Chapman, 26, was a key player in last year's breakthrough premiership win with four goals and 21 disposals, and was among Geelong's best in the 119-point win over Port Adelaide.
He has been in doubt since injuring a hamstring in the second half of the Cats' qualifying final over St Kilda, but such is his importance to the side, his return was always guaranteed if able to win the race against time to be fit.
Chapman's return is a bitter blow for Wojcinski, 28, who played 13 of the first 15 games of the season, but was felled by an achilles injury in the round 15 win over Fremantle.
"Obviously I am disappointed, but this isn't about me," Wojcinski told gfc.com.au.
"The most important thing is our team, and preparing to play Hawthorn on Saturday.
"I will be supporting my mates and the team on Saturday and playing any role that I can to help us win."
The pacy defender won back his spot in the side for the preliminary final where he amassed 18 possessions, kicked a goal and went inside forward 50 six times, but it wasn't enough to secure his spot this week.
The former Heyfield native played every match last season, including the Cats' premiership triumph, which will at least provide some sort of consolation.
Wojcinski has been named as an emergency with Ryan Gamble and Shannon Byrnes, who played in the 2007 premiership side.
"It was just a mathematical decision in the end, that we wanted to play more than 22. There wasn't anyone who didn't want to play Wojo," Geelong football manager Neil Balme said.
"It was just the way it works out, the fact that Chappy (Chapman) comes in, it was a no-brainer to pick him if he's well.
"Wojo has missed a bit and was probably the last to come in.
"Whoever misses out was going to be very unlucky, but unfortunately the choices have to be made."
It was no surprise to see the Hawks go with the same line-up that dominated St Kilda in last week's preliminary final, but Simon Taylor and Tom Murphy are the hard-luck stories to come out of that decision.
It will be a bitter pill for Taylor to swallow having played 18 games this season before being rested after round 21 in order to freshen up for the finals series.
But as tough as Taylor's situation is, Brent Renouf's rise has been breath-taking. The Queenslander was drafted 24th overall in 2006 and did not play a game in his first season with the club.
The 20-year-old broke through for his AFL debut in round 12 this season and played three games before being dropped back to the VFL, but has grasped his opportunity with both hands since breaking back into the side in round 21 and will play just his eighth career match on Saturday.
Murphy, 22, will feel equally hard done by having also played 18 games in what has been a break-out season for the 189cm defender. He lost his spot to Stephen Gilham, who excelled against St Kilda star Nick Riewoldt in the preliminary final, after the qualifying final win over the Bulldogs.
Murphy and Taylor are emergencies along with Travis Tuck.
"Because of what's at stake, it's always a little bit more difficult," Hawthorn football manager Mark Evans said of the club's decision.
"But it's a great position for the club to go into the grand final with an unchanged line-up and after a good result in the preliminary (final).
"There were some discussion points, just making sure we ticked every box and challenged what we thought was the best 22 to tackle the Cats.
"Whoever misses out in a grand final is in an unlucky position."
In a grand final side-note, the Cats' Max Rooke has the chance to make a little history of his own if he is part of a premiership side on Saturday.
Rooke, having missed Geelong's only loss this season, is currently tied with teammate Cameron Ling on 27 consecutive winning matches with Ling's run ending when the Cats were felled by the Pies in round nine.
