All the teams for the Smithy’s VFL preliminary finals.

Minor premier Werribee has made two changes for the first preliminary final as it looks to repeat history and defeat the Brisbane Lions at Avalon Airport Oval to secure a Smithy’s VFL Grand Final berth for the second consecutive season.

Jaelen Pavlidis (hamstring) and Stefan Radovanovic (wrist) both return from injury to replace the suspended Kobe Annand and Matthew Keast who has been omitted.

The Lions have been forced to make two changes as they hope to make it third time lucky following consecutive preliminary final defeats over the past two seasons.

Kyle Dunkley will miss after entering concussion protocols, while Daniel Lloyd was handed a two-match suspension following a high bump in last week’s semi final win over Williamstown.

Footscray Bulldogs have made four changes as they hunt their first Smithy’s VFL Grand Final appearance since winning the 2016 flag when they host the Southport Sharks at Mission Whitten Oval in the second preliminary final.

Nick Coffield, Buku Khamis, Ryley Sanders and Rhylee West come out of the victorious second qualifying team, with the quartet ineligible for selection after the Bulldogs’ AFL team was knocked out of the finals race last week.

However, the Bulldogs have named impressive replacements to cover them, with Lachlan McNeil, Joel Freijah, Trent Bianco and Ethan Hunt all coming in.

Southport Sharks have named an unchanged line-up from last week’s impressive 29-point win over the Geelong Cats at GMHBA Stadium.

The Sharks will be looking to secure their second Grand Final appearance in three seasons after going gown to the Casey Demons in the 2022 decider.

Smithy’s VFL broadcast partner, the Seven Network, will broadcast both preliminary finals live and free on 7mate in Victoria and on 7plus nationally.

All matches in the 2024 Smithy’s VFL and VFLW seasons will be live streamed free via the AFL website, AFL Live Official App and VFL App.

Casey Radio will also broadcast the match between the Footscray Bulldogs and Southport Sharks.

WERRIBEE vs BRISBANE LIONS

First Preliminary Final, Saturday 14 September, 11:00am, Avalon Airport Oval

WERRIBEE
B: S. Paea (32), S. Azzi (19), N. Cooper (18)
HB: L. Pinnuck (9), J. Clark (27), J. Pavlidis (34)
C: N. Hayes (7), D. Brew (29), R. Bice (26)
HF: J. Dahlhaus (24), A. Johnson (17), J. Riding (33)
F: Z. Banch (36), H. Garoni (1), F. Young (20)
R: S. Conway (50), J. Henderson (8), J. Smith (35)
INT: C. Whyte (4), S. Radovanovic (28), H. Grintell (16), C. Thar (45), B. Malual (22)
EMG: M. Selsby (14), M. Keast (15), A. Hicks (21), C. McLeod (31), C. Byrne (43)

IN: J. Pavlidis, S. Radovanovic
OUT: K. Annand (suspension), M. Keast

BRISBANE LIONS
B: Z. Zakostelskly (21), D. Joyce (41), J. Prior (20)
HB: L. Beecken (47), S. Brain (34), J. Madden (14)
C: D. Robertson (2), J. Lyons (17), J. Tunstill (29)
HF: W. Martyn (55), H. Smith (25), D. Craven (50)
F: W. McLachlan (42), B. Ryan (24), L. Lloyd (19)
R: D. Fort (32), H. Sharp (22), B. Reville (38)
INT: R. Torrent (36), T. Abberley (48), E. Macpherson (54), L. Hude (59)*, B. Thomas (61)
EMG: T. Meekin (57), T. Gallop (58), B. McDonald (60), R. Greene (53), J. Budarick (51), Z. Derksen (56)

IN: B. Thomas, J. Tunstill
OUT: K. Dunkley (concussion), D. Lloyd (suspension)

MATCH INFO
Head-to-Head: Brisbane Lions 2-1
At Avalon Airport Oval: Werribee 1-0
Streak: Werribee 1
Last Time: Werribee 14.10 (94) def Brisbane Lions 9.10 (64) – Preliminary Final 2023, Avalon Airport Oval
Finals Head-to-Head: Werribee 1-0
Finals Record: Werribee 24-31, Brisbane Lions 3-5 (VFL)

FOOTSCRAY BULLDOGS vs SOUTHPORT SHARKS

Second Preliminary Final, Saturday 14 September, 2:00pm, Mission Whitten Oval

FOOTSCRAY BULLDOGS
B: R. Gardner (43), L. Smith (40), R. Garcia (38)
HB: A. Scott (28), D. Bedendo (26), C. Clarke (8)
C: L. McNeil (30), L. Cleary (36), J. Johannisen (39)
HF: C. Poulter (25), J. Freijah (27), E. Hunt (56)
F: J. Harmes (22), A. Keath (42), D. Orgill (50)
R: J. Busslinger (5), O. Baker (13), A. Jones (32)
INT: C. Owen (62), C. Craig-Peters (61), T. Bianco (58), J. Gilbee (69), D. Moloney (75)*
EMG: P. Spicer (63), C. Smith (55), T. Maple (65), J. Kellett (57)

IN: T. Bianco, J. Freijah, E. Hunt, L. McNeil
OUT: N. Coffield, B. Khamis, R. Sanders, R. West (ineligible)

SOUTHPORT SHARKS
B: B. Jepson (11), N. Williams (30), M. Spencer (6)
HB: M. Willis (10), K. Gray (17), J. Joyce (25)
C: M. Manteit (4), M. Shannon (16), M. McGuinness (14)
HF: W. Buzza (15), Z. Foot (2), J. Edwards (21)
F: J. Sexton (28), H. Dixon (29), J. Dawson (3)
R: B. Crossley (20), J. Heron (5), B. Woodcock (1)
INT: C. Lake (33), J. Lockhart (12), W. Derrington (39), R. Clark (18), B. Aston (32)
EMG: Z. Molloy (8), R. Bowman (7), A. Hall (31)

No change

MATCH INFO
Head-to-Head: Southport Sharks 2-0
At Mission Whitten Oval: Southport Sharks 1-0
Streak: Southport Sharks 1
Last Met: Footscray Bulldogs 10.16 (76) def by Southport Shark 15.12 (102) – Round 5 2023, ETU Stadium
Finals Head-to-Head: Never met
Finals Record: Footscray Bulldogs 26-21-2, Southport Sharks 4-1 (VFL)

UMPIRES

WERRIBEE vs BRISBANE LIONS
FIELD: Joel Clamp (34), Nicholas Scott (8), Joseph O'Brien (16), emg: Cameron Williams (19); BOUNDARY: Lachlan Menara, Zachary Mousaco, Adrian Pretorius, Mitchell Dorling; GOAL: James Rizio, John Varker; emg: Matthew Edwards

FOOTSCRAY BULLDOGS vs SOUTHPORT SHARKS
FIELD: Jack Howard (18), Samuel Whetton (4), Luke Porter (14), emg: Samuel Ferguson (23); BOUNDARY: Anthony Laughton, John Cooper, Samuel Button, Harrison Bell; GOAL: Luke Monea, Adam Steger; emg: Kane Miller