Darcy Fort kicks the ball during the 2023 Smithy's VFL Round 21 match between the Brisbane Lions and Williamstown at Brighton Homes Arena. Photo: Russell Freeman/AFL Photos

All the teams for the Week Three of the Smithy’s VFL Finals Series.

Werribee star Michael Sodomaco has overcome a hamstring injury to make a welcome return to the Tigers’ team for the Smithy’s VFL second preliminary final showdown against the Brisbane Lions at Avalon Airport Oval.

And Gold Coast has named 16-year-old Academy wunderkind Leo Lombard to play just his second VFL game in its first preliminary final against the Box Hill Hawks at Heritage Bank Stadium.

Sodomaco, 32, missed the qualifying final win over Box Hill Hawks two weeks ago, but the Tigers’ week off either side of that win means he returns to the team having only missed one match, despite not playing since the Round 22 away win over Sydney.

The 133-game rebounder’s return is one of two changes for Werribee, with talented but injury-cursed young forward Connor Thar forcing his way back into the team for his first VFL game in four months.

Thar, 22, has booted eight goals in five matches this year but hasn’t played at the level since hurting his ankle early in the win over Footscray in Round 8.

But he has played five Geelong league matches for Lara since returning, including being named in the best three times, with the most recent being on August 26.

Sodomaco comes into the team for Keegan Gray, while Thar replaces GWS recruit Harry Grintell.

The Lions have received two huge boosts, with prolific midfielder Jarryd Lyons returning after being the AFL substitute last week, while ruckman Darcy Fort returns to take on impressive youngster Kobe Annand.

Lyons is averaging 32.5 disposals (14.6 contested) in his 15 VFL matches, plus 4.9 marks, 7.8 clearances, 4.6 tackles and 6.1 inside-50s to be a key part of the Lions’ charge to the preliminary final.

Fort is also on the edge of AFL selection, having been an emergency for the qualifying final, and has missed both the Lions’ VFL finals so far. He will aim to build on his 16 disposals and 22.8 hitouts in 13 games at the level, while he has also kicked 11 goals.

They replace the desperately unlucky Kai Lohmann, who suffered a broken collarbone in a marking contest last week, while Academy member Elijah Glass drops back to the emergency list.

The match will be Lion Tahj Abberley’s 50th VFL game, while Werribee ace Shaun Mannagh needs one goal to bring up 100 in the competition.

Lombard, who doesn’t turn 17 until next month, made his debut in the Suns’ Round 22 demoliton of Carlton, gathering 11 disposals, two marks and six tackles while impressing with his pace and elusiveness.

He also earned a game as a bottom-ager for the Allies at the 2023 AFL National Championships U18 Boys and averaged 25 possessions in five Coates Talent League appearances for the Suns Academy.

Defender Jake Stein makes way with a knee injury in the Suns’ only change as they prepare to take 20 AFL-listed players into the game to Box Hill’s 15.

The Hawks named the same 23 players who ended Footscray’s 11-match winning streak last week, with captain Hugh Beasley picked as an emergency as he tries to fight his way back from a knee injury that has restricted him to just eight games for the year and none since Round 14.

All matches in the 2023 Smithy’s VFL season are live streamed free via the AFL website and AFL Live Official App.

TICKETING: For all finals in Victoria through to the preliminary finals, admission prices will be adults $15, concession/pensioners $10 and children under 15 free. For all finals in Queensland through to the preliminary finals, admission will be free. For the 2023 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final, admission prices will be adults $20, concession/pensioners $15 and children under 15 free. Tickets for this weekend’s matches can be pre-purchased at www.intix.com.au/org/vfl. Tickets can also be purchased at the gate, subject to capacity. Spectators purchasing at the gate are advised the payment method is EFTPOS only.

BROADCAST: All matches in the 2023 Smithy’s VFL season are live streamed free via the AFL website and AFL Live Official App. Smithy’s VFL broadcast partner, the Seven Network, will broadcast both preliminary finals. The second preliminary final between Werribee and the Brisbane Lions will be broadcast live and free on the Seven Network via Channel 7 in Victoria, 7mate in Queensland and 7plus nationally from 12:00pm. The first preliminary final between the Gold Coast Suns and the Box Hill Hawks at Heritage Bank Stadium will be broadcast live and free on the Seven Network via Channel 7 in Victoria and 7plus nationally from 3:00pm.

RADIO: Listen to Werribee vs Brisbane Lions on Casey Radio 97.7FM, caseyradio.com.au. The match between Gold Coast Suns and Box Hill Hawks can be heard on on 3WBC 94.1FM, wbc.org.au.

