- Has Sewell played his last game?
- Swans pick Reid despite injury concerns
JONATHON Ceglar shapes as the hard luck story of the 2014 Grand Final after being dropped to make way for teammate Ben McEvoy in Saturday's decider.
The Hawks, who have also recalled star forward Cyril Rioli, have cut Ceglar after four weeks as the team's No.1 big man following his quiet performance against Port Adelaide in the preliminary final.
McEvoy, who was withdrawn from Box Hill's VFL Grand Final last Sunday, will play his first senior game since round 21 as the Hawks prepare to face an unchanged Sydney Swans' line-up.
The Swans' emergencies are Tom Mitchell, Dean Towers and Jeremy Laidler, with Sam Reid named after recovering from knee soreness this week.
Dual premiership Hawk Brad Sewell has failed to break back into the team after he was dropped for the preliminary final against the Power.
The 30-year-old has been named as an emergency, alongside Ceglar and Jonathan Simpkin, who has made way for Rioli.
Simpkin has played the past nine games but he has been the starting substitute for the Hawks' two finals.
Hawthorn made the agonising decision to drop Ceglar after he was kept goalless and took just two marks against the Power.
McEvoy was dropped for St Kilda's drawn 2010 Grand Final, but was recalled the next week to replace injured big man Michael Gardiner as the Saints' went down to Collingwood.
A big name recruit at the end of 2013, he has failed to lock down a spot at Hawthorn, playing 12 games this season and not featuring in the club's two finals.
Jonathon Ceglar and Ben McEvoy during Thursday's final training session. Picture: AFL Media
General manager of football operations Chris Fagan said the Hawks believed McEvoy and Rioli were part of the best team Hawthorn has fielded this season.
“You get Benny McEvoy and you get Cyril Rioli into the team because we believe those guys will help us against Sydney to win this game,” Fagan told the club's website.
Fagan also expressed sympathy for the omitted Hawthorn pair.
"They can consider themselves mightily unlucky," Fagan said.
"They've got to soak it in and continue to be good teammates, as they have been in the last few days.
"It's a disappointing day for those guys."
Sewell is the other hard luck story in Hawthorn's Grand Final team after battling repeated hamstring injuries this season.
The hard-nosed midfielder played three straight games – including the qualifying final win over Geelong – before he was dropped last week.
Coach Alastair Clarkson said a lack of leg speed cost the veteran, who may have played his last game for the club after reaching the 200-game milestone against the Cats three weeks ago.
Swans coach John Longmire said it was important for his team to maintain consistency at selection with a short injury list and all key players available for selection.
The Sydney Swans during their final training session at the SCG. Picture: Getty Images
"It's good to have the squad ready to go, and they've played together for a few weeks now, which is also a good thing," he said.
"Even though we've got a few emergencies that are also in good form, it's important to have that 22 ready to go.
"It doesn't guarantee anything for the weekend, but we'll prepare and look forward to the challenge ahead of us."
Saturday, September 27
Sydney Swans v Hawthorn at the MCG, 2.30pm (AEST)
Sydney Swans
In: -
Out: -
Emg: Tom Mitchell, Dean Towers, Jeremy Laidler
Hawthorn
In: Cyril Rioli, Ben McEvoy
In: Cyril Rioli, Ben McEvoy
Out: Jonathon Ceglar, Jonathan Simpkin
Emg: Jonathan Simpkin, Jonathon Ceglar, Brad Sewell
