The VFL affiliates of North Melbourne and Carlton will meet in the decider for the second consecutive year with a host of AFL-listed talent to play under coaches Gerard FitzGerald and David Teague.
The Roosters will have Hale, Harding, Brayden Norris, rookies Luke Delaney and Marcus White, and the recently retired Corey Jones and delisted Josh Smith from the Kangaroos’ list.
Harding will return to the side after missing the preliminary final win over Box Hill with the rib he broke in round 22 of the AFL season.
The Roosters are aiming for their third straight premiership.
FitzGerald said his players were mentally set for the challenge of defending their title.
“We’re a very different group from the one that played last year but I think the culture is very similar to the one that’s been around the last two or three years,” he said.
“We’ve won some games this year because of a very strong belief within the group.
“They’re the things that will stand us in good stead.”
Meanwhile, the Bullants will have Fisher, Johnson, Bret Thornton, Sam Jacobs, Joe Anderson, Steven Browne, Mark Austin, Rohan Kerr, and rookies David Ellard, Zach Tuohy, Joe Dare and Levi Casboult from the Blues’ camp.
“We’ve got a pretty good playing group but it’s their ability to come together and work so hard that’s the most pleasing,” Teague said.
“They’ve done a lot of what the coaches have asked them and I think what they deserve is an opportunity to win a flag.”
Teague, who is in his third year at the Bullants, said Dare and Tuohy were his most improved youngsters while Casboult had put in his best half for the season in the preliminary final win over Williamstown last Saturday.
The VFL grand final will be played at Etihad Stadium on Sunday 19 September at 2.15pm.
The TAC Cup grand final between the Calder Cannons and Gippsland Power will be played as the curtain raiser from 10.30am.
