Lions’ huge loss as Blues make big changes; Pies regain superstar for Prelim: Teams

Brisbane key defender Jack Payne will miss the Preliminary Final against Carlton, having failed to come up from an ankle injury, with Darcy Gardiner named for what will be his third senior game of the season.

Payne has played 23 senior games this season and been a model of consistency in a career-best year, but instead it will be up to Gardiner to help quell the Blues’ forward line.

The Blues confirmed two massive inclusions in Harry McKay and Jack Martin, with Michael Voss making a host of changes to his side.

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David Cuningham and Matthew Owies are the forward to make way for the returning duo, while defender Jordan Boyd has earned a recall for the first time since he was suspended in Round 18 against Port Adelaide, coming in for Brodie Kemp.

Last week’s sub Ollie Hollands has been elevated to the starting 22.

Collingwood superstar Nick Daicos is confirmed to return for the first time since Round 21, having ticked all his rehab markers since suffering a knee injury against Hawthorn.

Midfielder Taylor Adams comes out of the Collingwood side with a hamstring injury with both John Noble and Jack Ginnivan a chance to be named as the starting tactical sub.

Greater Western Sydney has made no changes to the side that defeated the Power last week, with Kieren Briggs taking his place in the team despite a shoulder concern.

COLLINGWOOD v GWS GIANTS

Friday September 22, 7.50pm at the MCG

PIES

B: Murphy, Moore, Quaynor

HB: Maynard, Pendlebury, Howe

C: Sidebottom, De Goey, J.Daicos

HF: Hill, Mihocek, Lipinski

F: Elliott, McStay, Hoskin-Elliott

FOL: Cox, McCreery, Crisp

I/C: Mitchell, Cameron, N.Daicos, Markov

EMG: Noble, Macrae, Frampton, Ginnivan

IN: N.Daicos

OUT: Adams (Injured), Ginnivan (Sub)

GIANTS

B: Buckley, Taylor, Idun

HB: Ash, Himmelberg, Whitfield

C: Callaghan, Green, Kelly

HF: Bedford, Riccardi, Daniels

F: Lloyd, Hogan, Greene

FOL: Briggs, Ward, Coniglio

I/C: Cumming, Perryman, Keeffe, Brown

EMG: Haynes, Angwin, O’Halloran, Preuss

IN: None

OUT: O’Halloran (Sub)

BRISBANE LIONS v CARLTON

Saturday September 23, 5.15pm at the Gabba

LIONS

B: Starcevich, Andrews, Gardiner

HB: McKenna, Lester, Coleman

C: McCluggage, Dunkley, Zorko

HF: Cameron, Hipwood, Bailey

F: Rayner, Daniher, Ah Chee

FOL: McInerney, Neale, Berry

I/C: Robertson, McCarthy, Fletcher, Wilmot

EMG: Lyons, Tunstill, Fort, Joyce

IN: Gardiner

OUT: Payne (Injured), Lyons (Sub)

BLUES

B: Cincotta, Weitering, Saad

HB: Marchbank, McGovern, Newman

C: Acres, Cripps, Hollands

HF: De Koning, McKay, Docherty

F: Fogarty, C.Curnow, Motlop

FOL: Pittonet, Cerra, Walsh

I/C: Boyd, Hewett, Cottrell, Martin

EMG: Cuningham, Kemp, Kennedy, Owies

IN: McKay, Boyd, Martin

OUT: Kemp, Owies, Kennedy, Cuningham (all omitted)