FINAL TEAMS: Tom Rockliff out but Lion cubs set to debut against Hawks
THE YOUNG Brisbane Lions squad set to take on Hawthorn on Thursday night at Etihad Stadium has lost even more experience with vice-captain Tom Rockliff a late omission.
Rockliff, 23, was one of three players cut from the team when the squad was trimmed from 29 an hour-and-a-half before the bounce.
Joining him as late omissions are rookies Isaac Conway and Archie Smith.
The Lions have just two players – Matt Maguire and Andrew Raines – in their squad who have played more than 100 games.
In what will be new coach Justin Leppitsch's first game in charge, the Lions will start with recent draftee Tom Cutler and Lions' academy graduate Jonathan Freeman as their substitutes.
Both teams can reset their substitutes at half-time.
Meanwhile, the Hawks have left Sam Grimley, Luke Lowden and rookie Ben Ross out of their final squad.
They will start with ruckman Jonathon Ceglar and their first draft selection from last year Billy Hartung as their substitutes.
Category B rookie Kurt Heatherley will play his first game after coming through the Hawks' New Zealand scholarship program.
Matt Suckling and Alex Woodward will return from knee reconstructions in the game set to start at 7.10pm AEDT.
HOW TO WATCH THE GAME • Subscribe to watch every kick LIVE on your phone or tablet via the AFL LIVE Official App. Weekly passes available from $5.49 • Catch the match replay 12 hours after the siren on AFL.com.au • Watching overseas? Click here to pick up your free NAB Challenge pass
HAWTHORN v BRISBANE LIONS Thursday, February 13 Etihad Stadium, 7.10pm AEDT
Omitted from provisional squad: Ben Ross, Luke Lowden, Sam Grimley
Final team: Jarryd Roughead, 3. Jordan Lewis, 4. Matt Suckling, 5. Sam Mitchell, 7.Ben McEvoy, 8. Taylor Duryea, 9. Shaun Burgoyne, 10. Bradley Hill, 13.Kyle Cheney, 16. Isaac Smith, 18. Jonathon Ceglar, 19. Jack Gunston, 20.David Hale, 22. Luke Breust, 23. Tim O'Brien, 26. LiamShiels, 28. Paul Puopolo, 29. Will Langford, 31. AngusLitherland, 32 Jonathan Simpkin, 33. Cyril Rioli, 36.Derick Wanganeen, 38. Mitch Hallahan, 39. Alex Woodward, 40. BillyHartung, 46. Kurt Heatherley
Substitutes: Jonathon Ceglar, Billy Hartung
BRISBANE LIONS
Omitted from provisional squad: Tom Rockliff, Isaac Conway, Archie Smith
Final team: 2.Ryan Harwood, 4. James Aish, 5. Jack Crisp, 6. Josh Green, 8. RohanBewick, 13. Trent West, 15. Dayne Zorko, 18. Nicholas Robertson, 19.Jordan Lisle, 22. Marco Paparone, 25. Daniel McStay, 26. Tom Cutler, 29.Andrew Raines, 31. James Polkinghorne, 32. Sam Mayes, 33. MichaelClose, 34. Jonathan Freeman, 35. Ryan Lester, 36. Matt Maguire, 37.Patrick Wearden, 41. Mitch Golby,42. Justin Clarke, 43. Nicholas Hayes, 45. JordonBourke, 46. Sam Michael, 47. Zachary O'Brien
'Tough stuff' puts Port on path to glory, Hawks coach 'shattered'
Port Adelaide coach Lauren Arnell said the club's inauspicious start to life in the AFLW has actually put it in good stead
PRELIM FINALS FIXTURE: Venues, times locked in for week three
The schedule for the third week of the 2024 NAB AFLW finals series has been announced
Electric Power storm home to edge Hawks in semi-final classic
Port Adelaide has come from the clouds in the final term to earn a preliminary final berth against North Melbourne
Miller injury further sours Freo loss, Crows brace for Lions battle
Fremantle's semi-final loss to Adelaide has been further soured by a significant injury to stand-in captain Hayley Miller, while the Crows are confident ahead of next week's preliminary final