It’s a rematch of the 2002 and 2003 deciders as Collingwood and Brisbane face off in what looms as an epic 2023 AFL Grand Final.
One of the most anticipated grand finals in recent memory, the Magpies and Lions will do battle in the premiership showdown with no standout favourite on a bright sunny day in Melbourne set to hit a top of 28 degrees.
Collingwood (18-5, 127%), is given the slight edge after finishing first on the ladder and, of course, because of the MCG factor, though the club’s narrow finals wins over Melbourne and GWS have been less than convincing.
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The Pies have also only put up total scores of 60 and 58 in their finals, which could become a factor against Brisbane’s high-octane attack, while Craig McRae’s side will be without Dan McStay in a hammer blow.
Collingwood has replaced McStay with Billy Frampton, while Jack Ginnivan also comes into the 22 for Patrick Lipinski, who’s been made sub.
AFL Grand Final countdown kicks off! | 00:50
The Lions (17-6, 123.1%) will meanwhile be full of confidence after blowing away Port Adelaide, and after a slow start, convincingly beating Carlton in their two finals.
Brisbane has also won its last six-straight games against Collingwood, tho2ugh none have been played at the MCG – where Chris Fagan’s side has dropped 10 of 11 games since he began coaching 2017.
The Lions go in unchanged after key defender Jack Payne failed to prove his fitness in time due to an all-timed ankle injury. The visitors are yet to confirm their sub, with Payne, Jarryd Lyons, James Tunstill and Darcy Fort their emergencies.
“There’s a couple of factors there. I think the weather no question plays into the hands of the Lions, should it turn out the way it’s forecasted,“ Brown told Foxfooty.com.au’s David Zita this week.
“But they’ve got the game style to match Collingwood.
“Then it really becomes moments and momentum. Can you control the momentum when Collingwood has it and can you maximise momentum when you‘ve got it? That’s really what finals is all about, especially when you’ve got the two best teams in it.”
In wild scenes, some desperate MCC members still needing to secure their tickets for the game have been camping outside the MCG overnight waiting for the gates to open.
FULL TEAMS
Magpies
B: Murphy, Moore, Howe
HB: Maynard, Frampton, Quaynor
C: Sidebottom, Pendlebury, Markov
HF: Hill, Mihocek, Elliott
F: McCreery, De Goey, J.Daicos
FOL: Cox, N.Daicos, Crisp
I/C: Mitchell, Cameron, Hoskin-Elliott, Ginnivan
EMG: Lipinski, Noble, Macrae, Harrison
IN: Frampton
OUT: Lipinski (Sub), McStay (injured)
Lions
B: Starcevich, Andrews, Gardiner
HB: McKenna, Lester, Coleman
C: McCluggage, Dunkley, Zorko
HF: Cameron, Hipwood, Ah Chee
F: Rayner, Daniher, Bailey
FOL: McInerney, Neale, Berry
I/C: Robertson, McCarthy, Fletcher, Wilmot
EMG: Lyons, Tunstill, Fort, Payne
IN: None
OUT: Lyons (Sub)
This match gets underway at 2.30pm AEST from the MCG.
Watch all the pre-game action on Fox Footy (channel 504) from 10am AEST.
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