Final teams named
This article first appeared on afl.com.au
Sydney Swans defender Heath Grundy will make his return in Friday’s Preliminary Final against Collingwood.
And while the Magpies have named key forward Chris Dawes, Alan Didak has been left out after failing to overcome his calf problem.
Grundy, who missed the Qualifying Final through suspension, replaces Ben McGlynn, who will miss the final after injuring his hamstring in the Swans’ win over Adelaide a fortnight ago.
Swans coach John Longmire said Grundy will be a fit and fresh inclusion to his side.
“(Grundy) obviously missed that final but he’s been training hard through this two week slot,” Longmire told SwansTV.
“He’s had a big workload during the year as well so he should be nice and fresh.”
Ben Sinclair, who last played in the Magpies’ qualifying final loss to Hawthorn, has replaced Didak in the Magpies’ line-up.
Didak was subbed out at three-quarter time of Collingwood’s win over West Coast last Saturday night at the MCG.
The calf soreness then resulted in the 29-year-old missing Wednesday’s main training session, and he wasn’t part of the Magpies’ squad that flew to Sydney on Thursday afternoon.
Dawes suffered a right knee injury early in the last quarter of the victory over the Eagles and there was speculation all week that he would not play in tonight’s match.
He looked severely restricted by the injury early in the week, but proved his fitness with a strong performance at training on Wednesday.
Longmire said Swans utility Lewis Roberts-Thomson, who was played down back in Grundy’ absence last match, could be called upon to assist in defence again this week with confirmation of Dawes’ inclusion.
“(Cloke and Dawes) are two quality big, key forwards down there so it will be a challenge for those blokes (in the Swans defence),” he said.
“Lewis Roberts-Thomson did a good job last (game), so he is an option down there as well, but Collingwood have quality players all over the ground and we can’t let their forwards have too much supply.”
Sydney Swans v Collingwood
2nd Preliminary Final
Friday September 21, 2012
7.50pm
ANZ Stadium, Sydney
Sydney Swans
B N.Smith, T.Richards, M.Mattner
HB A.Johnson, H.Grundy, J.McVeigh
C R.Shaw, K.Jack, D.Hannebery
HF C.Bird, S.Reid, R.O’Keefe
F M.Morton, A.Goodes, L.Roberts-Thomson
Foll S.Mumford, J.Kennedy, J.Bolton
I/C L.Jetta, N.Malceski, L.Parker, M.Pyke
Emg T.Armstrong, T.Dennis-Lane, T.Walsh
In: H.Grundy
Out: B.McGlynn (hamstring)
Collingwood
B C.Tarrant, H.O’Brien, N.Brown
HB B.Johnson, B.Reid, T.Goldsack
C S.Wellingham, D.Swan, A.Toovey
HF S.Pendlebury, C.Dawes, H.Shaw
F D.Thomas, T.Cloke, J.Elliot
Foll D.Jolly, S.Sidebottom, D.Beams
I/C A.Fasolo, A.Krakouer, J.Blair, B.Sinclair
Emg M.Clarke, J.Paine, P.Seedsman
In: B. Sinclair
Out: A. Didak (calf)