Brisbane have made the heartbreaking decision to keep an unchanged line-up for the 2023 AFL grand final, with defender Jack Payne unable to earn a recall despite passing all fitness tests in his recovery from an ankle injury.
Payne had missed just one match for the season before being ruled out of the Lions’ preliminary final with the injury, sustained during their qualifying final win over Port Adelaide.
While the injury was significant enough to put his grand final hopes in jeopardy, Payne reportedly passed all fitness tests during the week, but the Lions opted to retain replacement key defender Darcy Gardiner, who held star Carlton forward Charlie Curnow to just eight disposals and a goal in the preliminary final.
That was just Gardiner’s third match of the season after shoulder and leg injuries delayed his start to the year, before the form of Payne in defence kept him in the Lions’ VFL team.
It is expected veteran Jarryd Lyons will once again be the Lions’ substitute.
Collingwood have made a surprise selection swing of their own, recalling forward Jack Ginnivan into the starting 22 after spending the first two finals as the team’s sub. Patrick Lipinski has been omitted but is expected to be named sub when final teams are announced an hour before Saturday’s grand final, according to reports.
As was confirmed by coach Craig McRae on Wednesday, the knee injury sustained by Daniel McStay in the Pies’ thrilling preliminary final win over GWS has seen him replaced by swingman Billy Frampton, for his first senior appearance since the final home-and-away round.
Jack Payne. (Photo by Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Grand final teams
Collingwood
B: 28 Nathan Murphy, 30 Darcy Moore (c), 38 Jeremy Howe
HB: 4 Brayden Maynard, 17 Billy Frampton, 3 Isaac Quaynor
C: 22 Steele Sidebottom, 10 Scott Pendlebury, 37 Oleg Markov
HF: 23 Bobby Hill, 41 Brody Mihocek, 5 Jamie Elliott
F: 31 Beau McCreery, 2 Jordan De Goey, 7 Josh Daicos
R: 46 Mason Cox, 35 Nick Daicos, 25 Jack Crisp
I/C: 6 Tom Mitchell, 14 Darcy Cameron, 32 Will Hoskin-Elliott, 33 Jack Ginnivan
Sub (not yet confirmed): 1 Patrick Lipinski
EMG: 9 John Noble, 18 Finlay Macrae, 36 Harvey Harrison
Brisbane Lions
B: 37 Brandon Starcevich, 31 Harris Andrews (c), 27 Darcy Gardiner
HB: 26 Conor McKenna, 35 Ryan Lester, 18 Keidean Coleman
C: 6 Hugh McCluggage, 5 Josh Dunkley, 15 Dayne Zorko
HF: 23 Charlie Cameron, 30 Eric Hipwood, 4 Callum Ah Chee
F: 16 Cam Rayner, 3 Joe Daniher, 33 Zac Bailey
R: 46 Oscar McInerney, 9 Lachie Neale (c), 7 Jarrod Berry
I/C: 2 Deven Robertson, 11 Lincoln McCarthy, 28 Jaspa Fletcher, 44 Darcy Wilmot
Sub (not yet confirmed): 17 Jarryd Lyons
EMG: 29 James Tunstill, 32 Darcy Fort, 40 Jack Payne
Chris Lewis
Roar Guru
good luck to the Pies and their fans. Hopefully it is a good match.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
Better player then Gardiner , but do get the decision… you can’t be playing one game in 5 weeks and walk in GF day…
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
While I do feel for jack Payne I don’t think there’s an easy match up for him against Collingwood. It just goes to show that all players who played throughout the course of a season are deserving of a premiership medallion
AdamDilligafThompson
Roar Rookie
Congrats to Billy, I've always wondered why we didn't give him a crack in defense considering how short we've always been back there before we traded him to the crows. Great work and persistence on his part.
PeteB
Roar Rookie
Shocks and surprises are words far too overused in these football writings. The selection of Ginnivan and the omission of Lipinski was predicted and expected many days ago.
Virgil
Roar Rookie
Should be a cracking game. Shame to see McStay go down – I felt we were missing a big man in last years finals. Good to see at least he has proven the doubters wrong and there were many this time last year attacking the Pies decision to get him. Noble is terribly unlucky. His desperation and off the ball acts make me feel like the occasion is right for him. Hope he is named as a sub.Come on Pies!
Kevo
Roar Rookie
Lions have a strong line up on paper. Pies will have to play at their best to beat them. I think Pies have pretty much picked their best team, and it's good Ginnivan will be in the starting 22. Be interesting to see if Lipinski or Noble is selected as the sub, could be a late surprise.
DTM
Roar Rookie
If you want to put someone in, you need to take someone out. So, who do you take out for Noble? Being "terribly disappointed" doesn't mean he should therefore get a game. I'm terribly disappointed I missed out too!
Chris
Roar Rookie
No real surprises in the selections. I wonder if Collingwood should have named John Noble in the starting line-up. He has played consistently well over the last four years. He must be terribly disappointed to be among the emergencies.