Pies star named despite injury cloud as Norm Smith winner misses out – AFL Teams

Geelong and Hawthorn will go into Friday’s preliminary final showdown unchanged, with Cats star Rhys Stanley named as an emergency.

The Magpies meantime have recalled defender Jeremy Howe – despite the premiership winner not having played a full game since Round 16.

See all the ins and out in the latest Preliminary Finals teams.

Watch every match of the 2025 Toyota AFL Finals Series before the Grand Final, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.

Despite running on the training track this week, the Cats have decided against rushing big man Stanley back for their preliminary final clash with the Hawks.

Stanley missed the qualifying final victory over Brisbane due to a hamstring complaint.

But he appeared to be training at full pace this week, putting him back in selection contention.

The big man has been named as an emergency for Geelong who will go into the do-or-die final unchanged.

“This is the big talking point – is he fit?” Fox Footy’s Leigh Montagna said on First Crack Preview.

“Interesting Geelong have named him as an emergency… I wouldn’t be surprised if the Cats do it again and they pull a late change and he plays.

“If he’s fit and available and he’s passed all the tests at training, this is just in Chris Scott’s wheelhouse to bring him in last minute.

“I’d be surprised if he doesn’t play.”

Hawthorn meantime have named both Jack Ginnivan and Jack Gunston despite their injury clouds.

The duo finished their semi final win over Adelaide on the bench, but both have been given the nod to take on the Cats.

Collingwood have named star Jeremy Howe, after his rapid recovery from an adductor injury sustained in the final round of the season.

Howe hasn’t played a full match since Round 16 due to a combination of injury and concussion – but they’ve lost just one game all season when Howe has played a full game.

Coach Craig McRae opted not to name Norm Smith Medallist Bobby Hill (personal reasons) for his first match since June.

Hill, who has returned to the training track in recent weeks, was not named as an emergency.

Their opponent Brisbane will become the third of the four preliminary final teams to go into their match unchanged.

The Lions escaped their QClash semi final win injury-free in promising signs for the reigning premiers.

WEEK 3 FINALS TEAMS AND FIXTURE (All times AEST)

[2] GEELONG vs [8] HAWTHORN

First Preliminary Final

Friday September 19, 7:40pm at MCG

CATS

B: C.O’Sullivan, S.De Koning, J.Henry

HB: M.O’Connor, T.Stewart, Z.Guthrie

C: J.Bowes, M.Holmes, O.Dempsey

HF: B.Close, S.Mannagh, T.Stengle

F: S.Neale, J.Cameron, P.Dangerfield – C

FOLL: M.Blicavs, B.Smith, T.Atkins

I/C: L.Humphries, O.Mullin, G.Miers, J.Clark, J.Martin

EMG: R.Stanley, J.Bews, O.Henry

IN –

OUT –

HAWKS

B: J.Battle, T.Barrass, B.Hardwick

HB: J.Impey, J.Sicily – C, M.D’Ambrosio

C: K.Amon, J.Ward, D.Moore

HF: J.Weddle, M.Chol, N.Watson

F: J.Gunston, M.Lewis, C.Macdonald

FOLL: L.Meek, J.Newcombe, C.Nash

I/C: J.Scrimshaw, J.Worpel, S.Butler, C.Jiath, J.Ginnivan

EMG: J.Serong, C.Mackenzie, N.Reeves

IN –

OUT –

[4] COLLINGWOOD vs [3] BRISBANE

Second Preliminary Final

Saturday September 20, 5:15pm at MCG

MAGPIES

B: B.Frampton, D.Moore – C, B.Maynard

HB: H.Perryman, I.Quaynor, D.Houston

C: J.Daicos, J.DeGoey, N.Long

HF: S.Sidebottom, T.Membrey, P.Lipinski

F: J.Elliott, M.Cox, L.Schultz

FOLL: D.Cameron, S.Pendlebury, N.Daicos

I/C: J.Crisp, R.Steele, B.McCreery, B.Mihocek, J.Howe

EMG: W.Parker, D.McStay, W.Hoskin-Elliott

IN – J.Howe

OUT – W.Parker (omitted)

LIONS

B: D.Zorko, D.Gardiner, R.Lester

HB: D.Wilmot, H.Andrews – C, B.Starcevich

C: H.McCluggage, L.Ashcroft, J.Berry

HF: C.Cameron, T.Gallop, Z.Bailey

F: C.Rayner, L.Morris, C.Ah Chee

FOLL: D.Fort, J.Dunkley, W.Ashcroft

I/C: K.Lohmann, J.Fletcher, S.Marshall, B.Reville, O.McInerney

EMG: S.Day, J.Tunstill, D.Joyce

IN –

OUT –