A WEEK out from the all-important team announcements for week one of the finals, our reporters make the call on what changes the eight finalists will make for their biggest game of the year so far.
Thursday, September 8
West Coast v Western Bulldogs at Domain Stadium, 6.10pm AWST
WEST COAST
B: Tom Barrass, Will Schofield, Shannon Hurn
HB: Sam Butler, Jeremy McGovern, Brad Sheppard
C: Mark Hutchings, Matt Priddis, Lewis Jetta
HF: Jamie Cripps, Jack Darling, Chris Masten
F: Jonathan Giles, Josh Kennedy, Mark LeCras
Foll: Scott Lycett, Andrew Gaff, Luke Shuey
I/C: Dom Sheed, Elliot Yeo, Sharrod Wellingham, Josh Hill
Emerg: Jackson Nelson, Mitch Brown, Jack Redden
NO CHANGE
Key players missing: Nic Naitanui (knee)
Summary: This is the 22 that put Adelaide to the sword at Adelaide Oval last Friday night and the Eagles won't make a change. The only injury concern is Lycett with some knee soreness but he will play. Giles was fantastic in the ruck after there were major fears about Naitanui's absence. Eric Mackenzie can't find a spot in the 25 due to the incredible form of Barrass. Brown is there as cover in case Lycett doesn't come up. Nelson and Redden are the next cabs off the rank in defence and the midfield. - Alex Malcolm
WESTERN BULLDOGS
B: Dale Morris, Fletcher Roberts, Shane Biggs
HB: Jason Johannisen, Easton Wood, Matthew Boyd
C: Lachie Hunter, Liam Picken, Matt Suckling
HF: Nathan Hrovat, Zaine Cordy, Jake Stringer
F: Caleb Daniel, Tom Boyd, Tory Dickson
Foll: Jordan Roughead, Luke Dahlhaus, Marcus Bontempelli
I/C: Clay Smith, Bailey Williams, Koby Stevens, Josh Dunkley
Emerg: Joel Hamling, Toby McLean, Lin Jong
In: Easton Wood, Jake Stringer, Jordan Roughead
Out: Lin Jong (omitted), Will Minson (omitted), Joel Hamling (omitted)
Key players missing: Marcus Adams (foot), Tom Liberatore (ankle), Jack Macrae (hamstring), Robert Murphy (knee), Jack Redpath (knee), Mitch Wallis (leg)
Summary: Wood (ankle) and Roughead (calf) come straight in after overcoming injuries at the expense of Minson and Hamling. Stringer gets a recall because he's a match winner who can help the Dogs kick a winning score. Williams and Stevens get a gig ahead of Jong due to their much better decision-making and disposal by foot. - Ryan Davidson
Friday, September 9
Geelong v Hawthorn at the MCG, 7.50pm AEST
GEELONG
B: Jed Bews, Tom Lonergan, Corey Enright
HB: Andrew Mackie, Harry Taylor, Jake Kolodjashnij
C: Steven Motlop, Patrick Dangerfield, Mitch Duncan
HF: Josh Caddy, Rhys Stanley, Daniel Menzel
F: Lincoln McCarthy, Tom Hawkins, Jimmy Bartel
Foll: Zac Smith, Cam Guthrie, Joel Selwood
I/C: Sam Menegola, Josh Cowan, Mark Blicavs, Scott Selwood
Emerg: Tom Ruggles, Nakia Cockatoo, Shane Kersten
In: Scott Selwood
Out: Tom Ruggles (omitted)
Key players missing: Lachie Henderson (knee)
Summary: Tom Ruggles is desperately unlucky having played 17 good games but I have opted for Jed Bews' pace to defend the Hawks small forwards, preferring to fit Scott Selwood in to run with Sam Mitchell. I would like Nakia Cockatoo in the team but his lead-in has been interrupted so Josh Cowan holds his spot. The balance between experience and pace is the key. - Peter Ryan
HAWTHORN
B: Taylor Duryea, James Frawley, Ben Stratton
HB: Shaun Burgoyne, Josh Gibson, Grant Birchall
C: Isaac Smith, Sam Mitchell, Bradley Hill
HF: Luke Breust, Jack Gunston, Cyril Rioli
F: Paul Puopolo, Ryan Schoenmakers, James Sicily
Foll: Ben McEvoy, Jordan Lewis, Luke Hodge
I/C: Billy Hartung, Will Langford, Liam Shiels, Jack Fitzpatrick
Emerg: Brendan Whitecross, Ryan Burton, Marc Pittonet
In: Ben McEvoy, Ben Stratton, Will Langford
Out: Marc Pittonet (omitted), Ryan Burton (omitted), Brendan Whitecross (omitted)
Key players missing: Jonathon Ceglar (knee), Jarryd Roughead (illness)
