Who replaces Cats star; mixed Lions news as miracle, heartbreak looms — GF Team Tips

Saturday September 27, 2:30pm at MCG

Cats’ Preliminary Final side

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.Martin, J.Clark (sub)

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

Team Tips: All eyes will be on who the Cats opt to replace Tom Stewart with after the star defender’s heartbreaking concussion setback will force him to miss through protocols. And there’s two obvious options. One is to recall Rhys Stanley, who missed the qualifying final with a hamstring injury then was held of the prelim, despite being Geelong’s number one ruck for the majority of the season and playing 18 AFL games. But Chris Scott hinted the Cats would likely stick with Mark Blicavs, who was one of their best against the Hawks, as their main ruck in a combination with Shannon Neale and Sam De Koning against Brisbane’s Darcy Fort-Oscar McInerney duo. That would make Jed Bews the obvious replacement to replace Stewart and allow Geelong to stick with its winning formula over this finals series. If not Bews, Ollie Henry, Mitch Duncan, Mitch Knevitt and Ted Clohesy would appear to be next in line for a recall, depending on if the Cats wanted a like-for-like type of if they felt they needed support elsewhere. And don’t rule out Jhye Clark getting out of the sub vest — a role he’s held for both finals — for whoever comes in for Stewart. Elsewhere, Seven’s Xander McGuire reported Jack Martin had a heavily strapped calf due to a corky and didn’t join in the Cats’ main training session on Monday, while Jack Henry was training after an ankle concern against Hawthorn.

Lions’ Preliminary Final side

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

Team Tips: To recall Lachie Neale or not? It’s the million dollar question that will be asked all week and the biggest selection call of the grand final after the star dual Brownlow winner and co-captain suffered a calf injury against the Cats in the qualifying final on September 5. Neale’s return once looked like the biggest of long shots in what was originally listed as a 4-6 week injury. But the 32-year old now seems firmly in the mix to play in what would be a downright miracle 22 days after he picked up the injury. Lions coach Chris Fagan was optimistic around Neale’s availability on Saturday night, saying it’s “looking more positive than negative” and that it would largely depend on how the gun midfielder gets through the week: “I didn’t think he’d be a chance to play, but I think he is a chance to play. I don’t know. I’m going to talk to the medical people about that. They’ll make a sensible decision. If it’s too risky, it won’t happen, but if they don’t think it is, then we’ll play him.” Even if Neale ticks every box required, it would still be a huge risk playing him in such a big game. The Lions will likely be forced into at least one change, with Jarrod Berry subbed out in the preliminary final against Collingwood after dislocating his shoulder again. Neale would be the ideal replacement, while playing would be fraught with danger, particularly after the Pies took some compromised bodies into last week’s clash. If Both Neale and Berry miss, you sense the player who comes in — likely one of James Tunstill, Darragh Joyce or Deven Robertson — would only be in contention for the sub role and Bruce Reville would get promoted to the 22.