Overview

• The AFL confirmed Geelong v Hawthorn on Friday, September 19 at 7:40pm AEST and Collingwood v Brisbane on Saturday, September 20 at 5:15pm AEST, both at the MCG.
• Brisbane enters with strong motivation to go back-to-back but will be without co-captain Lachie Neale (calf) and several others including Eric Hipwood, Jack Payne, Noah Answerth, Keidean Coleman and Lincoln McCarthy.
• Collingwood’s resounding qualifying-final win over Adelaide provided an extra week to refresh, with selection watches on Jeremy Howe’s adductor and potential returns for Bobby Hill and Brody Mihocek.
• Geelong draws confidence from its qualifying-final defeat of Brisbane and is weighing a ruck call on Rhys Stanley after Mark Blicavs and Sam De Koning covered the role.
• Hawthorn rides consecutive finals victories with Jai Newcombe influential; Calsher Dear is sidelined by a hamstring strain, with fitness checks flagged for Jack Gunston and Jack Ginnivan.