“Hopefully all goes well leading into the weekend.”

When asked about Scheer’s fitness before training on Thursday morning, Lowther declared

“she’s a genuine chance to play this week.”

“If she gets through the session, we have match play every session, if she gets through that we’ll have some discussions and some decisions to make around whether she comes in this week or we roll the dice and see how we go,” he said.

“It’s good for her to be around the group again, the group’s been really positive around that.”

Adelaide looks likely to go into its AFLW preliminary final unchanged.

Everyone who featured in the Crows’ 67-point semi-final triumph over Sydney last weekend was named to face North Melbourne at Ikon Park on Sunday despite some players, including captain Chelsea Randall, taking it easy at training on Wednesday due to niggles.

Defender Najwa Allen, midfielder Deni Varnhagen and halfback Brooke Tonon came into Adelaide’s squad of 25, all named on an extended interchange.

The Crows will finalise their team on Friday.

The Crows have named Deni Varnhagen in their extended squad. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

Allen has been trying to break back into the line-up since being dropped after the qualifying final defeat to Brisbane.

Varnhagen has featured just twice this season, most recently in the last minor round, while Tonon has played seven matches.

North Melbourne also appears set to go in unchanged.

The Kangaroos have brought ex-Port Adelaide ruck Liz McGrath, midfielder Ruby Tripodi and key forward Lucy Burke into their 25-strong squad.

Adelaide won this year’s sole meeting between the teams by three points at Norwood Oval in round 9, four weeks ago.

The Cats will enter the clash with Brisbane as underdogs after a stunning upset of Melbourne last week.

But don’t expect them to be buying into that mentality.

“It’s definitely going to be a challenge and go up to Brisbane but not without confidence,” Lowther said.

“Look at last week against the Dees, three dominant quarters. It just shows we’re good enough to play against any opposition on any given day.”

AFLW PRELIMINARY FINAL TEAMS

Brisbane v Geelong

Brighton Homes Arena, Saturday 6.45pm AEST

LIONS

Backs P.Boltz 15 P.Monahan 11

Half Backs B.Koenen - C 3 N.Grider 10 S.Campbell 20

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

Half Forwards C.Mullins 28 D.Davidson 14 S.Conway 12

Forwards T.Smith 31 R.Svarc 29

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

Interchange L.Postlethwaite 6 E.Hampson 7 C.Hodder 21

J.Dunne 8 M.Pauga 27

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

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 J.Crockett-Grills 6

Interchange D.Moloney 4 S.Scott 15 K.Darby 8

A.Kennedy 18 R.Kearns 22

Emergencies M.Bragg 44 B.Plummer 19 G.Featherston 32

North Melbourne v Adelaide

Ikon Park, Sunday 3.05pm AEDT

KANGAROOS

Backs E.Shannon 11 J.Ferguson 20

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

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

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

Forwards E.King 60 T.Randall 16

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

CROWS

Backs C.Biddell 12 S.Allan 39

Half Backs M.Newman 17 Z.Prowse 4 S.Goodwin 11

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

Half Forwards Y.Bonner 31 C.Gould 1 R.Martin 5

Forwards D.Ponter 15 E.Jones 2

Followers J.Allan 32 E.Marinoff 10 C.Randall - C 26

Interchange N.Allen 8 9 K.Mueller 13 J.Waterhouse 19 M.McKinnon 21 T.Charlton 25

Emergencies H.Munyard 20 B.Tonon 28 D.Varnhagen