AFL Teams Finals: Chopping Block - Hawthorn stars under injury cloud

Kieran Francis

AFL Teams Finals: Chopping Block - Hawthorn stars under injury cloud image

Four heavyweights will duke it out across two matches for positions in the AFL grand final.

Will we see the Geelong-Hawthorn rivalry ignite?

Can reigning premiers Brisbane get revenge on Collingwood for the 2023 decider?

MOREAll the latest AFL injury news

Read on for all the latest finals team news and tips:

Geelong vs. Hawthorn team news, selection, injuries

Geelong

On the Chopping Block: Jhye Clark

New injuries: None

Facing fitness test: Rhys Stanley (hamstring)

Potential ins: Mitch Knevitt, Jed Bews, Ollie Henry

It's hard to see Geelong making any changes to the team that defeated Brisbane in the qualifying final.

Ruckman Rhys Stanley is listed as a test, but he only suffered his hamstring injury 2 weeks ago.

Makeshift ruck pairing of Mark Blicavs and Sam De Koning could once again be used after being solid against the Lions.

Emergencies Mitch Knevitt, Jed Bews and Ollie Henry will likely be discussed at selection but only possibly sub Jhye Clark could come out.

 

Hawthorn

On the Chopping Block: Changkuoth Jiath, Mitch Lewis

New injuries: Calsher Dear (hamstring)

Facing fitness test: Jack Gunston (hamstring), Jack Ginnivan (hamstring)

Potential ins: Cam McKenzie, Henry Hustwaite, Max Ramsden

With Calsher Dear still out, Hawthorn face a decision on whether to retain forward Mitch Lewis, who has struggled to get involved in games.

There are also injury clouds over both Jack Gunston and Jack Ginnivan, but Sam Mitchell says both will play - although he would say that if they weren't.

Cam McKenzie and Henry Hustwaite would be the candidates to come into the team if selection was needed, while Max Ramsden could be a preferred option to Lewis.

 

Collingwood vs. Brisbane team news, selection, injuries

Collingwood

On the Chopping Block: Wil Parker, Roan Steele, Mason Cox

New injuries: None

Facing fitness test: Jeremy Howe (adductor), Charlie West (foot)

Potential ins: Bobby Hill, Dan McStay, Tom Mitchell, Ed Allan

Collingwood's selection is centered around the fitness of veteran defender Jeremy Howe.

If Howe passes a test from his adductor injury, Wil Parker will most likely come from the team.

Mason Cox was serviceable against the Crows, but could lose his spot to Dan McStay.

Roan Steele will feel the selection heat with Bobby Hill, Tom Mitchell and Ed Allan pushing for recalls.

 

Brisbane

On the Chopping Block: Sam Marshall, Bruce Reville

New injuries: None

Facing fitness test: None

Potential ins: Sam Day, James Tunstill

Very likely that Brisbane go into this match with no unforced changes after the demolition of the Gold Coast.

Sam Day is a contender for a recall but it's likely the Lions will continue with Ty Gallop up forward and the ruck combination of Oscar McInerney and Darcy Fort.

Sam Marshall and Bruce Reville didn't have much impact last week, but both should be retained.

Kieran Francis

Kieran Francis is a senior editor at The Sporting News based in Melbourne, Australia. He started at Sportal.com.au before being a part of the transition to Sporting News in 2015. Just prior to the 2018 World Cup, he was appointed chief editor of Goal.com in Australia. He has now returned to The Sporting News where his passions lay in football, AFL, poker and cricket - when he is not on holiday.