WERRIBEE vs BRISBANE LIONS

Second Preliminary Final
Saturday 16 September, 12:00pm, Avalon Airport Oval
Head-to-head: Brisbane Lions 2-0. At Avalon Airport Oval: Never Met. Streak: Brisbane Lions 2

WERRIBEE
B: J. Clark (27), N. Cooper (18), L. Pinnuck (9)
HB: M. Sodomaco (3), N. Coughlan (5), S. Clohesy (35)
C: K. Declase (15), T. Gribble (4), B. Malual (22)
HF: S. Mannagh (6), H. Garoni (1), J. Henderson (8)
F: N. Lever (28), S. Paea (32), N. Hayes (7)
R: K. Annand (36), M. Hanson (11), D. Brew (29)
INT: L. Rocci (30), W. Lual (12), J. Porter (21), C. Thar (45), M. Keast (57)
EMG: K. Gray (13), B. Henderson (2), H. Grintell (16), J. Boyd (10), E. Ajang (39), C. McLeod (31), S. Conway (50), S. Azzi (19)

IN: M. Sodomaco, C. Thar
OUT: K. Gray, H. Grintell

BRISBANE LIONS
B:
J. Prior (20), D. Gardiner (27), D. Rich (10)
HB: D. Joyce (41), T. Fullarton (21), T. Abberley (48)
C: B. Reville (49), J. Lyons (17), H. Sharp (22)
HF: B. Coleman (13), N. Cockatoo (12), S. Brain (34)
F: W. Buzza (59), D. Fort (32), W. Barry (54)
R: H. Smith (25), R. Mathieson (36), J. Tunstill (29)
INT: K. Lane (45), D. McDowell-White (50), K. Dunkley (52), R. Greene (53), J. Manly (62)*
EMG: B. Gordon (47), J. Budarick (51), J. Hille (55), Z. Derksen (56), O. Collins (61), E. Glass (63)

IN: D. Fort, J. Lyons
OUT: K. Lohmann (collarbone), E. Glass

GOLD COAST SUNS vs BOX HILL HAWKS

First Preliminary Final
Saturday 16 September, 3:00pm, Heritage Bank Stadium
Head-to-head: Box Hill Hawks 3-2. At Heritage Bank Stadium: Gold Coast Suns 2-1. Streak: Gold Coast Suns 2

GOLD COAST SUNS
B: S. Brock (45), C. Graham (46), B. Uwland (32)
HB: L. Johnston (38), J. Farrar (50), C. Constable (33)
C: J. Sharp (20), O. Faulkhead (37), E. Hollands (36)
HF: H. Oea (47), C. Burgess (19), A. Sexton (6)
F: M. Chol (1), S. Day (12), B. McLaughlin (43)
R: N. Moyle (49), A. Davies (5), J. Tsitas (21)
INT: L. Lombard (54), J. Jeffrey (40), C. Blakely (26), C. Lake (61)*, J. Eckersley (56)
EMG: F. Hay (62), N. Williams (57), W. Derrington (58), T. Dawson (55), B. O'Brien (51), M.Corbett (51), C.Harrington (52), J. Young (53)

IN: L. Lombard
OUT: J. Stein (knee)

BOX HILL HAWKS
B:
B. Macdonald (42), E. Jeka (39), D. Grainger-Barras (24)
HB: L. Bramble (16), J. Serong (29), C. Porter (55)
C: D. Mascitti (50), N. Long (27), C. Stephens (21)
HF: S. Butler (30), C. Brown (66), J. Arundell (70)
F: B. Ryan (46), J. Koschitzke (23), F. Greene (26)
R: M. Ramsden (38), H. Hustwaite (44), J. Bennetts (41)
INT: S. Horner (62), J. Morris (35), T. Waack (64)*, E. Phillips (60), J. Thorpe (57)
EMG: H. Beasley (53), L. Coghlan (74), J. Trudgeon (54), M. Hall (61)        

No change

UMPIRES

Werribee vs Brisbane Lions
FIELD: 7.Sam Nippress, 27.Nick Jankovskis, 34.Joel Clamp. Emergency: 1.Andrew Talbot. BOUNDARY: John Cooper, Harry Hansford, Anthony Laughton, Lachlan Menara. GOAL: Brad Kellett, James Rizio. Emergency: Matt Edwards.

Brisbane Lions vs Williamstown
FIELD: 8.Nick Scott, 18.Jack Howard, 48.Cam Manthey. Emergency: 4.Sam Whetton. BOUNDARY: Blake Anderson, Sam Button, Will Morris, Adrian Pretorius. GOAL: Luke Monea, John Varker. Emergency: Zac Mabb.