Finals teams: Chris Mayne returns for Collingwood as Magpies go tall, while St Kilda’s big-name recruits are ready to deliver

Chris Mayne returns for Collingwood as the Magpies opt for height against the Eagles, who welcome back a number of big names. But did Jaidyn Stephenson keep his spot? Check out the full teams.

Thumbs up for Chris Mayne’s return, but questions remain about Jaidyn Stephenson. Picture: Getty Images

St Kilda coach Brett Ratten says the club’s bold recruiting strategy was designed for moments like Saturday’s elimination final against the Western Bulldogs.

The Saints enter their first finals series since 2011 confident a string of recent signings has injected enough big-game experience to overcome a lack of team success.

Recruits Dan Hannebery, Brad Hill and Dan Butler are premiership players, while the likes of Zak Jones, Paddy Ryder, Jake Carlisle and Dougal Howard have played finals at other clubs.

“It’s probably why we brought (in) all our recruits,” Ratten said on Friday.

“You look at the finals experience of Hill, Butler, Ryder, Hannebery, Howard has played in a final, even Carlisle and (Shane) Savage at our footy club, they’ve played finals before.

“We haven’t played a lot at this footy club, but there’s been a lot of experience with finals with others.”

The Saints will make only one change, with Jones returning from a hamstring injury and Josh Battle out with foot soreness.

The Bulldogs will go in unchanged.

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St Kilda’s Zak Jones returns for the elimination final clash with the Bulldogs. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

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Hannebery used the bye week to increase his training loads after his Round 18 comeback match, while the fortnight also helped Jack Lonie recover from a knee injury.

Ratten said he wanted Saturday’s final to launch a period of sustained success for his club.

“We spoke about that this is part of the journey for us, playing finals and trying to get our football club to the point where this is a regular occurrence,” Ratten said.

“I dare say this experience for (Nick) Coffield, (Hunter) Clark, (Ben) Paton and (Ben) Long – these games are going to be worth 20 for them I think. The experience and the pressure – they’ll learn so much out of this.

“We’ve probably got one of the youngest backlines in the competition, week in week out. We’ve stuck with that and they’ve really developed well.

“The experience they’ll get from this will be just enormous.”

Jake Carlisle will play against the Bulldogs but there is doubt beyond this weekend, with his partner, Mel, 39 weeks’ pregnant in Melbourne.

“It’s been a week-by-week decision with him,” Ratten said.

“Whether he will be here if we get through, that’s the big question, but we’ve got to get through before we can make those decisions.”

FINALS FANS: DOWNLOAD YOUR AFL TEAM POSTER HERE

Darcy Cameron returns to the Collingwood side for the first final. Picture: Sarah Reed

Meanwhile, Collingwood has dumped veteran Travis Varcoe and young midfielder Tyler Brown in favour of Darcy Cameron and Chris Mayne as Nathan Buckley looks to go tall against a West Coast.

The Eagles welcome back stars Jeremy McGovern, Luke Shuey, Jack Redden and Jamie Cripps.

Mayne underwent surgery to repair a fractured cheekbone after he was hurt in a brutal collision with Carlton star Patrick Cripps in Round 14.

Buckley said it was just a selection issue now if Mayne played against the Eagles.

“He is going really well. He trained fully last week and again earlier this week on arrival in Perth,” Buckley said on Thursday.

Chris Mayne is ready to return from a shocking facial injury. Picture: Getty Images

“He is a desperate and hungry individual in our squad, he wants to be a part of team success and has left no stone unturned to be a part of that and we’ve witnessed that in the last two or three weeks overcoming this particular injury.”

Buckley added Mayne would not need to wear any protective headwear if he played.

Iaidyn Stephenson’s form has been under the microscope but the former Rising Star winner will play in the club’s first final on Saturday.

Buckley refuted suggestions the eighth-placed Magpies were the underdogs heading into the first week of the finals against the Eagles.

“The underdog status is external to us, we have got a great belief that we can go out and perform and execute and win the game of footy,” Buckley said.

Stephenson’s form struggles are well documented but he will play in the Magpies’ first final. Picture: Getty Images

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“We understand that we are coming up against a side that the last time we met them we fell a long way short of, they played as good a footy as we have faced through 2020 in that game in Round 8 and we have got to turn the tables on that.

“I’ve got no doubt that we can produce and no doubt that we can give a good account of ourselves and ultimately win the game of football.

“That is my belief, it’s our belief and we have to go out and do that.”

Buckley said the Magpies had not suffered from having to quarantine in Western Australia ahead of their final.

“We have been able to narrow our focus – with a smaller squad – and really zero in on the areas that we want to focus on,” Buckley said.