Summary: Pittonet will make way for McEvoy, while it appears young Burton will be the unlucky Hawk to miss out with Stratton to return. The selection dilemma comes with Hawthorn's need to bring in Will Langford. The midfielder can win contested ball, tackles aggressively and could even run with Geelong star Patrick Dangerfield at times. Neither Whitecross or Hartung deserve to lose their spot but they are the most likely candidates to make way. It was a tough decision to leave Whitecross out but in the end, Hartung's speed can expose the Cats on the outside. - Nat Edwards
Saturday, September 10
Sydney Swans v Greater Western Sydney at ANZ Stadium, 3.20pm AEST
SYDNEY SWANS
B: Dane Rampe, Heath Grundy, Nick Smith
HB: Callum Mills, Aliir Aliir, Jake Lloyd
C: Dan Hannebery, Josh Kennedy, Jarrad McVeigh
HF: Isaac Heeney, Lance Franklin, Ben McGlynn
F: Gary Rohan, Sam Naismith, Xavier Richards
Foll: Kurt Tippett, Luke Parker, Kieren Jack
I/C: Tom Mitchell, George Hewett, Harry Cunningham, Harrison Marsh
Emerg: Tom Papley, Ted Richards, Brandon Jack
In: Callum Mills
Out: Tom Papley (omitted)
Key players missing: Sam Reid (Achilles), Zak Jones (ankle), Callum Sinclair (knee)
Summary: Mills comes in after missing round 23, with Papley the unlucky player to go out. Marsh and Cunningham get the nod over purely on versatility, with Cunningham's pace also a factor against the Giants. Jones could be available next week but is unlikely to be rushed in, while Reid and Sinclair are long shots to be fit for preliminary final weekend at best. - Adam Curley
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
B: Nick Haynes, Phil Davis, Joel Patfull
HB: Heath Shaw, Adam Tomlinson, Zac Williams
C: Josh Kelly, Callan Ward, Ryan Griffen
HF: Steve Johnson, Rory Lobb, Toby Greene
F: Jeremy Cameron, Jon Patton, Devon Smith
Foll: Shane Mumford, Dylan Shiel, Stephen Coniglio
I/C: Tom Scully, Lachie Whitfield, Nathan Wilson, Jacob Hopper
Emerg: Matt Buntine, Jack Steele, Adam Kennedy
NO CHANGE
Key players missing: Caleb Marchbank (ankle)
Summary: The Giants are primed, ready and settled heading into their first ever finals series, and should go into the game against the Swans unchanged for the second straight game. Marchbank is the only player missing from their best 22 but is done for the season. - Adam Curley
Adelaide v North Melbourne at Adelaide Oval, 7.10pm ACST
ADELAIDE
B: Luke Brown, Kyle Hartigan, Jake Lever
HB: Rory Laird, Daniel Talia, Kyle Cheney
C: Brodie Smith, Rory Sloane, Rory Atkins
HF: Mitch McGovern, Taylor Walker, Charlie Cameron
F: Eddie Betts, Josh Jenkins, Tom Lynch
Foll: Sam Jacobs, Brad Crouch, Scott Thompson
I/C: Richard Douglas, Jarryd Lyons, Matt Crouch, Ricky Henderson
Emerg: Paul Seedsman, David Mackay, Cam Ellis-Yolmen
In: Rory Sloane, Brodie Smith
Out: David Mackay, Cam Ellis-Yolmen
Key players missing: None
Summary: The Crows will resist making mass changes in the wake of their round 23 loss to West Coast. Sloane and Smith come straight back into the side. Henderson did enough to retain his place in the 22 at the expense of Mackay, who is unlucky to miss out. So is Seedsman, who will be fit, but has missed the past four weeks with a corked buttock. - Lee Gaskin
NORTH MELBOURNE
B: Lachlan Hansen, Michael Firrito, Shaun Atley
HB: Jamie Macmillan, Robbie Tarrant, Luke McDonald
C: Sam Gibson, Jack Ziebell, Daniel Wells
HF: Shaun Higgins, Drew Petrie, Brent Harvey
F: Lindsay Thomas, Ben Brown, Jarrad Waite
Foll: Todd Goldstein, Ben Cunnington, Andrew Swallow
I/C: Nick Dal Santo, Trent Dumont, Jed Anderson, Aaron Mullett
Emerg: Majak Daw, Ryan Clarke, Robbie Nahas
In: Jarrad Waite
Out: Majak Daw (omitted)
Key players missing: Ben Jacobs (foot), Sam Wright (ankle), Scott Thompson (adductor), Mason Wood (knee)
Summary: Majak Daw is stiff, but if Jarrad Waite is fit, he plays – and dropping Drew Petrie for what could be the final game of his career is unthinkable. Ben Jacobs, Sam Wright, Mason Wood and Scott Thompson might be chances later in finals, if the unfancied Roos survive, but bringing in underdone players in big games is a no-no. - Travis King
