AFLW Grand Final teams and tips: Dakota Davidson named in Brisbane Lions team amid injury concern
Brisbane Lions have revealed how close Dakota Davidson came to being ruled out of the AFLW Grand Final through injury. See the full teams and expert tips here.
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Brisbane coach Craig Starcevich has confirmed star forward Dakota Davidson will play in Sunday’s grand final after recovering from a knee injury.
Davidson came off with a left knee issue during the third quarter of the Lions’ preliminary final victory over Geelong, putting her in doubt for the flag decider versus North Melbourne at Ikon Park.
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But Starcevich said the All-Australian was feeling “pretty good” and would be in the side.
Davidson has been crucial to Brisbane’s flag tilt, kicking the second-most goals in the league this season with 21.
“Last Saturday night it was looking a little bit like it was going to be a bad one,” Starcevich said.
“But she had her scan pretty soon on the Sunday, got going and trained really strongly on Thursday night.”
The Lions have been in four previous grand finals, losing three (2017, 2018, last season) and winning one (2021).
Starcevich, who was at the helm for each of those, said players who had experienced the biggest stage had a degree of calmness and focus about their preparation this week.
“Bre (Koenen) and Shannon (Campbell) and Ally (Anderson) have had four prior to this, and Sophie (Conway) has had three, so that helps,” he said.
“They’ll all have some sort of role to play.
“But, essentially, once the game starts it’s ‘let’s go’ — everyone’s out there to try to win the game.”
Brisbane beat the Kangaroos by two points in the clubs’ only other meeting this season, in Tasmania in round 4.
The Lions were 18 points down at half-time before kicking four goals to one after the main break to prevail.
Starcevich said he had doubts his team would win that day because it had watched the club’s men win its preliminary final the night before.
He said the result could have gone either way.
“It was a bit two halves that day,” he said.
“(North Melbourne) was good early and we finished strong.
“It was our first time playing in Tassie … and the boys beat Carlton the night before to get in the granny so our crew was distracted.
“So I’m thinking going there on Sunday morning ‘we’re long odds today’.
“We found something by the end of it to be able to compete.”
DAVIDSON NAMED IN LIONS’ AFLW GRAND FINAL TEAM
Callum Dick
Brisbane spearhead Dakota Davidson has been cleared to play in Sunday’s AFLW grand final against North Melbourne after overcoming a left knee injury less than a week after her season appeared over.
Davidson was declared fit by the Lions, who on Friday confirmed their grand final side, with the 24-year-old named to start at centre half-forward.
The Lions’ premiership hopes were rocked when Davidson went down clutching at her knee late in the third quarter of the preliminary final win over Geelong last weekend.
The All-Australian looked at long odds to be fit for the decider but made a remarkable recovery to take her place in Craig Starcevich’s side.
Davidson completed a full 90-minute training session on Thursday and moved freely throughout, giving the Lions confidence she is fit to fire.
Brisbane named an unchanged line-up to its victorious preliminary final side, with Analea McKee, Caitlin Wendland and Bella Smith travelling to Melbourne as emergencies.
Starcevich could once again send Breanna Koenen to tag Kangaroos superstar Jasmine Garner after the Lions skipper was named in midfield for the decider.
Koenen helped turn the tide in Brisbane’s favour when sent to follow North’s star midfielder in Round 4.
GRAND FINAL TEAMS
Sunday, December 3
2023 NAB AFLW Grand Final
North Melbourne vs Brisbane Lions IKON Park 2.30pm AEDT
KANGAROOS:
Backs S.Wright 17 J.Ferguson 20
Half Backs E.Shannon 11 E.Kearney – C 9 E.O’Shea 14
Centreline T.Gatt 8 M.King 23 L.Pullar 24
Half Forwards B.Eddey 3 J.Bruton 35 A.O’Loughlin 6
Forwards K.Shierlaw 33 T.Randall 16
Followers E.King 60 J.Garner 25 A.Riddell 7
Interchange N.Bresnehan 12 T.Craven 5 A.Smith 15 K.Rennie 26 N.Martin 28
Emergencies L.McGrath 1 E.Gavalas 22 L.Burke 29
In: – None
Out: – None
LIONS:
Backs P.Boltz 15 J.Dunne 8
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 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 P.Monahan 11 E.Hampson 7 R.Svarc 29 C.Mullins 28 M.Pauga 27
Emergencies A.McKee 33 C.Wendland 4 B.Smith 16
In: – None
Out: – None
GRAND FINAL EXPERT TIPS
Mark Robinson 72
North Melbourne 12
Last Week 2
Matt Turner 70
North Melbourne 9
Last Week 2
Daniel Cherny 69
North Melbourne 1
Last Week 2
Sarah Hosking 68
North Melbourne
Last Week 2
Sarah Jones 68
North Melbourne 2
Last Week 2
Simeon Thomas-Wilson 67
North Melbourne 4
Last Week 2
Chris Cavanagh 66
North Melbourne 6
Last Week 2
Lachlan McKirdy 65
North Melbourne 8
Last Week 1
Aliesha Newman 65
Brisbane Lions
Last Week 1
Gemma Houghton 64
North Melbourne
Last Week 2
Ebony Marinoff 64
North Melbourne
Last Week 1
Josh Barnes 63
North Melbourne 8
Last Week 2
Lauren Wood 63
North Melbourne 4
Last Week 2
Ellie Blackburn 60
North Melbourne
Last Week 1
Kiss of Death 30
Brisbane Lions 13
Last Week 0
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