Collingwood has made the big call to drop John Noble and Jack Ginnivan for Thursday night’s qualifying final, while the Demons have opted to once again overlook recruit Brodie Grundy.
For the Magpies, Ginnivan has been given the reprieve as the sub with the club opting to announce that decision on Wednesday when they unveiled their line up.
But it was heartbreaking scenes for Noble who had played 83 consecutive games – including every game this season.
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Noble, one of just five Magpies to play in all 23 matches in 2023, was spotted being consoled by captain Darcy Moore after the decision was handed down.
For the Demons, Tom McDonald is the man who gets the nod to replace the injured Jake Melksham – and not Grundy.
McDonald comes back into the line up for his first game since Round 11.
McDonald and Grundy had been locked in a battle for that last forward line spot, and despite Grundy’s impressive VFL feats a fortnight ago, he didn’t do enough to convince selectors and remains an emergency for the clash.
Both Grundy and McDonald were part of the group of six Demons held out of the club’s VFL final last weekend ahead of the clash with Collingwood.
Michael Hibberd also returns to Melbourne in one of two changes.
Healthy Pies nurse selection headaches | 02:31
AFL FINALS WEEK 1 TEAMS AND FIXTURE (All times AEST)
COLLINGWOOD v MELBOURNE
Thursday September 7, 7:20pm at the MCG
MAGPIES
B: N.Murphy, D.Moore, I.Quaynor
HB: B.Maynard, O.Markov, S.Pendlebury
C: S.Sidebottom, T.Adams, J.Daicos
HF: B.Hill, B.Mihocek, J.Howe
F: J.Elliott, D.McStay, J.De Goey
FOLL: M.Cox, B.McCreery, J.Crisp
I/C: P.Lipinski, T.Mitchell, D.Cameron, W.Hoskin-Elliott
EMG: J.Noble, F.Macrae, B.Frampton
In: Moore, Murphy, McCreery
Out: Ginnivan (sub), Frampton, Macrae, Noble (all omitted)
DEMONS
B: M.Hibberd, S.May, J.Bowey
HB: J.McVee, J.Lever, A.Brayshaw
C: K.Pickett, J.Viney, E.Langdon
HF: L.Hunter, T.McDonald, A.Neal-Bullen
F: T.Sparrow, J.van Rooyen, K.Chandler
FOLL: M.Gawn, C.Oliver, C.Petracca
I/C: J.Smith, C.Salem, T.Rivers, B.Fritsch
EMG: B.Grundy, B.Laurie, A.Tomlinson, J.Jordon
In: McDonald, Hibberd
Out: Melksham (injured), Turner, Laurie (omitted)
*The remainder of the finals teams will be announced on Thursday.