“It seems to me that we are the least affronted group by what we need to go through in terms of coming to WA a week earlier and preparing here for a week.

“There might be an argument that is actually the best preparation for a final. We are not concerned about it at all.

“In our little bubble here, we are Pollyannas, it’s quite positive here.”

SAINTS LEAVE DOOR AJAR FOR ROBERTON RETURN

— Nick Wade

St Kilda has left the door open for Dylan Roberton to make a fairytale finals return, adamant he can still play a role in the club’s premiership push.

Roberton has not played since Round 1, squeezed out of a stable Saints backline anchored by Callum Wilkie, Dougal Howard and Nick Coffield.

He remains on the fringe of selection for Saturday’s elimination final against the Western Bulldogs, but the Saints say he is still firmly in their finals plans, especially if their season lives on past this weekend.

With defender Jake Carlisle on baby watch for a potential return to Victoria where his partner Mel is 39 weeks’ pregnant, Roberton may yet be rewarded for his perseverance in the Noosa hub.

“He’s training well and he’s just been very unlucky that he’s had some players like Coffield and Wilkie who are probably playing in his spot, and Carlisle probably taking the taller opponent than him,” Saints football manager Simon Lethlean said.

“He is ready to go, and like (Josh) Battle, if we do the right thing by him (and keep winning), he might have a role to play for us still in finals if we are good enough.”

Dylan Roberton hasn’t played since making an inspiring return in Round 1.

Roberton has played only one match since his on-field collapse against Geelong in Round 4, 2018, after a career-threatening heart irregularity.

He was on the brink of retirement in 2019 after suffering another heart-related issue in the pre-season, but is regarded so highly he was named in the Saints’ leadership group this year.

The Saints say they would be comfortable recalling him for the knockout final against the Bulldogs, but concede there is not yet an opening.

St Kilda will make at least one change for Saturday’s clash, with Zak Jones returning from a hamstring injury and Battle to miss with foot soreness.

“He’s (Roberton) been the next guy in a few times now, but our back six has been really settled, so he’s unlucky,” Lethlean said.

Tom Lynch suffered a hamstring injury against the Cats. Picture: Michael Klein

Can Tigers counter Andrews’ aerial prowess?

Richmond will have to counter the influence of Harris Andrews after the All-Australian full-back overcame a hamstring injury to be named for Friday’s qualifying final.

There were fears Andrews could be out for up to 5-6 weeks after injuring his hamstring in Round 15 against Collingwood, but he has proven his fitness for the Gabba blockbuster.

Jack Riewoldt looms as his likely opponent with Tom Lynch still sidelined with his own hamstring issue.

The Lions made two changes as they seek to end a horror run against Richmond, with Andrews and Jarrod Berry returning.

Cam Ellis-Yolmen and Jack Payne have made way.

Richmond axed premiership forward Josh Caddy and Jack Ross, with Shai Bolton and Dion Prestia named in the team to face the Lions in hostile territory.

Dion Prestia is a certainty to play for the Tigers, but who misses out? Picture: Getty Images

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Depth player Jack Higgins (calf) won’t be ready until the second week of the finals.

“One of the injuries we don’t speak about is the headache Dimma’s going to have when it comes to selection,” Riewoldt said.

“Shai and Dion are certainly right to play and then Lynch will be a call.

“We’ve got arguably the best hamstring expert in Australia in Anthony Schache, our physiotherapist who will probably make the final call on it.”

The Tigers have won 15-straight against the Lions, but Riewoldt said that streak meant “very little” come this year’s qualifying final.

Richmond’s past two wins over Brisbane have both exceeded 40 points.

But Champion Data’s expected scores had both games a lot closer, with the Lions sabotaging their chances by booting a combined 12.34.

AFL TEAMS – FINALS WEEK 1

PORT ADELAIDE v GEELONG CATS

Thursday October 1, 7.40pm at the Adelaide Oval

POWER

B: R.Burton, T.McKenzie, D.Houston

HB: H.Harlett, T.Jonas, D.Byrne-Jones

C: X.Duursma, O.Wines, K.Amon

HF: Z.Butters, T.Marshall, B.Ebert

F: C.Rozee, C.Dixon, R.Gray

FOLL: S.Lycett, T.Rockliff, T.Boak

I/C: S.Powell-Pepper, S.Motlop, T.Clurey, P.Ladhams

EMG: R.Bonner, J.Lienert, B.Woodcock, J.Westhoff

IN: R.Burton, Z.Butters, T.Clurey

OUT: R.Bonner, J.Lienert, B.Woodcock (all omitted)

