Sydney Swans youngster Logan McDonald has been dropped from the grand final, in a shock selection call.
The 20-year old key forward, taken with pick 4 in the 2020 draft, had managed just one goal and 10 possessions across the Swans’ two finals, but had played 17 of the Swans’ 24 matches to date in 2022.
He could become the first player to be dropped from a premiership team without an injury since Billy Hartung was left out of Hawthorn’s 2015 grand final team for Jack Gunston, having been the substitute in the Hawks’ preliminary final win.
Western Bulldogs defender was also omitted for last year’s grand final, but the Bulldogs would lose to Melbourne.
The omission is the Swans’ only change heading into the grand final, with fellow tall Sam Reid named despite battling a groin problem all week.
McDonald has been replaced in the 22 by Hayden McLean, who is playing his first match at AFL level since Round 8. He has, however, been named an emergency, making him a logical choice for a recall should Reid fail to get up for Saturday.
Meanwhile, the Cats are unchanged for the second successive final, with Max Holmes named in the 22 despite suffering a hamstring injury in the preliminary final.
Grand Final teams:
Geelong
B: J. Kolodjashnij, S. De Koning, J. Bews
HB: J. Henry, T. Stewart, M. Duncan
C: M. Blicavs, J. Selwood (c), Z. Tuohy
HF: B. Close, J. Cameron, I. Smith
F: T. Stengle, T. Hawkins, G. Rohan
FOLL: R. Stanley, P. Dangerfield, C. Guthrie
I/C: M. Holmes, T. Atkins, G. Miers, Z. Guthrie
EMG: B. Parfitt, J. Ceglar, S. Menegola, M. O’Connor
NO CHANGE
Sydney
B: D. Rampe (c), T. McCartin, O. Florent
HB: N. Blakey, P. McCartin, J. Lloyd
C: C. Mills (c), C. Warner, J. McInerney
HF: I. Heeney, S. Reid, W. Hayward
F: T. Papley, L. Franklin, E. Gulden
FOLL: T. Hickey, J. Rowbottom, L. Parker (c)
I/C: H. McLean, D. Stephens, R. Clarke, R. Fox
EMG: L. McDonald, H. Cunningham, B. Campbell, W. Gould
IN: McLean
OUT: McDonald
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