The last spot in the 2025 AFL finals goes down to the last game of the season, with the Western Bulldogs needing a miracle upset from injury-ravaged Essendon.
The Bombers, who had some 20 players including most of their best players on the injury list coming into the week, have made two changes for Wednesday night’s clash on the Gold Coast.
Jayden Laverde and Sam Durham return while Zak Johnson is omitted and Jade Gresham misses for personal reasons, having not flown with the team.
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The Suns will clinch a maiden finals appearance with a win. They would qualify for an elimination final, against either Fremantle (if they win by roughly 5+ goals) or GWS (if they win by less than that).
They’ve made three changes, boosted by the returns of Daniel Rioli, Bailey Humphrey and Jake Rogers.
Three players are omitted – Alex Sexton, Oscar Adams and Lachie Gulbin.
Gulbin is the first player in AFL history to make his debut and be dropped in the same round.
ROUND 24 TEAMS AND FIXTURE (All times AEST)
GOLD COAST SUNS v ESSENDON
Wednesday August 27, 7:20pm at People First Stadium
SUNS
B: W.Powell, B.Uwland, S.Collins
HB: J.Noble, M.Andrew, D.Rioli
C: L.Weller, M.Rowell, B.Fiorini
HF: T.Miller, B.Ainsworth, B.Humphrey
F: B.Long, E.Read, B.King
FOLL: J.Witts, A.Davies, N.Anderson – C
I/C: S.Flanders, J.Rogers, C.Budarick, J.Jeffrey, J.Farrar
EMG: N.Moyle, L.Gulbin, O.Adams
In: – D.Rioli, B.Humphrey, J.Rogers
Out: – A.Sexton (Omitted), O.Adams (Omitted), L.Gulbin (Omitted)
BOMBERS
B: A.McGrath, J.Laverde, J.Nguyen
HB: M.Redman, L.Blakiston, A.Roberts
C: X.Duursma, Z.Merrett – C, L.Lual
HF: M.Guelfi, P.Wright, S.Durham
F: K.Langford, L.McMahon, I.Kako
FOLL: T.Goldstein, A.Perkins, D.Shiel
I/C: J.Prior, J.Menzie, A.Clarke, R.Unwin, S.El-Hawli
EMG: V.Visentini, Z.Johnson, A.Day-Wicks
In: – J.Laverde, S.Durham
Out: – Z.Johnson (Omitted), J.Gresham (Personal Reason)
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