CATS

B: J.Bews, H.Taylor, J.Kolodjashnij

HB: L.Henderson, M.Blicavs, T.Stewart

C: Z.Tuohy, J.Selwood, S.Menegola

HF: L.Dahlhaus, G.Rohan, M.Duncan

F: M.O’Connor, T.Hawkins, G.Ablett

FOLL: R.Stanley, P.Dangerfield, C.Guthrie

I/C: J.Henry, T.Atkins, B.Parfitt, G.Miers

EMG: E.Ratugolea, B.Close, Z.Guthrie, J.Steven

IN: R.Stanley, T.Atkins

OUT: E.Ratugolea (omitted), J.Steven (omitted)

BRISBANE LIONS v RICHMOND

Friday October 2, 7:50pm at the Gabba

LIONS

B: D.Rich, D.Gardiner, H.Andrews

HB: Z.Bailey, R.Lester, G.Birchall

C: H.McCluggage, M.Robinson, C.Ah Chee

HF: D.Zorko, D.McStay, C.Rayner

F: O.McInerney, E.Hipwood, C.Cameron

FOLL: S.Martin, J.Lyons, L.Neale

I/C: J.Berry, L.McCarthy, K.Coleman, B.Starcevich

EMG: M.Hinge, C.Ellis-Yolmen, J.Payne, A.Smith

IN: H.Andrews, J.Berry

OUT: J.Payne, C.Ellis-Yolmen (both omitted)

TIGERS

B: D.Astbury, D.Grimes, N.Balta

HB: L.Baker, N.Vlastuin, B.Houli

C: K.McIntosh, J.Graham, M.Pickett

HF: J.Castagna, S.Bolton, D.Martin

F: M.Chol, J.Riewoldt, D.Rioli

FOLL: T.Nankervis, S.Edwards, T.Cotchin

I/C: D.Prestia, J.Short, J.Aarts, K.Lambert

EMG: O.Markov, J.Caddy, N.Broad, J.Ross

IN: S.Bolton, D.Prestia

OUT: J.Caddy, J.Ross (both omitted)

ST KILDA v WESTERN BULLDOGS

Saturday October 3, 4:40pm at the Gabba

SAINTS

B: B.Paton, J.Carlisle, N.Coffield

HB: C.Wilkie, D.Howard, J.Geary

C: B.Hill, S.Ross, Z.Jones

HF: J.Billings, T.Membrey, D.Butler

F: D.Kent, M.King, R.Marshall

FOLL: P.Ryder, J.Steele, H.Clark

I/C: J.Sinclair, D.Hannebery, B.Long, J.Lonie

EMER: N.Hind, D.Roberton, J.Marsh, S.Savage

IN: Z.Jones

OUT: J.Battle (Injured)

BULLDOGS

B: E.Wood, A.Keath, C.Daniel

HB: B.Williams, R.Gardner, H.Crozier

C: B.Smith, J.Macrae, J.Johannisen

HF: E.Richards, J.Bruce, M.Wallis

F: T.Liberatore, A.Naughton, L.Hunter

FOLL: T.English, M.Bontempelli, J.Dunkley

I/C: Z.Cordy, T.Duryea, P.Lipinski, R.Smith

EMER: J.Trengove, L.Vandermeer, B.Gowers, B.Dale

No change

WEST COAST v COLLINGWOOD

Saturday October 3, 8:10pm at Optus Stadium

EAGLES

B: T.Cole, T.Barrass, B.Sheppard

HB: S.Hurn, J.McGovern, L.Duggan

C: J.Redden, T.Kelly, A.Gaff

HF: J.Cripps, J.Darling, J.Waterman

F: O.Allen, J.Kennedy, L.Ryan

FOLL: N.Naitanui, D.Sheed, L.Shuey

I/C: J.Petruccelle, J.Nelson, B.Ainsworth, B.Ah Chee

EMER: J.Brander, L.Jetta, W.Schofield, B.Williams

IN: J.McGovern, J.Redden, J.Cripps, L.Shuey

OUT: W.Schofield (Omitted), L.Foley (Omitted), B.Williams (Omitted), J.Rotham (Injured)

MAGPIES

B: J.Crisp, J.Roughead, J.Madgen

HB: B.Maynard, D.Moore, I.Quaynor

C: C.Mayne, A.Treloar, J.Daicos

HF: W.Hoskin-Elliott, B.Mihocek, L.Greenwood,

F: J.Elliott, M.Cox, J.De Goey

FOLL: B.Grundy, T.Adams, S.Pendlebury

I/C: J.Stephenson, J.Noble, J.Thomas, D.Cameron

EMER: C.Brown, T.Brown, T.Varcoe, M.Keane

IN: C.Mayne, D.Cameron

OUT: T.Brown (Omitted), T.Varcoe (Omitted)

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