Werribee and the Southport Sharks have each been able to recall important players from injury for the history-making Smithy’s VFL Grand Final at IKON Park on Sunday.

The Tigers have named goalkicking midfielder Angus Hicks for his first game since injuring his hamstring in the corresponding match against the Sharks at Avalon Airport Oval in Round 19 seven weeks ago.

Meanwhile the Sharks regain small forward Will Sexton from concussion protocols just in time for the big game.

Richmond recruit Hicks was available for the preliminary final, only to be overlooked, but has forced his way back into the team with strong form on the track. He will bring 51 VFL matches of experience into the line-up at the expense of unlucky Connor Thar.

Hicks, 25, has played 15 games in his first season at Avalon Airport Oval, averaging 15.7 disposals and booting 14 goals, both career-best numbers as he aims to follow Shaun Mannagh’s successful path to the AFL.

Werribee will field only 10 players – Hudson Garoni, Nick Hayes, Jack Henderson, Louis Pinnuck, Harry Grintell, Nathan Cooper, Bior Malual, Jesse Clark, Dom Brew and Sam Paea – who played in last year’s losing Grand Final against Gold Coast.

Captain Nick Coughlan will unfortunately be missing due to a calf injury and ruckman Kobe Annand was unable to win his spot back after being suspended for the preliminary final.

Sexton, 21, was knocked out in an accidental collision early in the elimination final victory over Frankston three weeks, but exits the concussion protocols just in time to regain his spot.

The Northern Bullants recruit joined his brother Jack at Fankhauser Reserve this year and has kicked 12 goals in 19 matches.

His forward pressure has been crucial to the Sharks’ success, and he replaces Suns Academy product Will Derrington, who deputised for him over the past two weeks.

Southport has also had significant turnover from its 2022 Grand Final team, with only 11 players – Boyd Woodcock, Zac Foot, Jacob Dawson, Mike Manteit, Rhys Clark, Max Spencer, Mackenzie Willis, Jay Lockhart, Jacob Heron, Brayden Crossley and Jesse Joyce – remaining from the line-up that went down to the Casey Demons.

The Sharks will field three ex-Werribee players in Spencer, Wylie Buzza and Grand Final player Keegan Gray, while the Tigers have former Shark Michael Selsby as an emergency, meaning both teams will have plenty of intel on the opposition.

The match starts at 3.10pm at Carlton’s Ikon Park, with tickets available at the gate or at intix.com.au/org/vfl for $20 adults and $15 concession.

The game will be screened on Channel 7, 7Plus, AFL.com.au and the VFL and AFL apps from 3pm and

TICKETING: For the 2024 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final admission prices will be adults $20, concession/pensioners $15 and children under 15 free. Tickets can be purchased at www.intix.com.au/org/vfl from midday on Tuesday, September 17. Patrons purchasing at the gate are advised the payment method is card only.

BROADCAST: The 2024 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final will be broadcast live and free on the Seven Network via Channel 7 in Victoria and 7plus nationally. The match will also be streamed live and free on AFL.com.au and the AFL Live Official App. A broadcast on Casey Radio 97.7FM and caseyradio.com.au will be available from 2.10pm.

WERRIBEE vs SOUTHPORT SHARKS

Grand Final, Sunday 22 September, 3:10pm, IKON

WERRIBEE
B: S. Radovanovic (28), 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), C. Whyte (4)
INT: J. Smith (35), S. Paea (32), H. Grintell (16), A. Hicks (21), B. Malual (22)
EMG: K. Annand (10), M. Selsby (14), M. Keast (15), C. McLeod (31), C. Byrne (43), C. Thar (45)

IN: A. Hicks
OUT: C. Thar

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. Sexton (27), R. Clark (18), B. Aston (32)
EMG: Z. Molloy (8), R. Bowman (7), A. Hall (31), W. Derrington (39)

IN: W. Sexton
OUT: W. Derrington

MATCH INFO
Head-to-Head: 2-2
At IKON Park: Never met
Streak: Southport 1
This Year:
Round 19: Werribee 8.7 (55) def by Southport Sharks 8.13 (61) at Avalon Airport Oval
Round 2: Southport Sharks 8.11 (59) def by Werribee 9.8 (62) at Fankhauser Reserve
Finals Head-to-Head: Never met
Finals Record: Werribee 25-32, Southport Sharks 10-7 (VFL/NEAFL)
Grand Finals Record: Werribee 1-5, Southport 1-2 (VFL/NEAFL)

UMPIRES

FIELD: Sam Whetton (4), Jack Howard (18), Joel Clamp (34), emg: Nicholas Scott
BOUNDARY: John Cooper, Anthony Laughton, Adrian Pretorius
GOAL: Luke Monea, James Rizio; emg: Adam Steger