Barometer: Sydney and Western Bulldogs injury lists ahead of Grand Final

WILL Lin Jong be rewarded and is Aliir Aliir set to be the heartbreak story of the Grand Final? Sydney and the Western Bulldogs have some tough selection decisions to make.

SYDNEY and the Western Bulldogs have some tough decisions to make at the selection table ahead of this Saturday’s Grand Final.

Sydney trio Aliir Aliir, Jarrad McVeigh and Callum Mills and Western Bulldogs ruckman Jordan Roughead are all up against the clock to be fit for the premiership decider.

The Swans haven’t ruled anyone out but Aliir Aliir could join the list of Grand Final hard-luck tales.

And Bulldogs midfielder Lin Jong has put his hand up selection after he was best afield Footscray’s VFL premiership win.

GRAND FINAL: BURNING QUESTIONS: WHO CAN STOP BUDDY?

SYDNEY

Aliir Aliir (knee) test

Jarrad McVeigh (calf) test

Callum Mills (hamstring) test

MATCH REPORT: ‘DANGERWOOD’ CAN’T DO IT ALL FOR CATS

ON THE BLOCK: Aliir Aliir could be this year’s Grand Final heartbreak story after injuring his knee in the Swans’ preliminary final win over Geelong. Although Aliir was cleared of serious damage, the 22-year-old did strain the medial ligament in his right knee and the Swans must assess whether allowing him to play hurt is worth the risk. Fellow defender Jeremy Laider also has an anxious wait with his spot in the team dependant on Callum Mills recovery from the hamstring injury he suffered in the qualifying final.

Aliir Aliir is helped off the ground after injuring his knee against the Cats. Picture. Phil Hillyard

ON THE CUSP: Co-captain Jarrad McVeigh says he is certain to play in the Grand Final after nearly getting over a calf injury for the last Friday night’s preliminary final against Geelong. He trained last Sunday with Mills, who is still in a race against time to shake off his hamstring complaint. Sydney’s main session on Wednesday will reveal more but McVeigh seems to be ahead of Mills at this stage. Retiring veteran Ted Richards, who hasn’t played since Round 17, is also in the mix for a fairytale return to play alongside his brother Xavier in the Grand Final team, but a lack of a suitable match-up could count against him.

Jarrad McVeigh says he’s right to go for the Grand Final. Picture: Getty Images

CHRIS VERNUCCIO’S FORECAST: I doubted the Swans leading into their preliminary final clash against Geelong but they again showed why they finished as minor premier. Since their loss to GWS in the qualifying final they’ve been simply awesome against Adelaide and the Cats, setting up both wins with seven-goal first quarters. Sydney has the best midfield in the competition with Luke Parker — runner-up in the Brownlow Medal — Josh Kennedy, Dan Hannebury, Kieren Jack and Tom Mitchell, and Isaac Heeney has been a revelation this finals series, which make it bat even deeper. All of them are in hot form. So too Lance Franklin, who produced an extraordinary early burst last week to have the Cats on the ropes. He’s kicked six goals in his past two finals. Sydney is one of the hardest teams to score against — not much gets past Dean Rampe — with its amazing ability to absorb pressure and force countless turnovers in its defensive half.

WESTERN BULLDOGS

Jordan Roughead (eye) test

Matt Suckling (achilles) test

Marcus Adams (foot) season

Kieran Collins (shoulder) season

Jack Redpath (knee) season

Mitch Wallis (broken leg) season

Robert Murphy (knee) season

Josh Prudden (knee) season

MATCH REPORT: DOGS END GRAND FINAL DROUGHT WITH STIRRING WIN

ON THE BLOCK: Jordan Roughead copped a footy to the face in the preliminary final and took no further part in the game after suffering bleeding in his right eye. He has improved after suffering blurred vision but will need to pass a fitness test before being declared ready for the Grand Final. Fletcher Roberts, who came in for Matt Suckling for the prelim, appears the most at risk of Grand Final heartbreak despite holding his own in defence against the Giants.

Jordan Roughead suffered a nasty eye injury against the Giants. Picture: Getty Images

ON THE CUSP: Suckling missed with a sore achilles, an issue his has carried for most of the second half of the season. The weekend off has allowed it to settle but will need to pass a fitness test to be available for selection. His long-kicking and Grand Final experience should see him come back in. Lin Jong was best on ground in Footscray’s VFL premiership but his replacement, Toby McLean, has performed well in his two finals.

Lin Jong was Footscray’s best in the VFL grand final. Picture: Michael Klein

KATE SALEMME’S FORECAST: Is everything pointing to a Bulldogs fairytale? The bye benefited Luke Beveridge’s team the most out of the finals sides, giving it an extra week to get Roughead, Tom Liberatore, Easton Wood and Jack Macrae fit for the elimination final. Then the Bulldogs knocked off the Hawks in a stirring win and the Giants away from home as the momentum at Whitten Oval hit fever pitch. The Bulldogs play an exciting brand of footy — they take the game on, run the ball through the middle and take risks — exactly the game style that saw the Swans come undone against the Giants in the qualifying final. Then there are the forward weapons in Jake Stringer, Tory Dickson and Clay Smith who are all capable of kicking back of goals. And the fact the Western Bulldogs have won the last two against Sydney — both at the SCG. Look out Swans, these Bulldogs are full of confidence and they’ve got most of Australia behind them.