Port Adelaide have named an unchanged team, while opponents Hawthorn have dropped veteran on-baller Brad Sewell and left out forward Cyril Rioli for Saturday’s AFL preliminary final.
Sewell will make way for defender Matt Suckling, who returns from a knee injury for Saturday’s MCG clash.
If Hawthorn reach their third-straight grand final by beating Port, there are reports that Rioli will play for Box Hill in Sunday’s VFL grand final against Footscray.
Rioli’s latest hamstring injury has kept him out of action since round 15.
He made it through Thursday’s training session, but the Hawks have decided not to risk an immediate AFL return.
While Sewell has only played 10 AFL games this season, they included the last three.
North Melbourne have lost defender Jamie Macmillan to a hamstring injury for Friday night’s ANZ Stadium preliminary final against Sydney.
Ben Jacobs will take his place and the Swans are unchanged.
FRIDAY, Sept 19
Sydney v North Melbourne at North Melbourne 7.50pm
Head to Head: Swans 81 Kangaroos 72 drawn 1
Last clash: Round 4 2014 – Kangaroos 13.13 (91) bt Swans 6.12 (48) at SCG
Tab Sportsbet: Swans $1.20 Kangaroos $4.60
Sportingbet: Swans $1.24 Kangaroos $4.15
North Melbourne’s outstanding finals series makes this interesting. But the Kangaroos have to start well and put Sydney under immediate pressure to have any chance of a massive upset. Perhaps Sydney come into the game rusty from their week off and the ‘Roos can knock them off balance. But with all due respects to North – and they deserve plenty – Sydney just look too good. They have the look of grand finalists, with no obvious weaknesses and cohesion forged by several months of outstanding form. Forget North’s round-four win – that may as well have happened a year ago. From the Swans’ 18-man defence, through their powerful midfield and through to the Franklin-Tippett-Goodes-Reid attack, they are a complete lineup.
Key: Midfielder Nick Dal Santo showed exactly why North recruited him with an outstanding semi-final performance against Geelong. His pinpoint kicks into attack were devastating. You fancy Sydney will have taken note and will have a plan to deny the former Saint so much time and space. But if Dal Santo is somehow able to weave his magic again, it’s a big win for North.
Tip: Swans by 30 points
SATURDAY, Sept 20
Hawthorn v Port Adelaide at MCG 4.45pm
Head to Head: Hawks 12 Power 16
Last clash: Round 10 2014 – Power 15.10 (100) bt Hawks 13.8 (86) at Adelaide Oval
Tab Sportsbet: Hawks $1.30 Power $3.55
Sportingbet: Hawks $1.44 Power $2.85
Clearly, the reigning premiers start favourites. This is their fourth-straight preliminary final and no-one is better prepared for the pointy end of September. But this appears the more even of the two prelims. Port’s outside run is a superb weapon and whatever the Hawks say, it is one potential area where they could be exploited. Of course, the Power have to gain possession first and that is no given against such a tough, well-organised and skilful lineup. And Hawthorn would have taken careful note of how Fremantle very nearly dismantled Port in the first half of the semi-final. You fancy if the Hawk has its claw on the throat this weekend, the grip won’t relax. If the Hawks win, they will bring back Cyril Rioli through the VFL grand final. Veteran midfielder Brad Sewell is a surprise omission for Matt Suckling.
Key: Robbie Gray and Chad Wingard personify Port’s electrifying speed once the Power open up the game. Gray sat the Dockers on their backsides with four third-term goals and Wingard’s crucial last term running goal, set up with relentless gut running, was also pivotal. The pair are surely too good not to have some impact, but Hawthorn’s goal will be to deny them time and space whenever possible.
Tip: Hawks by 20 points
