AFL Teams: Demons, Bulldogs roll the dice ahead of must-win prelims

Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin has made the final call on who will replace Joel Smith, as the Bulldogs roll the dice on a veteran ruckman.

Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin has a selection headache. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin has made the final call on who will replace injured defender Joel Smith, as veteran Michael Hibberd takes his place in the starting line-up.

Confirming defender Joel Smith had suffered a “minor” hamstring injury at training, Goodwin named Hibberd as the Demons look to end decades of premiership pain.

Hibberd beat out Jayden Hunt and fellow veteran Nathan Jones to the starting role.

Jones’ omission means he is still yet to take the pitch after round seven this season.

Match simulation at training was the only form guide to pick players who haven’t seen action for some time, but Hibberd proved himself worthy of taking the pitch in the Demons' preliminary final clash against Geelong.

Veteran Nathan Jones misses out on the Demons’ preliminary final against Geelong. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

The Western Bulldogs have also taken a huge risk, as veteran ruckman Stefan Martin is named in the squad.

Martin has played just one game in 134 days, thanks to Achilles, shoulder, hip and groin injuries.

He takes the place of Lewis Young in Luke Beveridge’s team.

The Footscray outfit will also have to make do with defender Alex Keath, who misses out with a hamstring complaint.

In positive news for Bulldogs fans, skipper Marcus Bontempelli is named in the starting side.

Dees coach Goodwin conceded his decision was not straightforward because there was “no coming back” from Friday’s game that will end one team’s season.

“The decision will come down to what our risk appetite is like,” Goodwin said on Thursday morning from Perth.

“We’ve got a lot of guys pressing for selection and Jayden is one of them. He’s in the mindset of being available for selection and being able to press his case. We’ve got some decisions to make.

“We have got training form and some match simulation and form of guys before we left (for Perth).

“Jake Melksham, Michael Hibberd, Nathan Jones, James Jordan are all putting their case forward. We’ve got a lot of guys and a lot of those guys are experienced and understand the demands of AFL footy, so that puts us in a pretty good position.”

Goodwin said the selection decision would be “calculated” and only geared around beating Geelong.

“We’re at the pointy end of the year you need to make calculated decisions, but there’s no coming back,” he said.

“We need to perform strongly to win games of footy, we are at that sudden death stage of footy. We’ll be really calculated and do what’s best for the team.”

"Finals fever, baby." 🗣

Gawny mic'd up to start your Thursday the right way. 😂

🎥: https://t.co/OsNNJ0tKWbpic.twitter.com/BFZlb4Y592

— Melbourne Demons (@melbournefc) September 8, 2021

The Demons won the minor premiership and are seeking grand final glory for the first time since 1964.

But Goodwin said his players had “embraced” their opportunity rather than feel the pressure of expectation.

“There’s pressure on everyone,” he said.

“If you look at history and circumstance of all teams still in the running, there is pressure on every side for a variety of reasons.

“Our pressure comes because we haven’t won it for such a long period of time. We think we have worked to create an opportunity to put our best on show, that’s the way we are looking at it.

“We want to embrace that past, we want to make sure we respect the opportunity in front of us and go after it.

“That’s what the players have been brilliant at all year. They have been able to reset themselves and been able to understand the importance of staying in the moment and it’s no different now.

“Just because it’s closer, that doesn’t change our thought process.”

AFL PRELIMINARY FINALS TEAMS (All times AEST)

First Preliminary Final

MELBOURNE v GEELONG CATS

Friday September 10, 7:50pm at Optus Stadium

DEMONS

B: C.Salem, S.May, J.Lever

HB: J.Bowey, H.Petty, T.Rivers

C: T.Sparrow, C.Petracca, E.Langdon

HF: B.Fritsch, T.McDonald, J.Viney

F: A.Neal-Bullen, B.Brown, C.Spargo

FOLL: M.Gawn, C.Oliver, A.Brayshaw

I/C: J.Harmes, L.Jackson, M.Hibberd, K.Pickett

EMG: N.Jones, J.Melksham, J.Jordon, K.Chandler

IN: M.Hibberd

OUT: J.Smith (injured), J.Jordon (sub)

CATS

B: J.Henry, L.Henderson, Z.Tuohy

HB: J.Kolodjashnij, M.Blicavs, J.Bews

C: M.Duncan, C.Guthrie, I.Smith

HF: E.Ratugolea, J.Cameron, G.Rohan

F: S.Menegola, T.Hawkins, G.Miers

FOLL: R.Stanley, J.Selwood, P.Dangerfield

I/C: T.Atkins, Z.Guthrie, M.Holmes, B.Close

EMG: L.Dahlhaus, S.Simpson, D.Fort, S.Higgins

IN: Nil

OUT: B.Parfitt (injured)

Second Preliminary Final

PORT ADELAIDE v WESTERN BULLDOGS

Saturday September 11, 7:40pm at Adelaide Oval

POWER

B: R.Burton, T.McKenzie, A.Aliir

HB: M.Bergman, T.Jonas, D.Byrne-Jones

C: X.Duursma, O.Wines, D.Houston

HF: K.Amon, T.Marshall, Z.Butters

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

FOLL: S.Lycett, T.Boak, W.Drew

I/C: S.Motlop, R.Bonner, O.Fantasia, P.Ladhams

EMG: S.Powell-Pepper, S.Mayes, J.Lienert, T.Clurey

IN: Nil

OUT: S.Powell-Pepper (sub)

BULLDOGS

B: E.Wood, R.Gardner, B.Williams

HB: C.Daniel, Z.Cordy, B.Dale

C: B.Smith, J.Dunkley, L.Hunter

HF: L.Vandermeer, A.Naughton, A.Treloar

F: J.Schache, T.English, M.Hannan

FOLL: S.Martin, J.Macrae, M.Bontempelli

I/C: J.Johannisen, T.Liberatore, T.Duryea, R.Smith

EMG: A.Scott, Le.Young, M.Wallis, E.Richards

IN: Z.Cordy, S.Martin

OUT: A.Keath, C.Weightman (both injured), Le.Young (omitted)