AFL preliminary finals teams, expert tips: Both MCG blockbusters could draw 95,000-plus. Here’s how the sides will look

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September 18, 2025 — 8.41pm

Collingwood are the only preliminary finalist to make a change to their team for this weekend’s blockbusters, with veteran defender Jeremy Howe returning from a groin injury suffered in the final round of the home-and-away season.

Howe takes the place of Wil Parker in the side to face the Lions, who named an unchanged side after their ruthless takedown of Gold Coast last week.

Jordan De Goey has a laugh at Collingwood training on Thursday.

Bobby Hill won’t face the Lions, but coach Craig McRae hasn’t ruled him out of a grand final appearance should the Magpies advance to the AFL premiership decider.

McRae made the call on Hill before Collingwood fine-tuned preparations for Saturday’s twilight clash at the MCG, and had better news for key forward Brody Mihocek, who has been battling a toe injury.

Hill has made just one AFL appearance – as a substitute – in the past three months, due to personal reasons.

The 2023 Norm Smith medallist had ramped up his training in a bid to feature at the pointy end of the season, but so far has fallen short.

Hawthorn and Geelong are also unchanged for Friday night’s mouth-watering clash at the MCG, but the Cats named veteran ruckman Rhys Stanley as one of three emergencies after he battled injury late in the season.

Roy Ward with AAP

GEELONG
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: T.Stengle, S.Mannagh, B.Close
F: S.Neale, J.Cameron, P.Dangerfield
FOLL: M.Blicavs, B.Smith, T.Atkins
I/C: L.Humphries, J.Martin, J.Clark, G.Miers, O.Mullin
EMG: R.Stanley, J.Bews, O.Henry
IN: Nil
OUT: Nil

HAWTHORN
B: B.Hardwick, T.Barrass, J.Battle
HB: M.D’Ambrosio, J.Sicily, J.Impey
C: D.Moore, J.Ward, K.Amon
HF: N.Watson, M.Chol, J.Weddle
F: C.Macdonald, M.Lewis, J.Gunston
FOLL: L.Meek, J.Newcombe, C.Nash
I/C: J.Scrimshaw, J.Worpel, J.Ginnivan, S.Butler, C.Jiath
EMG: N.Reeves, C.Mackenzie, J.Serong
IN: Nil
OUT: Nil

COLLINGWOOD
B: B.Frampton, D.Moore, B.Maynard
HB: H.Perryman, D.Houston, I.Quaynor
C: J.Daicos, J.De Goey, 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, B.McCreery, J.Howe, B.Mihocek, R.Steele
EMG: D.McStay, W.Parker, W.Hoskin-Elliott
IN: J.Howe
OUT: W.Parker (omitted)

BRISBANE LIONS
B: D.Zorko, D.Gardiner, R.Lester
HB: D.Wilmot, H.Andrews, 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: Nil
OUT: Nil