AFL finals: Semi-final teams for Geelong v Sydney and GWS v West Coast

STEVE Johnson will play his 25th final on Saturday night after the veteran Giant was recalled to face West Coast.

Will Steve Johnson be back for the Giants? Picture: AAP Images

STEVE Johnson will play his 25th final on Saturday night after the veteran Giant was recalled to face West Coast.

STEVE Johnson will play his 25th final on Saturday night after the veteran Giant was recalled to face West Coast.

But Eagles ruckman Nic Naitanui’s fairytale return is on hold for at least another week.

Greater Western Sydney coach Leon Cameron said that while 34-year-old Johnson’s experience will be vital, he backed him to “have an impact” in his return with youngster Tim Taranto also in with Jeremy Cameron (hamstring) and Shane Mumford (foot) both done for the year.

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“There’s no doubt his experience does help but whether you’re Tim Taranto, playing in your first year, or Steve Johnson playing in your 16th year, it becomes irrelevant when the ball bounces,” Cameron said.

“Yes, he has experience but we picked him because we think he can have an impact.”

Dawson Simpson - who replaced Mumford earlier in the year - was named as an emergency leaving Rory Lobb to shoulder the ruck load against Nathan Vardy and Drew Petrie.

Naitanui — who hasn’t played since injuring his ACL in Round 22 of last season — has been training strongly with coach Adam Simpson playing coy on his chances.

But the ruckman was not named with Sharrod Wellingham offered the opportunity to revive his career.

Wellingham, 29, has played just one of West Coast’s last eight games but was last night recalled at the expense of rookie Luke Partington.

Geelong has made two changes for its sudden-death semi-final against Sydney at the MCG.

As Chris Scott confirmed this week, Daniel Menzel gets a reprieve after being dumped before last week’s qualifying final loss to Richmond.

“In retrospect — and we’ve come up with a few things in retrospect — we could have played him,” Scott told Fox Footy.

Darcy Lang is the second inclusion as Cam Guthrie (calf) and Jordan Murdoch (omitted) go out.

Sydney are unchanged for the clash after thrashing Essendon in the elimination final last week.

Geelong skipper Joel Selwood said Menzel – who turned 26 on Wednesday – will provide an X-factor for the Cats.

“He does bring that,” he said.

“He’s kicked a number of goals for us this year, so I’m sure he’s looking forward to the challenge.”

Selwood returned last week having missed a month due to ankle surgery and conceded he wasn’t at his best.

“I definitely hope (I can bounce back) – I definitely was a little bit rusty last week,” he told Channel 7 on Thursday.

“I look forward to getting out there Friday night and having a good go at Sydney.”

GEELONG v SYDNEY

Friday, September 15 at the MCG, 7.50pm (EST)

CATS

B: Tom Stewart, Tom Lonergan, Zach Tuohy

HB: Andrew Mackie, Lachie Henderson, Zach Guthrie

C: Mitch Duncan, Joel Selwood, Mark Blicavs

HF: Sam Menegola, Harry Taylor, Brandan Parfitt

F: Daniel Menzel, Tom Hawkins, James Parsons

Foll: Zac Smith, Patrick Dangerfield, Scott Selwood

I/C: Jed Bews, Jake Kolodjashnij, Darcy Lang, Steven Motlop

Emerg: Rhys Stanley, Jordan Murdoch, Jackson Thurlow

IN: Daniel Menzel, Darcy Lang

OUT: Cam Guthrie (calf), Jordan Murdoch (omitted)

SWANS

B: Nick Smith , Heath Grundy , Callum Mills

HB: Jarrad McVeigh , Dane Rampe , Zak Jones

C: Isaac Heeney , Josh P. Kennedy , Jake Lloyd

HF: Dean Towers , Lance Franklin , George Hewett

F: Kieren Jack , Callum Sinclair , Sam Reid

Foll: Sam Naismith , Dan Hannebery , Luke Parker

I/C: Harry Cunningham , Nic Newman , Tom Papley , Gary Rohan

Emerg: Aliir Aliir , Daniel Robinson , Lewis Melican

Unchanged

GWS GIANTS v WEST COAST

Saturday, September 16 at Spotless Stadium, 7:25pm

GIANTS

B: Nick Haynes, Aidan Corr, Zac Williams

HB: Heath Shaw, Phil Davis, Lachie Whitfield

C: Nathan Wilson, Josh Kelly, Tom Scully

HF: Jacob Hopper, Jonathan Patton, Tim Taranto

F: Matt de Boer, Harry Himmelberg, Toby Greene

Foll: Rory Lobb, Stephen Coniglio, Callan Ward

I/C: Adam Tomlinson, Dylan Shiel, Steve Johnson, Brett Deledio

Emerg: Dawson Simpson, Harry Perryman, Sam Reid

IN: Steve Johnson, Tim Taranto

OUT: Shane Mumford (foot), Jeremy Cameron (hamstring)

EAGLES

B: Tom Barrass, Eric Mackenzie, Brad Sheppard

HB: Elliot Yeo, Jeremy McGovern, Shannon Hurn

C: Lewis Jetta, Matt Priddis, Andrew Gaff

HF: Jack Redden, Jack Darling, Dom Sheed

F: Mark LeCras, Josh J. Kennedy, Jamie Cripps

Foll: Nathan Vardy, Sam Mitchell, Luke Shuey

I/C: Sharrod Wellingham, Liam Duggan, Drew Petrie, Mark Hutchings

Emerg: Chris Masten, Luke Partington, Will Schofield

IN: Sharrod Wellingham

OUT: Luke Partington (omitted) 

Originally published as AFL finals: Semi-final teams for Geelong v Sydney and GWS v West Coast