With just two wins separating four clubs from premiership glory, the stakes couldn’t be higher when it comes to team selection.
Be it through form or injury concerns, there are some selection headaches ahead.
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GEELONG star Jeremy Cameron has missed a second consecutive training session with the main group ahead of Friday night’s preliminary final against Brisbane.
Cameron warmed up with the group but didn’t take part in the session, instead training with a smaller group, which included Tom Hawkins, Jake Kolodjashnij and Sam Menegola.
The 2019 Coleman medallist played a key role in the qualifying final win over Collingwood, which marked his first game back since a hamstring complaint in round 22’s win over Gold Coast.
Channel Seven reporter Mitch Cleary said Menegola – who did not feature in the qualifying final – appeared to tweak his ankle on Friday.
It will prove hard for the Cats to make any changes based on form, with the side’s VFL affiliate not qualifying for finals.
BRISBANE will face a selection conundrum ahead of the clash with the Cats, with a key pair ready to return.
Joe Daniher was a late out from last week’s game as he went back to Queensland to be with his partner for the birth of their first child and is ready to go for Friday night.
Oscar McInerney was the other to miss after entering AFL concussion protocols, but should be available for the clash.
Tom Fullarton was Daniher’s replacement and is expected to make way, while for McInerney it could be fellow tall Darcy Fort who has to miss.
Jarrod Berry’s availability will be dependent on a Tuesday case at the AFL Tribunal, with the 24-year-old appealing a one-match ban for making unnecessary contact to the eye of Melbourne midfielder Clayton Oliver.
Remarkably, Jarryd Lyons could miss a second straight match due to form and a third straight match overall.
More likely inclusions would come from either Mitch Robinson or Rhys Mathieson.
Robinson performed brilliantly in the VFL on the weekend with 20 kicks and six tackles, while Mathieson – the unused medical sub on Friday – finished with 23 disposals.
Neither SYDNEY or COLLINGWOOD are likely to make many changes for Saturday’s preliminary final, with both coming off wins and neither having their VFL affiliate in finals action over the weekend.
The Swans’ emergencies for the qualifying final win were Callum Sinclair, Harry Cunningham, Hayden McLean and Braeden Campbell.
For the Pies, the emergencies were Nathan Kreuger, Ollie Henry, Callum Brown and Josh Carmichael.
